:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32042761/20140325_ter_al2_030.0.jpg)
When Austin Joyner committed to WSU last week, one of the first reactions by many was "is he sure he doesn't want to play running back?" Joyner's highlights are full of him shredding defenses as a running back, but he is coming to WSU as a defensive back. The decision to play defense wasn't because of potential earnings down the road, but injury concerns.
"The injury rate for running backs is higher than any other position," Joyner said, via the Seattle Times. "I want to have a healthy life outside of football."
Joyner originally committed to Washington, but opened his recruitment back up after Steve Sarkisian left for USC. Washington fell out of the picture when new head coach Chris Petersen opted not to offer Joyner as a defensive back. Things then came down to Petersen's old school, Boise State, and WSU. So what was the deciding factor?
"It came down to talent level," Joyner said. "The Pac-12 is more competitive. That's what made me make my decision."
Joyner will come to WSU as either a corner or safety. He can't sign with the Cougars for nearly 10 months, but in the meantime you can check out his hudl highlights.
Football:
Spring Practice Report: Day 12 - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - April 22, 2014
Rain, rain, go away. Today's torrent drove reporters and athletic support staff into the upper bleachers to seek refuge beneath the overhang. Refuge was not to be found. I could go on about the weather but then we'd both be in a stormy mood.
Why Austin Joyner of Marysville-Pilchuck switched from UW to WSU | High School Sports | The Seattle Times
Austin Joyner loves carrying the football, but not as much as he values his health. That’s the reason the Marysville-Pilchuck High School star wants to play defensive back in college, and it was a major factor in his recent decision to make an oral commitment to Washington State.
Recent Pac-12 coaching hires holding up well - ESPN
Per the hard-working, number-crunching folks at Arizona State, 27 schools changed coaches that year, and six of them have already made additional changes. Here’s a look at the coaching records of those coaches hired between December 2011 and January 2012.
Cougars Resume Spring Practice - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State football continued spring practice with a two-hour workout in full pads Tuesday afternoon on Rogers Field and in Martin Stadium.
Baseball:
Cougars Lose to Bulldogs - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Gonzaga scored seven times over the first two innings and cruised to a 7-2 victory over Washington State in nonconference baseball, Tuesday night.
Baseball Pac-12 power rankings (April 23) - The Daily Barometer: Sports
8. Washington State (17-19, 7-8) After a good stretch, the Cougars have cooled off dramatically, going 1-5 in their last six contests. Oregon swept WSU over the weekend and the Cougars have dropped to seventh in the conference standings. Despite being two games below .500, WSU is probably better than its record indicates. The Cougars have outscored opponents 189-147 this season, and are much better than they’ve been in years’ past across the board. Even if WSU misses out on the postseason, they’ve shown strides toward improving their program as a whole this season.
College baseball notes: Pac-12 singles out Cougs’ Joe Pistorese - Spokesman.com - April 23, 2014
Joe Pistorese’s dominant pitching stretch came to an end last week when then No. 10 Oregon dinged him for eight runs over four innings. However, the pitcher earned just four of those runs thanks to a pair of errors as the stellar defense that had previously given him the advantage failed.