WSU Football Recuiting: Big, Sought DE Jalen Canty Commits to Washington State, Mike Leach

After an anxious extra hour or so of waiting for a tweet, a peep, something from Utah and Washington State fans alike, Jalen Canty is officially a Coug!

Mike Leach must have been tying him up with a story of some sort (God only knows which), but the job was done! Canty is a huge, HUGE get for the Cougars and at 6’8, 270 lbs he is a blast from the past when looking at greats like Ropati Potuitua and Rien Long. He is long, disruptive (especially in the screen game) and moves quite well for a guy his size getting after the quarterback and running down the line. Remember “The Freak”? Yes, Jevon Kearse, Julius Peppers or a guy like Carlos Dunlap come to mind immediately when sizing this kid up on film.

If the newest Coug ends up resembling either of those five on the edge of this defense in any way, the Cougs just got themselves a gigantic steal. Canty was being courted and finally actually recruited by more and more big schools as this recruiting cycle came to an end. Most notably Oregon and Washington were on the table. Of  course Fresno State and the other team in his top two, Utah were after him hard as well.

Another note of primary interest, Canty plays a mean brand of basketball. Just look at baby Shaq go to work in this HS highlight mixtape:

The Cougar basketball team could use him, I know that much! But in regards to football, which is what will be paying his scholarship, all of that athleticism is bound to make for one heck of a back-side pass rusher. It’s just the type of thing the Cougars are missing too, we’ve mentioned that once or twice around here. And just to reiterate, how in the world can you not be excited by the size that this ultra-athletic kid possesses.

Canty joins Hercules Mata’afa, Kingston Fernandez and Nick Begg as prospective defensive ends to commit to this 2014 class, but he’s the only “true” defensive end at this point to commit. Begg is going to be an offensive weapon for WSU, while the Hawaii duo are going to be looked at in the BUCK position.

For his football highlights click HERE: