To continue the position by position offers list we are going to switch gears and go to the defensive side of the ball. The cougs have been landing commits left and right with 7 commits so far for the 2014 class with 3 on the defensive side and 4 on the offensive side. The list of offered defensive lineman will continue to grow as the coaches are still handing out offers and are starting to get into the commitment season.
Defensive Tackle
- Ainuu TauaÂ
Lompoc Senior HS, Lompoc, CA – 6’1″, 270 lbs
- Cedric JohnsonÂ
Rowlett HS, Rowlett, TX – 6’2″, 285 lbs
Defensive End
- Davon GodchauxÂ
Plaquemine Senior HS, Plaquemine, LA – 6’4″, 271 lbs
- Â Malik DortonÂ
St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, CA – 6’3″, 235 lbs
- Â Uriah LeiatauaÂ
Dominguez HS, Compton, CA – 6’4″, 265 lbs
- Â Sekou ClarkÂ
Ryan HS, Denton, TX – 6’3″,235 lbs
- Â Connor HumphreysÂ
Central Catholic HS, Portland, OR – 6’4″, 265 lbs
- Â Grant BlankenshipÂ
The Colony HS, The Colony, TX – 6’6″, 235 lbs
- Â Matt DickersonÂ
Junipero Serra HS, San Mateo, CA – 6’5″, 260
- Â Tim WilkersonÂ
Katy HS, Katy, TX – 6’3″, 220 lbs
- Â Kennedy EmesibeÂ
Oak Hills HS, Oak Hills, CA – 6’4″, 235 lbs
- Â Lamone WilliamsÂ
Kahuku HS, KAhuku, HI – 6’3″, 245 lbs
- Â Kingston FernandezÂ
Kapolei HS, Kahuku, HI – 6’3″, 235 lbs
The defensive line in the past few years has not been the best for the Cougars but has been improving in leaps and bounds very quickly. Commit Marcus Griffin is going to immediately help the cougars out on the defensive line. Griffin has been tearing up camps across the country and is gaining national attention. All but one of the prospects the cougars are going after for the 2014 class are all ranked 3-stars or higher.
The main focus for the Cougars the past few years has been on the offensive side as Mike Leach is an offensive guru and attacks those players but the defensive side is not lacking in attention. In the 2013 class the Cougars landed 5 players. 2 tackles and 3 D-Ends.
Size and speed are two things that the head coaches are going after with most of the players being over 6-3 and around 250-lbs. On the current WSU roster there are 3 players over 6-3. The current defensive line is also really young with 6 of the 9 being underclassman. Speed kills and the head coaches understand that are going after the tall players that can get where they need to be and quickly. The time of the B.J. Raji’s and Ryan Pickett’s are over and the players like South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney are moving in.
Look for the Cougs to land a few more defensive lineman commits to accompany Griffin and the already young and improving defensive squad.