River Cracraft impact newcomer at WR for WSU

Maybe Mike Leach has a plan: give the No. 84 to the most promising of his freshmen receivers, and watch them dazzle onlookers during preseason camp.

Last year it was Gabe Marks – he’s since switched to No. 9 – who quickly made it apparent that he wasn’t going to be an observer as a true freshman. And this season a new face has emerged as the Cougars’ most likely first-year contributor: 6-foot, 198-pound receiver River Cracraft out of Santa Margarita (Calif.) high school.

Cracraft will see significant time at the inside “Y” receiver position this season. His performance in camp has earned consistent praise from Leach, as well as from quarterbacks Connor Halliday and Austin Apodaca.

“River’s just a real mature player and came in playing well right off the top,” Leach said. “Also, he had the benefit (that) he’s always played receiver, being in an offense where they threw it quite a bit.”