WSU Cougars NFL Draft News: Deone Bucannon’s First Round Selection Benefits Mike Leach (Assisted Thanks to Paul Wulff)

Jul 26, 2013; Culver City, CA, USA; Washington State outside linebacker Elliott Bosch, head coach Mike Leach and defensive back

speak to the media during PAC-12 media day held at the Sony Studios Lot. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Leach is going into his third season as the head of the Washington State Cougars and his voice alone has drawn some highly touted recruits to the Palouse already. There are many reasons why coming to play for Leach is a good idea, but most of them were thought to be pretty relegated to the offensive side of the ball.

Til now that is.

For all the rhetoric, stories and pitches Leach can use at a recruit’s house or on the phone, nothing says “we are a legitimate and contending school worthy of major consideration” like the production of first round talent into the draft. With Deone Bucannon’s selection to the Arizona Cardinals at 27th overall on the first night of the 2014 NFL Draft, Leach’s defense can also benefit from the national perception of a new WSU going forward.

Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Mike Breske also gets a notch in the belt for the work he did personally with Bucannon. With such a young backfield and lots of questions going into 2014, the Cards’ selection really gives a boost to the recruiting efforts of these coaches as they work to build the Cougs’ defense back up.

Let’s also remember to give a nice assist to former Washington State head coach Paul Wulff, who recruited the former 3-star safety prospect from Fairfield, CA. We’ll never know if Wulff and his staff would’ve taken Deone to these heights, but it doesn’t matter, because Mike Leach has. Regardless, both coaches played a big part in this day for “Buc”, so a tip-of-the-cap to our Coug friend.