WSU Football Recruiting 2014: Mike Leach Selective With Guard/Center Offers Thus Far
By Josh Davis
Continuing our position by position offers list, here are the guards and centers being offered by WSU. The Cougs now have 6 commitments and a steady interest from all across the country right now, as well as a few new offers going out now and then with more sure to come. We’re just giving you an idea of who is on the list to this point. Previously we covered quarterbacks (1 commit so far), running backs, wide receivers (3 commits so far) and offensive tackle.
2014 Offers
- C Connor Mayes
Van Alstyne HS, Van Alstyne, TX – 6’5″, 335 lbs
- C Michael Trani
La Mirada HS, La Mirada, CA – 6’4″, 285 lbs
- G Austin Hall
Brophy Prep HS, Pheonix, AZ – 6’6″, 295 lbs
- G Larry Allen
De La Salle HS, Concord, CA – 6’3″, 250 lbs
- Kammy Delp
Diamond Ranch HS, Pamona, CA – 6’4″, 305 lbs
- Drew Clarkson
Camas HS, Camas, WA – 6’4″, 275 lbs
Positional Breakdown
Regardless of what’s already on campus, coach Leach loves to get himself at least 5 commitments on the offensive line. In a perfect world he would fill a whole line per class, with two each at tackle and guard, and a center. After 2013 the Cougs may have to move a piece to fill the need at center, where only Carlos Freeman will reside. That is, if one of the two highly rated centers that Leach has offered doesn’t decide to hop on board in 2014.
For guards, an interesting story to watch is the decision of Austin Hall, who has ties to Tyler Bruggman from Brophy Prep in Arizona. I imagine the Cougs would love to get their claws on the big guard who could re-infuse the size that is now missing with the departure of Jake Rodgers. He’d have to add a few lbs, but I don’t see that as much of a problem. Hall is ranked by Scout as the #17 best guard in the country going into his senior year.
It seems Leach is a bit more selective here, but as I said when evaluating the tackle offers, Washington State is hoping to be much better (and bigger) on the line in 2013 than the one that gave up an NCAA leading 57 sacks in 2012, but the chances of being where they need to be are next to nothing, especially considering there are likely to be at least two and possibly as many as four former walk-ons starting at Auburn. The average size is also not where Leach or offensive line coach Clay McGwire need it to be, which in their estimation should be top 3 in the Pac-12.
Go Cougs