WSU Football Recruiting: Maloata Headed to Eugene, Slimming WSU Targets to Precious Few
By Josh Davis
The Washington State recruiting game is wrapping up for 2014 and the targets slimmed down just a little bit more on Saturday.
Austin Maloata, the former USC Trojan commit who was essentially ignored by Sark and his new staff, just picked up an offer to go to Eugene and play for the Oregon Ducks. Like many kids do with a premier school like that, he accepted.
What it means for the Cougars in recruiting is that they are down to just a couple (perhaps a few) targets who haven’t signed yet and are trying to just hold the 24 that have already verbally committed. It looks like 3-star WR Brayden Lenius is still an option, especially since Ronald Monroe decommitted. However Lenius is visiting Miami (FL) this weekend and that’s where I expect him to end up. Plus, the Cougars are likely still, already over their receiver limit for the period.
Other options right now include 4-star DL/OL Kaleb McGary (who has shut down contact with the coaches), 4-star DE Marcus Griffin (visiting Miss. St. this weekend, we think) and 3-star ILB Xavier Ulutu (visiting Fresno this weekend after coming to Pullman last weekend). Speculation that Griffin would no longer be welcome in this class due to the commitment of Jalen Canty is unfounded and quite frankly, silly. The Cougs knew Griffin was a last day waiver and stuck with him this far anyway, so if he wants to commit they’ll welcome him in with open arms. For what it’s worth I still think Griffin is still strongly considering WSU, even with all the perceived flakiness.
Meanwhile Ulutu and McGary are the kids that the Cougars most want right now. McGary brings a lot of talent and versatility, a winning attitude and a terrific personality with him. Ulutu brings an under-appreciated skill set and loads of talent/potential to the table. We’ll see how it all shakes out, but we’re down to the wire now!
Go Cougs!