Gavin Barthiel picks WSU on signing day

The Washington State Cougars picked up the best kind of surprise on signing day with a last-minute commitment — and signing — of Florida linebacker Gavin Barthiel.

The three-star prospect immediately slots in as the third-ranked player in the Cougars’ 2021 class, and he holds a long list of Power 5 offers, including Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Kansas State, Boston College, Missouri, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia.

According to 247 Sports, the Cougs had offered Barthiel back in April, but he committed to Georgia Tech in June. However, he backed off that pledge on December 3.

Barthiel is listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds and is considered a strong three-star prospect; he is ranked as the 54th outside linebacker in the country and 116th in the talent-rich state of Florida. Here’s a look at his senior season at Lake Gibson High School:

He joins a couple of other linebackers — Francisco Mauigoa and Ryan Kershaw — in the 2021 class, which now stands at 19 total recruits. A number of recruits have already inked their letters; you can track them all here.