WSU Football Recruiting: Cougs Taking After Seahawks Secondary Part 1
By Nick Nordi
Continuing with the position by position breakdown we are moving on to the secondary. In this two-part post we will look at safeties first and follow up with corners. In 2012 the Seattle Seahawks brought a whole new look to the NFL in the secondary and started a trend of big, physical, fast, and players with a different swagger. With Earl Thomas (5-10, 200) and Kam Chancellor (6-3, 232) as the safeties for the Seahawks, many other teams in the league looking to copy what the Seahawks and head coach Pete Carroll are doing. The Cougars are trying to take a step in that direction hoping that the success can come down to the college level.
Safety Offers
- Juju Smith
Polytechnic HS, Long Beach, CA – 6’2″, 185 lbs
- Budda Baker
Bellevue HS, Bellevue, WA – 5’10”, 177 lbs
- Steven Parker
Jenks HS, Jenks, OK – 6’2″, 185 lbs
- John Bonney
Lamar HS, Houston, TX – 6’1″, 175 lbs
- Quincy Wilson
University School of Nova S., Fort Lauderdale, FL – 6’2″, 195 lbs
- Adam Soesman
Buchanan HS, Clovis, CA – 6’2″, 175 lbs
- Kendall Randolph
Lincoln HS, Tallahassee, FL – 5’11”, 180 lbs
- Jeff Farrar
Upland HS, Upland, CA – 6’1″, 193 lbs
- Glen Ihenacho
Junipero Serra HS, Gardena, CA – 5’11”, 177 lbs
- Josh Kalu
Taylor HS, Houston, TX – 6’2″, 180 lbs
- Courtland Sutton
Brenham HS, Brenham, TX – 6’3″, 200 lbs
- Shawn Boone
William T. Dwyer HS, Palm Beach Gardens, FL – 5’10”, 185 lbs
- Andre Godfrey
Miramar HS, Miramar, FL – 6’0″, 180 lbs
- Das Tautalatasi
De La Salle HS, Concord, CA – 6’0″, 180 lbs
- Marquise Dudley-Jordan
Cypress Bay HS, Weston, FL – 5’11”, 175 lbs
- Jojo Mcintosh
Charminade College Prep, West Hills, CA – 6’1″, 180 lbs
- Alfonzo McMillian
Millwood HS, Oklahoma City, OK – 6’0″, 180
The Cougars allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards four times (BYU, UNLV, Colorado, ASU). Two of the four times they only threw for 301 and 303 yards. In four games the Cougars held opposing offenses to below 200 yards (Oregon, Cal, Stanford, UW). The defense and more specifically the secondary struggled keeping the ball out of the air and allowed some big plays to happen.
The Cougars are looking to improve their secondary and are starting by recruiting some big time players for the 2014 class. With the majority of the guys being recruited over 6’0″ and all are around 180 lbs it is obvious what kind of player that Leach is looking for. Physicality has been becoming a bigger and bigger necessity in college football and Washington State is looking to finally join the rest of the pack in that category.
Washington State has 6 safeties on the roster as of right now, two of which are graduating this upcoming year. In the 2013 class there are 3 safeties, 2 whom are 6’3″, 210 lbs proving again Leach’s attempt at getting the bigger in the secondary.
The big, physical, “make a play and let you know” type of player is coming into the conference and the Cougars are right in the race to get these types of players.