Subscribe now

Washington State beats out Utah, others for California safety Hunter Escorcia

WSU takes to the field to face Cal during the first half of a college football game on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

Washington State visits Utah the fifth week of the season, but the Cougars won their first battle against the Utes, beating them to California safety Hunter Escorcia.

Escorcia, a Murrieta native who plays at Vista Murrieta High School, committed to WSU on Thursday, giving the Cougars their sixth pledge in the class of 2020 and their first defensive back.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound safety is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com and held other offers from Yale, Navy, San Diego State, San Jose State and Portland State.

On defense, Escorcia racked up 37 tackles in eight games played last season and intercepted four passes. The senior-to-be also plays wide receiver for Vista Murrieta, but didn’t list any offensive stats on MaxPreps.com.

Escorcia is rangy at 6-2 and plays with a physical edge that’s comparable to current WSU safety Jalen Thompson. Vista Murrieta went 8-3 with Escorcia in the defensive backfield this season and went 5-0 in league games according to MaxPreps.