Blue-Chip Retreads Pay Off

Washington State coach Mike Price is learning that close counts not only in horseshoes and hand grenades, but recruiting, as well.

The proof is in the Cougars’ 1995 football roster, which includes transfers from Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Nebraska.

All are former blue-chip prep prospects, who were aggressively recruited by Price and his staff out of high school, but chose to go elsewhere.

Chad Davis, in his second year as WSU’s starting quarterback, originally signed with Oklahoma after setting national prep passing records as a senior at San Diego’s Mira Mesa High School.

Paul Micklebart, a 6-foot-6, 283-pound offensive tackle from Bothel, signed with Notre Dame after a standout prep career at Cascade High School, but transferred to WSU last January. He is sitting out the 1995 season under the NCAA’s transfer rule, but will be eligible to compete next year.

As will Tray Crayton, a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back from Oceanside, Calif., who transferred from Nebraska earlier this fall after redshirting on the Huskers’ national championship team last season.

Throw in James Curtis, a 210-pound running back out of San Diego’s Kearny High School, who transferred last spring after playing at San Diego State as a true freshman in 1993, and you have an immensely talented quartet that could play a key role in WSU’s football future.

Price calls them “bounce-back recruits” who he came close to landing out of high school. But he admits he isn’t sure why just coming close in the recruiting wars is suddenly paying such dividends.

“The only thing I can relate it to is that we’ve gone after some blue-chip athletes recently,” he explained. “We didn’t get many of them, but we must have given them some kind of picture in their minds that Washington State might not be too bad a place to go. “Then, when they think about transferring, they think, ‘Hey, I might call that coach Price guy up there in Pullman and see what he thinks about me coming there.’ “

Davis, who will make his 15th consecutive start in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. Pacific-10 Conference opener against UCLA in Martin Stadium, said the scenario Price describes fits his situation perfectly.

“A big part of it goes to the coaching staff and how they recruit - their home visits and the message they give to the kids,” he explained. “If they don’t visit, they remember something about Washington State. I know I did.”

In evaluating his recent “bounce-back” recruiting success, Price is quick to point out Davis, Crayton and Curtis were all recruited by his former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, now an assistant with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

“He’s doing a better job now that he’s not here than when he was here,” Price joked. “He’s fantastic.”

Davis said he has been impressed with the caliber of transfers Price has landed on the rebound.

Trojan tandem

Brad Otton must be wondering what he has to do to nail down the quarterback job at Southern California.

The rangy 6-6 junior transfer from Weber State threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns in the Trojans’ 45-10 rout of Houston last Saturday, despite splitting time with senior Kyle Wachholtz for the second consecutive game.

Otton’s performance put him atop the Pac-10’s passing efficiency list with percentage of 191.51, but coach John Robinson indicated he might still play both Otton and Wachholtz in Saturday’s crucial road matchup against 24th-ranked Arizona.

Fien-dish disguise

UCLA quarterback Ryan Fien, who missed last Saturday’s 38-31 loss to Oregon, is sporting a goatee these days.

The new beatnik look has nothing to do, however, with Fien’s sense of style - or lack of it.

It is the result of not being able to shave his chin after having it stitched for a second time following the Bruins’ 23-9 win over BYU 10 days ago.

Pac-10 honorees

Oregon quarterback Tony Graziani and Southern California defensive tackle Matt Keneley have been named Pacific 10 players of the week.

Graziani completed 19 of 35 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns in UO’s 38-31 victory over No. 12 UCLA and also rushed eight times for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Keneley had a game-high 10 tackles, including two sacks, in USC’s 45-10 win over Houston.

Third-and-shorts

Brett Musberger will call the play-by-play of Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. regional telecast of the UCLAWashington State from Martin Stadium. Dick Vermeil and Jack Arute will add color commentarty… . WSU ranks No. 1 in the nation in run defense, having allowed an average of only 36 rushing yards per game… . Stanford’s 2-0-1 start is its best since 1986 when the Cardinal opened with four consecutive wins… . By catching eight passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in USC’s 45-10 win over Houston last Saturday, wideout Keyshawn Johnson ran his string of 100-yard receiving games to 10.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo