2020 class keeps getting better

[BraindeadCoug]

The 99 class was similar to Leach's recruiting except for the fact that Price signed a 5 star QB and, one of the top recruits nationally, a 5 star DB, a 5 star RB, a 4 star WR/DB, a 4 star WR and a 4 star LB/TE, a 4 star DT. Give Price some credit, he recruited a Rose Bowl calibre class but for the fact that his 5 star QB was a slow learner, apparently. Put Minshew, Leaf or the groper on that 92 team, and we'd have gone to 3 Rose Bowls under Price.

I don’t understand your post - the ‘92 team had Bledsoe as QB1 and if I remember correctly - Bledsoe was a fairly good QB and was the first pick in the NFL draft.

If the ‘94 team had a better QB and offense - that group of kids might have played in the Rose Bowl.

 

[random soul]

I don’t understand your post - the ‘92 team had Bledsoe as QB1 and if I remember correctly - Bledsoe was a fairly good QB and was the first pick in the NFL draft.

If the ‘94 team had a better QB and offense - that group of kids might have played in the Rose Bowl.

Combine the 97 offense and the 94 defense and you have one of those teams that gets documentaries made in its honor as all-time great. Even putting Mark Fields and Torey Hunter on the 97 team might've been enough

 

[longtimecoug]

The 99 class was similar to Leach's recruiting except for the fact that Price signed a 5 star QB and, one of the top recruits nationally, a 5 star DB, a 5 star RB, a 4 star WR/DB, a 4 star WR and a 4 star LB/TE, a 4 star DT. Give Price some credit, he recruited a Rose Bowl calibre class but for the fact that his 5 star QB was a slow learner, apparently. Put Minshew, Leaf or the groper on that 92 team, and we'd have gone to 3 Rose Bowls under Price.

3 five star recruits? never happened

 

[ShockandAweWSU]

Gilman is a big loss. Going to Stanford...cant blame him. Losing him though might be the nail in the Shaver coffin. He might be out next Thursday morning if it isnt for a miracle safety transfer.

 

[Cougsocal]

I don’t understand your post - the ‘92 team had Bledsoe as QB1 and if I remember correctly - Bledsoe was a fairly good QB and was the first pick in the NFL draft.

If the ‘94 team had a better QB and offense - that group of kids might have played in the Rose Bowl.

Going into the 1992 Apple Cup, Bledsoe for all his talent had thrown 15 TDs and 15 Ints and a QBR of less than 120, benching range. He lit it up in the Apple Cup and the Copper Bowl, so people forget what a crappy season he was having to that point.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Going into the 1992 Apple Cup, Bledsoe for all his talent had thrown 15 TDs and 15 Ints and a QBR of less than 120, benching range. He lit it up in the Apple Cup and the Copper Bowl, so people forget what a crappy season he was having to that point.

Bledsoe was hyped because of his potential and nothing else. The AC and the Copper Bowl made it easy for him to leave early, but the NFL loved his potential long before the AC. You are 100% correct that his numbers were bad by today's standards. What's insane is that the top QB's today have a TD:INT ratio of 6 or better. Back then....2:1 was considered stellar. I don't know if offenses have completely outstripped defenses, if the best athletes gravitate towards the offense now and it's harder to find elite defenders or what it is, but it's an amazing change.

 

[PINGDUDE4]

Gilman is a big loss. Going to Stanford...cant blame him. Losing him though might be the nail in the Shaver coffin. He might be out next Thursday morning if it isnt for a miracle safety transfer.

Stanford's overall batting average in getting recruits has to be one of the highest in CFB. I know in the state of Texas when they identify and go after a kid they get him . And that is the case no matter his other offers etc.. Given that it is a little surprising that their football record has trended down so much in the last few years.

Two 4-star players out of Texas just last year, both with Texas and A&M , LSU Ohio State , Auburn etc. offers.

