Washington State Football Recruiting Nuggets: Early Offensive Position Analysis – QB, WR

National Signing Day will commence Feb. 6th, which means that there is still a lot of movement to look forward to over the next month and a half on the recruiting trail. The Cougars have their potential quarterback of the future and as all Leach classes do, includes a few talented guys on the outside for him to throw to. A quick rundown of the playmakers and their future offensive leader headed to WSU at this point in the recruiting process.

November 3, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday (12) passes during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes defeated the Cougars 49-6. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

QB: Leach is set at qb, he seems to have got his man and he did it earlier than anyone expected. Due to a deep level of competition and talent already in the program, won’t be signing another one this season.

• Tyler Bruggman is a very accurate, very Leach-typical quarterback. The young gunslinger has been highly touted and figures to be a mainstay in the air-raid at Washington State. However, when he will get his shot is up to Connor Halliday, Cody Clements and Austin Apodaca, as each will have had a year in the program and in particular Halliday has a few starts and lots of game time experience. Bruggman would be quite the story on the Palouse as a true freshman if Halliday should falter and the 4-star prospect looks the part early in the Fall.

Sep 14, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars wide receiver Gabe Marks (84) runs for a 52 yard touchdown catch during the second quarter against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

WR: The Cougs are also stacked at receiver, but with some of them showing a bad case of butterfingers throughout the season and the loss of Marquess Wilson, Leach has gone after some instant playmakers. He has 3 incoming at this point, after DeMarcus Ayers dropped off the list.

It’s still a possibility that Ayers could recommit, though it’s not looking good with the loss of ‘his coach’, Eric Morris to Tech, very near where Ayers is. If he does not come back on board, then the Cougs are likely done with this position for 2013, unless they can make a huge (and thoroughly unexpected) splash landing of an immediate impact player, the likes of big 4-star prospect Taj Williams, out of Tallahassee, FL.

• The grayshirting Robert Lewis could jump in as an immediate factor in the passing game for WSU, although one might expect him to redshirt this upcoming season to extend his value and bulk up even more with Marks, Bartolone, Myers, Eaddy, Galvin and Ratliff in the middle already. Lewis is a speed demon and had he been bigger, would have garnered even more attention than he did and may have been a 4-star rating. He came in at around 140 lbs, and is probably in the 155-160 range right now. For perspective Marks came in at around 175.
• The big addition of the class at this point is JC standout Vince Mayle, who carries a big, fast and versatile frame at 6’3″ 220, with a sub 4.5 Forty. Mayle figures in my opinion to take the starting spot opposite Dominique Williams and become an immediate impact receiver, but he’ll have to prove himself as a reliable target to Leach.
• River Cracraft is another big target coming in at 6’2″ 195. He’s tough to predict as far as value in his freshman year, but could challenge Drew Loftus for time on the outside. Ultimately I think he might redshirt as well and end up starting on the outside in his rs Junior year with a new crop of receivers. Until then he’ll fill in as a nice role player on the outside. Reminds me a lot of Jared Karstetter who graduated after 2011, but faster.