Washington State University football coach Mike Leach bolstered his offensive line and defensive secondary on national signing day Wednesday
The Cougars signed six offensive linemen, key to making Leach’s Air Raid offense soar, and five defensive backs among 25 new players.
Nearly all the recruits were rated as three-star prospects by the various scouting agencies.
With record-setting quarterback Luke Falk heading into his junior year, the Cougars did not sign a highly touted quarterback for the future. Instead, they signed Justus Rogers of Bellevue High School in Washington as an athlete. Rogers played quarterback at Bellevue High, winning two state titles, and likely will get a chance to play quarterback.
Leach signed 15 players from California, four from Washington, and one each from Utah, Hawaii, Florida, Nevada, Oklahoma and American Samoa.
Other things to know:
Top 25 Class: No.
Best in class: Receiver Isaiah Johnson of Belle Glade, Florida, was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN.com, and among the top 20 receivers in the state. The 6-foot-3, 211-pound product of Dwyer High School caught 44 passes for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.
Best of the rest: Running back Romello Harris rushed for 1,943 yards and 25 touchdowns in just nine games as a senior, and is rated the No. 57 running back prospect in the nation. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder totaled 7,311 rushing yards in his prep career at Tulare Union High in California.
Late addition: Linebacker Suli Tamaivena of Kirkland. His father, Levi, was a national rugby star in Fiji.
One that got away: Athlete Tayler Hawkins of Palm Springs, California, who chose San Diego State.
How they’ll fit in: Washington State has plenty of returning veterans from a nine-win season that was the best in more than a decade. The new players should have time to learn the system and earn playing time without being rushed into the breach. With three quarterbacks on the roster, the Cougars apparently did not feel the need to sign a top passer.
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