 

[Cougsocal]

3 five star recruits? never happened

Josh Shavies, Jeremey Williams and Faafetal Tupai ??? You might claim that X or Y was only a "4 star" guy, but the point is if Price can sign kids like this after back to back losing seasons, on a shoe string budget, Mike Leach needs to step up his recruiting game -- now that he has admitted, what we all knew, but the leeches refused concede until now, that he is getting out recruited.

 

[fingerdisco]

Josh Shavies, Jeremey Williams and Faafetal Tupai ??? You might claim that X or Y was only a "4 star" guy, but the point is if Price can sign kids like this after back to back losing seasons, on a shoe string budget, Mike Leach needs to step up his recruiting game -- now that he has admitted, what we all knew, but the leeches refused concede until now, that he is getting out recruited.

He didn't say anything of the sort.

 

[royhobbs2]

Josh Shavies, Jeremey Williams and Faafetal Tupai ??? You might claim that X or Y was only a "4 star" guy, but the point is if Price can sign kids like this after back to back losing seasons, on a shoe string budget, Mike Leach needs to step up his recruiting game -- now that he has admitted, what we all knew, but the leeches refused concede until now, that he is getting out recruited.

smh

 

[dgibbons]

Josh Shavies, Jeremey Williams and Faafetal Tupai ??? You might claim that X or Y was only a "4 star" guy, but the point is if Price can sign kids like this after back to back losing seasons, on a shoe string budget, Mike Leach needs to step up his recruiting game -- now that he has admitted, what we all knew, but the leeches refused concede until now, that he is getting out recruited.

Well, I guess fire everyone since WSU is not out-recruiting USC, uw, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc.

Sure, Price could land some good classes. It happened about once every 3-4 years, evidenced by WSU's yoyo W-L records.

 

[Brent H.]

Josh Shavies, Jeremey Williams and Faafetal Tupai ??? You might claim that X or Y was only a "4 star" guy, but the point is if Price can sign kids like this after back to back losing seasons, on a shoe string budget, Mike Leach needs to step up his recruiting game -- now that he has admitted, what we all knew, but the leeches refused concede until now, that he is getting out recruited.

That was one class a year after we won the Pac-10 and before the facility arms race began. Apples to oranges. Leach’s recruiting hasn’t been bad, Price never had this consistency with bowl games. Leach’s problem, like a lot of coaches here, Price included is turnover and missing on guys. Wazzu is going to have gamble of some guys and for the most part it’s paid off.

Wazzu will always be outrecruited. Where we win is we out develop. Remember the SI Title after we won the Apple Cup in 97? “Revenge of the Rejects.” True then and true today.

 

[Cougsocal]

He didn't say anything of the sort.

What was Leach's response to Blanchette about why we are owned by the Huskies? Getting out recruited? Let's stop denying reality, Leach is a great coach, but doesn't recruit at that level he should be, considering the money spent and his demonstrated success.

 

[dgibbons]

What was Leach's response to Blanchette about why we are owned by the Huskies? Getting out recruited? Let's stop denying reality, Leach is a great coach, but doesn't recruit at that level he should be, considering the money spent and his demonstrated success.

uw has been the premiere program in the PAC-12 for the last four years or so, and yes uw does outrecruit us.

Did you have a point?

 

[fingerdisco]

What was Leach's response to Blanchette about why we are owned by the Huskies? Getting out recruited? Let's stop denying reality, Leach is a great coach, but doesn't recruit at that level he should be, considering the money spent and his demonstrated success.

His response was that the press felates themselves over the touted Husky recruiting and then acts surprised when we lose the apple cup. If you want to read into it that he was making a sweeping admission of recruiting ineptitude, go ahead, but that wasn't his point.

 

[Fab5Coug]

Josh Shavies, Jeremey Williams and Faafetal Tupai ??? You might claim that X or Y was only a "4 star" guy, but the point is if Price can sign kids like this after back to back losing seasons, on a shoe string budget, Mike Leach needs to step up his recruiting game -- now that he has admitted, what we all knew, but the leeches refused concede until now, that he is getting out recruited.

I've never seen or heard of those guys being 5 star recruits.

Only 5 star we've had was the Burger King Customer of the Year, Terry Mixon.

 

[fingerdisco]

I've never seen or heard of those guys being 5 star recruits.

Only 5 star we've had was the Burger King Customer of the Year, Terry Mixon.

Wasn't Randy Estes and the Traveling Allstars a 5 as well?

 

[Cougsocal]

Did you have a point?[/QUOTE]


Yes, Leach needs to figure out a way to start recruiting as an upper division level, he doesn’t have excuses not to. Great name recognition, longevity, sustained success, great facilities, supportive administration, it’s not going to get conducive, ever. If we are going to make the jump back to winning a championship, his recruiting must improve, 19 years as a bridesmaid is proof. Jesus, Mike Price had none of these advantages, wasn’t the coach Leach is, but was able to get the talent needed to get it done to Pullman, twice.

 

[Fab5Coug]

Wasn't Randy Estes and the Traveling Allstars a 5 as well?

Believe he was a 4

 

[Cougsocal]

His response was that the press felates themselves over the touted Husky recruiting and then acts surprised when we lose the apple cup. If you want to read into it that he was making a sweeping admission of recruiting ineptitude, go ahead, but that wasn't his point.

Don’t you think Blanchette was trying to get Mike Leach to respond to the issue that his career is dogged by the inability to get over the hump. The common belief amongst pundits, and fans generally, is recruiting is his Achilles’ heel. Leach certainly believed Blanchette was getting at this issue, and did not offer an effective fact-based response, as truthful as it was. However, you’re right, Mike Leach does not truly believe he is a weak recruiter. He blames other factors for his failure to bring in top talent. I believe it is a bit of both.

 

[Cougsocal]

That was one class a year after we won the Pac-10 and before the facility arms race began. Apples to oranges. Leach’s recruiting hasn’t been bad, Price never had this consistency with bowl games. Leach’s problem, like a lot of coaches here, Price included is turnover and missing on guys. Wazzu is going to have gamble of some guys and for the most part it’s paid off.

Wazzu will always be outrecruited. Where we win is we out develop. Remember the SI Title after we won the Apple Cup in 97? “Revenge of the Rejects.” True then and true today.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. And there is nothing on Google describing the 1997 team as the revenge of the rejects. If you have a reference, provide it, otherwise I call BS.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. And there is nothing on Google describing the 1997 team as the revenge of the rejects. If you have a reference, provide it, otherwise I call BS.

It was the title of the SI article about the team, and its pretty much a well know fact for anyone who was alive and following Cougar football at the time.

***Edit -Found it.

Here ya go, smartass

 

[Brent H.]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. And there is nothing on Google describing the 1997 team as the revenge of the rejects. If you have a reference, provide it, otherwise I call BS.

Well, considering you think we signed 3 5 star players in 98 I wouldn't expect somebody to know WSU history.

 

[CougEd]

I've never seen or heard of those guys being 5 star recruits.

Only 5 star we've had was the Burger King Customer of the Year, Terry Mixon.

Randy Estes

 

[royhobbs2]

Estes was a 4 star

 

[Glad Cougar]

Stanford's overall batting average in getting recruits has to be one of the highest in CFB. I know in the state of Texas when they identify and go after a kid they get him . And that is the case no matter his other offers etc.. Given that it is a little surprising that their football record has trended down so much in the last few years.

Two 4-star players out of Texas just last year, both with Texas and A&M , LSU Ohio State , Auburn etc. offers.

Somehow, some way, we were able to keep Max Borghi from heading to Stanford. We'll lose that battle more often than not, but I'm sure glad Max stuck with his commitment to WSU.

Glad Cougar

 

[CougEd]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. And there is nothing on Google describing the 1997 team as the revenge of the rejects. If you have a reference, provide it, otherwise I call BS.

Well... agree with your premise, recruiting has to pick up. And no I don't look at stars, but I do look at numbers, the amount of attrition, and the lack of speed I see at certain defensive positions.

