Mead’s Mattingly commits to Cougars

Mead defensive back Andy Mattingly has orally committed to play football at Washington State, making him the third unofficial member of the 2006 recruiting class at WSU.

An all-GSL defender as a junior and a second-team all-GSL outfielder in the spring, Mattingly said he expects to play safety, linebacker or tight end in college. Last year, WSU did not sign any players out of Spokane.

“Now I can play football (this fall) and I don’t have to worry about it,” he said Sunday, having called WSU recruiting coordinator Robin Pflugrad and head coach Bill Doba Saturday night to commit. Mattingly also had scholarship offers from Oregon State, Boise State and Idaho. “Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be a Cougar. It’s great.”

Mattingly said the coaches at WSU have told him he’ll likely play as a true freshman. He cited coaching staff as well as the family atmosphere surrounding the team as reasons for committing.

Plus, with Mead’s preseason starting Wednesday and WSU middle linebacker Will Derting offering a spare room at his place for football weekends, the timing seemed right.

“Everybody wants to have local kids on the team. I’ll be there for the next four or five years,” Mattingly said. “I’ll be playing so close to home, and everybody will be able to follow me.”

Glenn Kasses