CougSclusive: Cougs In The NFL Part III
By Josh Davis
NFL WATCHLIST
Nov 26, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars wide receiver Marquess Wilson (86) runs in for a touchdown after avoiding a tackle by Washington Huskies linebacker Cort Dennison (31) at CenturyLink Field. Washington defeated Washington State 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE
#86 Marquess Wilson: Wide Receiver 6’4, 185 lbs
We’ve already talked at length in a CougSclusive about Marquess Wilson and how good he can be and where he might end up on the all time Pac-12 receivers list. Not much else needs to be said. He’s a ridiculous talent with prototypical size that will only get better under Leach and we think he will leave after his Junior season if he has the type of year we expect. The only thing that could keep him here would be a year in which he seriously under-performs and somehow doesn’t end up on every NFL mock draft as a first round pick.
Nov 13, 2010; Corvalis, OR, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Jeff Tuel (10) scrambles against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-US PRESSWIRE
#1o Jeff Tuel: Quarterback 6’3, 221 lbs
The senior quarterback has not really had a full chance at playing to his potential. He showed flashes of major potential and more than that, production his sophomore season, but his promising junior year was derailed by injury. With Wilson, a big redzone target in Andrei Lintz at tight end and a young group of big, explosive receivers making plays all year (a group I call the Fab Five 2.0) Tuel is set to have a monster Ryan Leaf type year (5,000+ yards in 1997). Jason Gesser and Alex Brink have put up huge numbers in the recent past, but they only threw it about half as much as the Cougars will this season. Because of the amount of times that Leach based offenses throw, his qb’s generally don’t get the credit for being as good as they probably are, but Tuel has a good NFL body and will be looked at I think in the middle rounds of the draft.
Oct 1, 2011; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington State Cougars offensive linesman Wade Jacobson (55) prepares to block Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Josh Hartigan (17) during the game at Folsom Field. The Cougars defeated Buffaloes 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
#55 Wade Jacobson: Offensive Line 6’6, 300 lbs
Wade is a huge, physical and impressive specimen at the Guard position and has great feet for his size. The Cougars and coach Leach generally put a lineman into the draft and this year should be no different. I’m sure he’s excited because he’ll get a great look in the passing offense, so if he can perform at a high level all season, we could be looking at a 3rd round pick or better.
#71 Dan Spitz: Offensive Line 6’7, 301 lbs
Quite honestly Dan needs a humungous season to throw himself into the draft discussion. But he has one big thing going for him, an even bigger frame than Jacobson! Another thing that he’s got going for him is that he’s finally an O-line veteran, after being converted from defensive line his first season and a half. All this means is that hopefully his footwork issues have been corrected and he’ll be ready to handle the physicality of the Pac-12 line battles. Dan is on the outside looking in, but an impressive senior season could raise his stock.
#15 Tyree Toomer: Safety 5’11, 200 lbs
Nov 5, 2011; San Francisco CA, USA; Washington State Cougars safety Tyree Toomer (15) before a play against the California Golden Bears during the third quarter at AT
Tyree is one of my very favorite Cougars, though I could not tell you why. His freshman season he hit a guy so hard he knocked both himself and the other guy out and ever since then I’ve been a Toomer fan. I don’t think Tyree is the type of safety that will be drafted, but his general type of physicality is always welcome in an NFL backfield. I would like to see him get a shot on a roster somewhere but I think he’s destined for second tier balling in Canada or Europe and hopefully he can avoid the concussion issues that have plagued him since that vicious hit. That’s ok though, as it’s always nice to see Cougs make a career out of their football.