The 97 team had two walk-ons on the offensive line that stayed healthy the entire year. (which was key to Price's success) Tims was a walkon at WR, Taylor was a coverted RB, McWashington was a converted QB, Chris Jackson was a BB player. Michael Black was in juvenile detention. Well then there was Leaf. Dennis wanted him as a TE

Dorian was a JC kid. Bender was prop 48, Holmes UW did not want, Gleason was undersized lb, Nelson was a walkon, Moore was a prop 48 who was originally a corner.

D Moronkola no one really wanted, Duane Stewart probably a 2 or 3 star kid, Gibbons (like his namesake on the board is toasted) replaced by ray Jackson (pretty highly recruited) who was at safety and Lamont.

Yeah, to call them a bunch of kids with a chip on their shoulder and hand me downs is pretty accurate.

It goes to evaluation. They did a nice job.

 

[longtimecoug]

What was Leach's response to Blanchette about why we are owned by the Huskies? Getting out recruited? Let's stop denying reality, Leach is a great coach, but doesn't recruit at that level he should be, considering the money spent and his demonstrated success.

that wasnt his response at all

 

[etowncoug]

Did you have a point?

Yes, Leach needs to figure out a way to start recruiting as an upper division level, he doesn’t have excuses not to. Great name recognition, longevity, sustained success, great facilities, supportive administration, it’s not going to get conducive, ever. If we are going to make the jump back to winning a championship, his recruiting must improve, 19 years as a bridesmaid is proof. Jesus, Mike Price had none of these advantages, wasn’t the coach Leach is, but was able to get the talent needed to get it done to Pullman, twice.[/QUOTE]

Historically, our 4 star recruits have been disappointing. Kegel was one of our highest rated QB recruits ever and only started for a season. Josh Shavies went from TE to DT and never made much of an impact. Jeremy Williams was really good but was outshined by one star classmate Rein Long. The 2002 Rose Bowl was fueled by a bunch of 1 and 2 star players who were really stinking good. Price wasn't beating the big boys for recruits, he was turning over rocks and discovering talent. He also took a ton of grade risks. Every year we'd lose a couple of Uber talents because they couldnt qualify.

Price would have needed to adapt had he stayed. 1) Combines and showcases have made it easier for kids to get noticed. Same goes for Hudl Gone are the days of finding NFL talent no one knows about. 2) High Schools do a much better job of tracking academic progress than they did 20 years ago. Colleges can know with a high degree of probability if a kid will qualify or not by junior year.

 

[CougEd]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. And there is nothing on Google describing the 1997 team as the revenge of the rejects. If you have a reference, provide it, otherwise I call BS.

Here is the real question, talent wise where are we compared to 2013 and 14? Or more inline with 2012 and 2013 class that brought us 15 and 16?

 

[95coug]

It was the title of the SI article about the team, and its pretty much a well know fact for anyone who was alive and following Cougar football at the time.

***Edit -Found it.

Here ya go, smartass

I remember reading that article when it was hot off the press, and thinking "damn right."

But a few passages make me cringe a little now:

"The NFL should take heart. The league is suffering from a bad case of the Billy Joes, a terrible affliction in which entire Sundays are marred by hideous quarterback play. But Leaf is coming, and the citizens of Pro Football Nation will adore him."

 

[Ffffws]

The recruiting landscape has changed dramatically since Price's era. Considering that, Leach should be compared with other current coaches. Leach brings in consistently strong classes into Pullman. Pullman has hurdles that even Saban couldn't overcome. I do think we can do a better job on defense in bringing in game changers. That's why this DC hire is so important

 

[etowncoug]

Here is the real question, talent wise where are we compared to 2013 and 14? Or more inline with 2012 and 2013 class that brought us 15 and 16?

This class is reminding me of the 2016 group. Seems like a lot of high character kids, not many heavily recruited players, lots of kids who can kill out a depth chart, but a group which is going to take us to a Rose bowl without help from other classes.

 

[dgibbons]

I've never seen or heard of those guys being 5 star recruits.

