WSU football recruiting: DE Hunter Mattox officially signs letter of intent

Turns out one of the best things to happen to WSU this offseason was Mike Riley's departure for the cornfields of Nebraska. It took about a week following Riley's move to the Midwest for Hunter Mattox to flip his commitment to Washington State. Now, he's officially a Coug after sending in his letter of intent.

Mattox played primarily at strongside defensive end during his high school career but it remains to be seen what he'll be doing in Alex Grinch's defense. The new coordinator has said he'll be running a 3-4 base but beyond that, we aren't really sure. Looking back at Mike Breske's defense, Mattox would seem to be a candidate at the BUCK position given his height (6-foot-4) and weight (255 pounds). The unknowns on Grinch's defense also make it difficult to project if Mattox will play his freshman year or not but I'd wager he'll find himself in the weight room for a season.

Mattox flipped from Oregon State and also had an offer from Fresno State.

Brian Anderson's quick evaluation:

Ferocious off the end. Very quick off the snap, can beat tackles with a speed rush but did all sorts of damage with a bull rush. Very physical, takes on and sheds blocks well. Plays behind the line like a shark smelling blood in the water.

Rankings:

Rivals - ★★★
Scout - ★★★
24/7 Sports - ★★★
Composite - ★★★

Measurables (Rivals):

Position - DE
Hometown - Chatsworth, Calif.
Height - 6-foot-4
Weight - 255 pounds