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It’s the first Wednesday in February, which means it’s National Signing Day! Only, with the advent of the early signing period in December, this day has taken on a lot less meaning for programs like the Washington State Cougars.
Mike Leach already signed 20 players before the Alamo Bowl, and as I type this at 8 a.m. PT, the Cougs have already received the two letters of intent they were expecting. So, barring a surprise, today’s work is already done.
But you never know!
Signed Today
HIGHLIGHTS of defensive lineman signee @NicholasSheetz1 #GoCougs | #JoinTheHunt pic.twitter.com/Ni1OD5vuwv
— WSU Cougar Football (@WSUCougFB) February 6, 2019
Nicholas Sheetz was added to the class on Super Bowl Sunday. He’s a low-three-star defensive end who will be coming across the country from South Carolina. His best offer was probably a preferred walk-on spot with Georgia, but he also held scholarship offers from the Air Force Falcons and a slew of FCS schools. He fills a need in the class, which is low on defensive linemen in general. While his rating won’t blow you away and is likely based on his potential as a rusher, it wouldn’t shock me at all if the coaching staff was looking to blow him up another 30 pounds and play him in the interior.
HIGHLIGHTS of offensive lineman signee @MrJimmyPrice #GoCougs | #JoinTheHunt pic.twitter.com/z2jMahxWgT
— WSU Cougar Football (@WSUCougFB) February 6, 2019
Jimmy Price also fills a need in this class. After WSU lost previous commitments from Dontae Powell (who will now sign with Portland State) and Hunter Hill (who now appears to be choosing between the USC Trojans and Utah State Aggies), the Cougs went the junior college route to add a fourth offensive lineman to the class. He is also a low-three-star recruit and has three years to play two, choosing WSU over the Arizona State Sun Devils.
What about Gage Gubrud?
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As was reported yesterday, erstwhile Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud — who would reportedly like to continue his career as a graduate transfer at WSU — appears to have been denied a sixth year of eligibility.
However, Gubrud is appealing the decision. And since WSU has allocated only 23 of its 25 “initial” scholarships — the 22 players who have signed plus one “blueshirt,” offensive lineman Hunter Mayginnes, who joined the team last fall as an unrecruited player and will count against this class — the Cougars appear to be holding a couple of scholarships open.
If Gubrud has a successful appeal, it can be assumed that one will go to him. The other ... who knows? Guys become available through transfer or through qualifying late. This gives them a little bit of flexibility. Once upon a time, Tavares Martin Jr. was added in May. That worked out pretty well for a few years!
Previously signed
Here’s a table of the entire class, including the two who signed today. If you’re looking for video highlights of the players who signed, you can find that here.
2019 WSU football recruiting commitments
Player | Expected Pos. | 247 Composite | Composite Value | NLI received? | Enrolled Early? | Measurables (via 247) | Commit Date | City | State | CougCenter Profile | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Expected Pos. | 247 Composite | Composite Value | NLI received? | Enrolled Early? | Measurables (via 247) | Commit Date | City | State | CougCenter Profile | Comments |
Travion Brown | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8748 | YES | NO | 6-3/215 | 10/2/18 | Temecula | CA | Link | Rated four stars by 247sports evaluators |
Jamir Thomas | RB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8676 | YES | NO | 6-1/215 | 11/27/18 | Massillon | OH | Link | Ranked as a LB, converted to RB as a senior |
Gunner Cruz | QB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8607 | YES | YES | 6-4.5/215 | 5/31/18 | Queen Creek | AZ | Link | Threw for 5700 yards and 70 TDs as soph/jr |
Bryce Beekman | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8582 | YES | YES | 6-2/190 | 11/20/18 | Yuma | AZ | Link | Teammate of OL commit Dontae Powell |
Jouvensly Bazile | RB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8540 | YES | NO | 5-10/180 | 6/28/18 | Naples | FL | Link | Has reportedly clocked 10.98 in 100 meters |
Patrick Utschinski | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8537 | YES | NO | 6-7/280 | 9/10/18 | Walla Walla | WA | Link | Rated four stars by 247sports evaluators |
Konner Gomness | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8532 | YES | NO | 6-4/270 | 9/29/18 | Fresno | CA | Link | Reported offer from Louisville and lots of midmajors |
Billy Pospisil | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8463 | YES | YES | 5-11/190 | 2/16/18 | Arvada | CO | Attends same high school as 2018 signee Max Borghi | |
Armauni Archie | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8456 | YES | NO | 6-1/175 | 10/12/18 | El Cerrito | CA | Link | Chose WSU over an offer from Nebraska |
Derrick Langford | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8448 | YES | YES | 6-2/185 | 11/15/18 | San Francisco | CA | Link | Juco who has four to play three |
Tyler Garay-Harris | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8444 | YES | NO | 6-5/230 | 11/4/18 | Oakland | CA | Link | Offers from Utah and ASU |
Donovan Ollie | WR | ✯✯✯ | 0.8431 | YES | NO | 6-3/205 | 10/15/18 | Wylie | TX | Link | Chose WSU over Iowa State and Utah |
Peni Naulu | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8423 | YES | NO | 6-1/210 | 9/6/18 | Kapolei | HI | Link | Other offers: UW, Oregon, UCLA, Cal, Nebraska |
Cosmas Kwete | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8418 | YES | NO | 6-3/220 | 11/5/18 | Phoenix | AZ | Link | Inexperienced player, specialized in Rugby |
Daniel Isom | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8407 | YES | YES | 5-10/180 | 11/8/18 | Council Bluffs | IA | Link | Played as a true freshman for NIU before transfer |
Rocky Katoanga | LB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8366 | YES | YES | 6-2/205 | 2/6/18 | Oceanside | CA | Grayshirted | |
Jimmy Price | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8306 | YES | NO | 6-5/295 | 1/26/19 | Houston | TX | Link | Picked WSU over Arizona State |
Shahman Moore | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8267 | YES | YES | 6-0/170 | 12/20/18 | El Segundo | CA | Link | Two years of eligibility remaining |
Ma'ake Fifita | OL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8154 | YES | NO | 6-5/250 | 12/16/18 | Snohomish | WA | Link | Staff targeted him as a center |
Gatlin Grisso | DB | ✯✯✯ | 0.8072 | YES | YES | 6-1/185 | 6/23/17 | Aubrey | TX | Link | Grayshirted |
Nicholas Sheetz | DL | ✯✯✯ | 0.8072 | YES | NO | 6-3/253 | 2/3/19 | Greenwood | SC | Link | Lightly recruited; offered PWO by Georgia |
Simon Samarzich | LS | ✯✯✯ | 0.8043 | YES | NO | 6-0/200 | 6/8/18 | Upland | CA | Rated the top long snapper in the country | |
Gage Gubrud | QB | NA | YES | YES | 6-2/205 | 1/26/19 | Cheney | WA | Link | Grad transfer from EWU |