Only 5 star we've had was the Burger King Customer of the Year, Terry Mixon.

Jermaine Green was a five star.

 

[froropmkr72]

Jermaine Green was a five star.

Was Sammy a 5 or 4 star JC?

 

[dgibbons]

Was Sammy a 5 or 4 star JC?

Four.

 

[froropmkr72]

Hmmm. Thought we had two 5 stars that year.

 

[Cougsocal]

Well, considering you think we signed 3 5 star players in 98 I wouldn't expect somebody to know WSU history.

Mock all you want, but are you man enough to admit you were wrong?

Here is proof that the 99 class included three top 100 recruits, nationally. They are elite recruits in anyone’s book. The type of recruit that Leach has never signed This list does not include Isaac Brown, 14 LB nationally, Matt Kegel, #21 QB, Marcus Trufant, Washington Gatorade player of the Year, or Josh Parrish, rate the #2 TE on the west coast by TNT. Ultimately, this class was ranked #24 nationally by Super Prep Magazine and #22 by Rivals. So it is time stop ignoring the reality that Mike Leach, with all the advantages he has vs Mike Price, should be recruiting a damn site better than he is.

Here are their CVs

TUPAI, Faafetai DL 6-4 298 Monterey, Calif.
HIGH SCHOOL: Coached by Ted Robinson at Monterey High, where he earned three varsity letters...a standout two-way player earning honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman...as a SOPHOMORE finished second at the Monterey Bay League wrestling tourney...football team's most improved player...during JUNIOR season named the league's best defensive player and named to the All-MBL team on both offense and defense...also All-Monterey County and an All-State pick...SENIOR year received seven votes in the Long Beach P-T's Best in the West voting...also a Western 100 pick (number 10 OL) by the Tacoma News Tribune...one the National Recruiting Center's National 100 pick (84) and named to Super Prep Magazine's All-American team (number 17 DL) and to their All-Far West team (25)...ESPN Top 100 All-America pick...team finished 11-2 and won Div III sectional title...named MBL's lineman of the year and picked to both the offensive and defensive teams...won team's Golden Helmet Award.

11. WILLIAMS, Jeremey DL 6-5 255 Fr. Spokane, Wash.
HIGH SCHOOL: A two-sport standout at Ferris High with varsity letters in football and basketball...coached by Clarence Hough...football captain senior year...as a JUNIOR, recorded 100 tackles, including 36 for losses and 11 sacks,...named to the All-Greater Spokane League first team...All-State pick...team's outstanding lineman...had 15 tackles against Rogers and 12 in a game against Mesa...SENIOR year honored with selection to the National Recruiting Center National 100 (51) and to The Sporting News' Top 101 (81) team...ESPN top 100...received five votes in the Best in the West poll by the Long Beach P-T...a Seattle Times Red Chip pick and named to the Northwest Nugget second team by the Tacoma News Tribune...National Football Hall of Fame lineman of the year...an All-State second team pick by the Washington Prep Report...made 83 tackles, including 21 for losses and four sacks...All-GSL selection for the second straight year.

23. SHAVIES, Josh TE 6-6 250 Fr. Fremont, Calif.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Fremont High and was coached by Matthew Walker...earned three varsity letters in football and four in basketball...an outstanding athlete who received Div. I scholarship offers in both sports...FRESHMAN basketball season named defensive player of the year and freshman of the year...during SOPHOMORE year named to the All-Oakland Athletic League team...selected to the All-California sophomore team...as a JUNIOR named to the All-State Junior team...also earned all-league honors in basketball...SENIOR year a Super Prep Magazine All-American and a member of their All-Far West (18) team...also a National Recruiting Center National 100 honoree (63) and a The Sporting News Top 101 pick (92)...the number three TE on the Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100 team



https://wsucougars.com/sports/1999/4/7/208260548.aspx

 

[Cougsocal]

I've never seen or heard of those guys being 5 star recruits.

Only 5 star we've had was the Burger King Customer of the Year, Terry Mixon.

