Recruiting effort ends early for Cougars

  • Friday, December 14, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

Associated Press

SPOKANE – For the first time in his tenure at Washington State, coach Mike Price and his assistants have finished their recruiting before the end of December.

That means coaches for the No. 13 Cougars can spend the month after their Sun Bowl game Dec. 31 against Purdue doing things other than knocking on doors of the parents of blue chippers and all-state prep standouts.

Price is prohibited by NCAA rules from discussing individual prospects before the Feb. 1 national letter of intent signings, but many players who leave this year’s 9-2 team at graduation will be replaced by junior college stars.

“We felt we needed a tight end,” Price said. “We got help from junior colleges at tight end, running back, linebacker and maybe one returner. We filled all those spots up.”

This is the final season for All-America free safety Lamont Thompson, leading receiver Nakoa McElrath and running back Dave Minnich. Price also will must find replacements for safety Billy Newman and senior linebackers James Price and Raonall Smith.

One junior college player who made an oral commitment to play for WSU is among two running backs recruited and is expected to be “a very big part” of the Cougars’ offense next season, Price said. “We’d like to get them in here next summer so they can start working out with the team.”

Price would not name the player, but Pasadena (Calif.) City College coach Tom Maher said Jonathan Smith, a record-breaking 5-foot-9, 185 pound running back, has made an oral commitment to attend WSU.

Smith had 2,589 all-purpose yards this season, including 515 in one game. He scored 31 touchdowns this season.

The recruiting drive was so successful that Price will have more players than scholarships.

Those whose grades or test scores are suspect likely will enroll in junior colleges, while several others will “gray shirt” and enroll in the spring, Price said.

“We got a couple of young linemen and filled in at each position,” Price said. “We got guys that can run on defense and some kids who attended our summer camp. We’re very pleased with the commitments that came in.”

As many as five prospects are expected to make their campus visits this weekend, Price said, but most already have made oral commitments to attend WSU.

We’re done recruiting. It’s the first time in the 13 years I’ve been here we finished recruiting before the end of December,” Price said. “We’ve got to hold them now.”

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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