Cougars beef up running backs, WRs

PULLMAN – Head coach Bill Doba welcomed a recruiting class of 23 players Wednesday, while leaving open the possibility for that number to go up in the coming weeks and months.

Four of the 23 are already on Washington State’s campus and will be able to participate in spring practices.

“We needed to fill our needs,” Doba said, “and I think especially we’ve strengthened ourselves at receiver with the kids we’ve signed. And I think we’ve helped ourselves in the secondary. Those were our two major concerns.”

Washington State’s primary focus – at least in numbers – was at wide receiver (five) and running back (five).

But what also jumps out when examining this haul is the volume of junior college talent the Cougars have brought in.

WSU received letters of intent from six players out of junior college. Two others who have previously committed – defensive tackle Bryan Tarkington and cornerback B.T. Walker – remain unsigned officially.

This is Doba’s fourth recruiting class since taking over as head coach in December 2002, and never had the head coach brought in more than four players from the JC ranks.

“I think you look for immediate help with the JC kids. They’re more mature,” Doba said. “But again, you’d like to have a program primarily of high school kids. But it’s going to become more and more difficult to find the great athlete when the (academic) requirements become stiffer and more demanding every year.”

Two consecutive losing seasons, including last year’s 4-7 mark, could have also played significantly into the decision as well.

Two of the junior college recruits, running back J.T. Diederichs and wide receiver Charles Dillon, signed with WSU in 2004 but failed to qualify academically.

Doba cited those two players, along with junior college running back Darrell Hutsona and high schoolers Greg Walker and Andy Mattingly of Mead, as potential contributors this fall.

Washington State also signed another Mead senior, Skylar Jessen, and five others hailing from high schools in Washington.

WSU remains at less than the 85-scholarship limit and could sign as many as four more players while staying within the one-year limit of 25. (Two of the recruits can be counted backward to the 2005 class.)

Doba suggested there is a possibility of incoming players either grayshirting – delaying enrollment until January – or not making the cut academically.

“We’re going to continue to recruit,” Doba said. “We’ve still got a couple spaces open, looking for corners or linebackers.”