Mock all you want, but are you man enough to admit you were wrong?

Here is proof that the 99 class included three top 100 recruits, nationally. They are elite recruits in anyone’s book. The type of recruit that Leach has never signed This list does not include Isaac Brown, 14 LB nationally, Matt Kegel, #21 QB, Marcus Trufant, Washington Gatorade player of the Year, or Josh Parrish, rate the #2 TE on the west coast by TNT. Ultimately, this class was ranked #24 nationally by Super Prep Magazine and #22 by Rivals. So it is time stop ignoring the reality that Mike Leach, with all the advantages he has vs Mike Price, should be recruiting a damn site better than he is.

Here are their CVs

TUPAI, Faafetai DL 6-4 298 Monterey, Calif.
HIGH SCHOOL: Coached by Ted Robinson at Monterey High, where he earned three varsity letters...a standout two-way player earning honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman...as a SOPHOMORE finished second at the Monterey Bay League wrestling tourney...football team's most improved player...during JUNIOR season named the league's best defensive player and named to the All-MBL team on both offense and defense...also All-Monterey County and an All-State pick...SENIOR year received seven votes in the Long Beach P-T's Best in the West voting...also a Western 100 pick (number 10 OL) by the Tacoma News Tribune...one the National Recruiting Center's National 100 pick (84) and named to Super Prep Magazine's All-American team (number 17 DL) and to their All-Far West team (25)...ESPN Top 100 All-America pick...team finished 11-2 and won Div III sectional title...named MBL's lineman of the year and picked to both the offensive and defensive teams...won team's Golden Helmet Award.

11. WILLIAMS, Jeremey DL 6-5 255 Fr. Spokane, Wash.
HIGH SCHOOL: A two-sport standout at Ferris High with varsity letters in football and basketball...coached by Clarence Hough...football captain senior year...as a JUNIOR, recorded 100 tackles, including 36 for losses and 11 sacks,...named to the All-Greater Spokane League first team...All-State pick...team's outstanding lineman...had 15 tackles against Rogers and 12 in a game against Mesa...SENIOR year honored with selection to the National Recruiting Center National 100 (51) and to The Sporting News' Top 101 (81) team...ESPN top 100...received five votes in the Best in the West poll by the Long Beach P-T...a Seattle Times Red Chip pick and named to the Northwest Nugget second team by the Tacoma News Tribune...National Football Hall of Fame lineman of the year...an All-State second team pick by the Washington Prep Report...made 83 tackles, including 21 for losses and four sacks...All-GSL selection for the second straight year.

23. SHAVIES, Josh TE 6-6 250 Fr. Fremont, Calif.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Fremont High and was coached by Matthew Walker...earned three varsity letters in football and four in basketball...an outstanding athlete who received Div. I scholarship offers in both sports...FRESHMAN basketball season named defensive player of the year and freshman of the year...during SOPHOMORE year named to the All-Oakland Athletic League team...selected to the All-California sophomore team...as a JUNIOR named to the All-State Junior team...also earned all-league honors in basketball...SENIOR year a Super Prep Magazine All-American and a member of their All-Far West (18) team...also a National Recruiting Center National 100 honoree (63) and a The Sporting News Top 101 pick (92)...the number three TE on the Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100 team



https://wsucougars.com/sports/1999/4/7/208260548.aspx

 

[Cougsocal]

It was the title of the SI article about the team, and its pretty much a well know fact for anyone who was alive and following Cougar football at the time.

***Edit -Found it.

Here ya go, smartass

Thanks for finding the article. However, the 1997 team, wasn't the same animal as the 2001-2003, or 1992-1994 teams, for that matter. As result, I make no mention of it as proof of Price's recruiting prowess. It had talent, but was razor thin depth-wise, and senior dominated, and we got to the Rose Bowl because both the offense and defense played together as units largely injury free for two full seasons. They were as experience as any teams we have ever had, and had the opportunity to learn to play well together, hence the 1996 to 1997 turnaround, without significant personal changes.