The Washington State Cougars got a great bit of news on the eve of the Super Bowl when three-star offensive lineman Blake McDonald committed to the 2018 class.
#Committed pic.twitter.com/fZVh2WfMbS
— Blake McDonald (@BlakeMicky) February 4, 2018
McDonald was previously committed to the UCLA Bruins when Jim Mora was coach, but he decommitted a couple of weeks before Mora was fired.
“I wanted to do what I felt was best for my future,” McDonald said. “They’re obviously having a down year but I’m mostly opening it back up to find a school that best suits me. It wasn’t just about football for me, I just want to find a school that fits me better in all areas, on and off the field.”
He recently took an official visit to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and he also holds offers from the Arizona State Sun Devils, California Golden Bears, Colorado Buffaloes and Oregon State Beavers.
According to the evaluation of 247sports’ Greg Biggins, “McDonald is among the most physical linemen in the area. He’s strong at the point of attack, a road grader as a run blocker and plays through the whistle. He’s a strong kid, moves well and plays with a mean streak.”
Sounds like Mike Leach’s kind of offensive lineman.
The Cougs continue to finish out this recruiting class strong, as McDonald is tied with Cade Beresford as the ninth-highest rated players in the class and highest rated incoming offensive linemen.
WSU isn’t done yet, either. A pair of junior college transfers were on campus this weekend:
Dem RCC boys, Misi Pei and Drew Kobayashi, OV in Cougar Nation. Congrats on your opportunities at Wazzu! ##CoachKWils#808FBRecruits#jckevin#drewwthomas#misi_ap pic.twitter.com/ioyIIlmLlv
— RCC Football (@RCCTigerFB) February 3, 2018
Pei is a defensive end, Kobayashi a wide receiver. You might remember that Kobayashi was a WSU target a couple of years ago who eventually signed with Cal before transferring to Riverside after a year.
Here’s how the class now stands with just a few days to go. WSU has room for three more signings, as Gatlin Grisso intends to grayshirt and enroll in January 2019.
WSU Football 2018 Recruiting Class
Letter Received? | Player | Expected Pos. | 247 Composite | Composite Value | Measurables (via 247) | Commit Date | City | State | CougCenter Profile | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Letter Received? | Player | Expected Pos. | 247 Composite | Composite Value | Measurables (via 247) | Commit Date | City | State | CougCenter Profile | Comments |
YES | Rodrick Fisher | WR | ✯✯✯✯ | 0.8947 | 6-2/193 | 5/10/17 | Spokane | WA | Link | Led state in 100-m (10.46) and 200-m (21.26) in 2017 |
YES | Cammon Cooper | QB | ✯✯✯✯ | 0.8917 | 6-4/202 | 5/29/17 | Lehi | UT | Link | First Elite 11 QB in more than a decade |
YES | Drue Jackson | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8763 | 6-1/186 | 10/27/17 | Sachse | TX | Link | Rated 4-star by Scout, Rivals |
YES | Max Borghi | RB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8731 | 5-10/195 | 6/29/17 | Arvada | CO | Link | Multipurpose back flipped from Colorado |
YES | Halid Djibril | S | ✯✯✯ | 0.8672 | 6-2/185 | 12/20/17 | Los Angeles | CA | Link | Picked WSU over USC and OSU. |
YES | D'Angelo McKenzie | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8614 | 6-0/180 | 10/24/17 | San Jose | CA | Link | Holds offers from Notre Dame, UCLA |
YES | Kassidy Woods | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8609 | 6-2/200 | 11/22/17 | Addison | TX | Link | No. 136 receiver nationally |
YES | Blake McDonald | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8601 | 6-4.5/295 | 2/3/18 | Danville | CA | Link | No. 31 OG in country via 247, orig UCLA commit |
YES | Cade Beresford | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8601 | 6-7/250 | 9/25/17 | Woodinville | WA | Link | Offers from UCLA, Nebraska |
YES | Brandon Gray | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8600 | 6-5/172 | 7/29/17 | Detroit | MI | Link | No. 3 receiver in Michigan |
YES | Brennan Jackson | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8519 | 6-4/225 | 7/13/17 | Temecula | CA | Link | Rated the No. 3 DE prospect in CA by Scout |
YES | RJ Stone | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8685 | 6-4/215 | 12/11/17 | San Jose | CA | Link | Picked WSU over Arizona State |
YES | Tyrese Ross | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8464 | 6-1/187 | 2/2/18 | Jacksonville | FL | Link | Flipped from Mississippi State |
YES | Kedron Williams | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8497 | 6-1/192 | 5/3/17 | Bellflower | CA | Link | Recruited by Roy Manning |
YES | Ahmir Crowder | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8485 | 6/3-280 | 10/16/17 | Los Angeles | CA | Link | Offers from Vandy and Purdue |
YES | Patrick Nunn | ATH | ✯✯✯ | 0.8477 | 6-3/206 | 8/20/17 | San Mateo | CA | Link | Could play WR or DB |
NO | Rocky Katoanga | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8366 | 6-2/205 | 2/6/18 | Oceanside | CA | Will grayshirt | |
YES | Myles Green-Richards | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8364 | 6-1/175 | 7/6/17 | Eugene | OR | Link | Clocked a 4.52 laser-timed 40 |
YES | Jonathan Lolohea | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8461 | 6-3/310 | 11/22/17 | Lahaina | HI | Link | Juco from Copiah-Lincoln CC in Mississippi |
YES | Kendrick Catis | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8394 | 6-1/228 | 12/20/17 | Deerfield Beach | FL | Link | No. 4 inisde linebacker in JUCO. |
YES | Syr Riley | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8315 | 6-3/323 | 10/2/17 | Palisades | CA | Link | Offers from Cal and Navy |
YES | Calvin Jackson Jr. | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8208 | 5-10/170 | 4/12/17 | Pompano Beach | FL | Link | Juco transfer |
YES | Jarrett Kingston | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8181 | 6-5/250 | 8/9/17 | Anderson | CA | Link | First team All CIF Northern Section as a DE |
NO | Gatlin Grisso | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8072 | 6-1/185 | 6/23/17 | Aubrey | TX | Link | Expected to grayshirt |
YES | Keenan Forbes | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8345 | 6-3/310 | 1/18/18 | Hollywood | FL | Link | Three to play three; rating is from H.S. eval |
YES | Misi Aiolupotea-Pei | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8000 | 6-3/250 | 2/4/18 | Riverside | CA | Link | Juco has only played football for 2 years |
YES | Gardner Minshew | QB | N/A | N/A | 6-2/216 | 3/20/18 | Brandon | MS | Link | Graduate transfer from East Carolina |
YES | Lamonte McDougle | DL | N/A | N/A | 5-11/295 | 5/16/18 | Deerfield Beach | FL | Link | Transfer from WVU will be eligible in 2019 |
YES | Chad Davis Jr. | DB | N/A | N/A | 6-2/200 | 5/18/18 | Daytona Beach | FL | Juco transfer |