Why Washington State? Well in the words of Mike Leach, “That’s a stupid question.”
On Feb. 6, high school football players from across the country will officially sign their national letter of intent to play university football.
As each recruit steps onto the stage in front of his friends and family, multiple hats lie in front of him. Each hat represents a school he could play for next year. For some recruits, there will be a Crimson and Gray hat with the WSU logo on it.
What makes the WSU hat so appealing? Why would a player want to play football at Washington State University?
So far, 23 players have given a verbal commitment to play football for WSU and will officially sign on signing day. These players have the ability to back out and explore their options, but many of them seem solid on Crimson and Gray. Why?
The football program Mike Leach took over is evolving and on the verge of posing as a contender in the Pac-12. High school players got a glimpse of what next season could bring by witnessing the historic Apple Cup victory back in November, and the potential this team has.
Mike Leach’s record doesn’t lie. The man can coach. He won 83 games at Texas Tech and lost 43. Leach is an offensive genius with his Air Raid offense, which is why top recruits aren’t backing out on this university.
Four-star quarterback, Tyler Bruggman, is still solid on WSU. His main attraction to this program was the offense. Bruggman will get the ability to throw the ball 40 times a game because the Air Raid offense is a pass-first offense.
Four-star wide receiver Sebastian LaRue out of Santa Monica, Calif. backed out of USC a couple weeks ago to rethink his future. WSU is one of LaRue’s top school choices because of the offense.
Think about it. A player like LaRue would have many opportunities to catch the ball because of the Air Raid offense, as opposed to a school like USC that splits running and passing plays evenly.
This WSU football team is on the rise, but lacks in talent. Players like LaRue and Bruggman could step in immediately and play. Top high school football players will have the ability to play and get their name out there during their freshman year.
Schools like Alabama and LSU will usually not play their freshmen and instead sit them on the bench until their junior or senior year of college because of how talented these programs are already.
Players also choose WSU because of the atmosphere and support of the fans. This university has some of the most loyal fans in the country, and players like to see full stadiums and a hostile environment for opposing players.
Many factors influence high school football players' decisions to choose the right school, and players should think twice when choosing the right hat for them. The Crimson and Gray one is looking more stylish each day.
