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At 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds with the ability to run by players as a tight end or through them as a defensive end, Jalen Canty has a rare combination of size and speed. He oozes potential, but in order to begin fulfilling it, he'll first need to make it campus. Matt O'Donnell of the Times-Herald wrote a profile on Canty, and qualifying was among the topics covered.
Canty said Washington State has a very good criminal justice program and that played a major influence too. Washington State will require that Canty fulfill more academic obligations, including increasing his grade point average and his SAT score, but he is confident that will happen.
If he does qualify, you can expect him to play basketball and football at WSU. He said one of his reasons for committing to WSU was the Cougars were willing to let him play both sides. He said Mike Leach mentioned the possibility of playing defensive end and "possibly some wide receiver." I doubt he'll play wide receiver, but that would be some sight. He would dwarf Vince Mayle who dwarfs about every defensive back.
Canty discussed his recruiting trip and the role Lyman Faoliu played in his decision. Faoliu, a Cougar defensive end, went to the same high school as Canty.
The entire profile is worth a read.
Football:
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High's Canty signs letter with Washington State - Vallejo Times Herald
When St. Patrick-St. Vincent High's Jalen Canty made his official visit to Washington State a few weeks ago, he was introduced to Vallejo High graduate Lyman Faoliu.
Bill Moos Talks Academic Success and Seahawks in Latest Podcast - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
During his latest podcast conducted Thursday morning, Moos discusses what he told the audience, including parallels of how the Seattle Seahawks built a championship team to how Cougar Football is building a winning program, and the message he delivered to Cougar Athletic Fund members.
Men's basketball:
This first link completely glosses over the fact Thames would have graduated last season if he stayed at WSU. I'm mostly just including it to see if Nusser's brain will explode from reading it.
Just remember, Cougs - Thames would have graduated last year.
— Jeff Nusser (@NussCoug) January 26, 2014
@MindOfSpani Not really. He was a pretty mediocre player for the last two years.
— Jeff Nusser (@NussCoug) January 26, 2014
@MindOfSpani Except you wouldn't have had THIS Thames on this roster. You would have had the Thames of the last two years on those.
— Jeff Nusser (@NussCoug) January 26, 2014
Oh, the pain for WSU fans: X-man for national player of the year? | Pac-12 Confidential | Seattle Times
The Cougars have been struggling at point guard the past two seasons. And Thames is the leader of the fifth-ranked team in the nation.
Four corners: Washington State Cougars - Spokesman.com - Feb. 6, 2014
Washington State can complete its first sweep of the season by beating Utah on Saturday, but it won’t be easy. The Utes, who lost to the Cougars 49-46 in Pullman in January, have yet to win a Pac-12 road game.