Live updates: Washington State looks to capitalize on fifth consecutive bowl appearance as Early Signing Period opens
For the umpteenth time under eighth-year coach Mike Leach, Washington State will sign a recruiting class that won’t look nearly as impressive as that of its peers in the Pac-12 Conference. Yet, once the fax machines slow down and the last letter of intents trickle in, Leach and his coaching staff will return to Rogers Field and shift their attention back to preparation for the Dec. 27 Cheez-It Bowl vs. Air Force.
And how many Pac-12 programs can flaunt at least five consecutive postseason appearances? There’s just three: UW (10), Utah (6) and WSU (5). Surely, the Cougars used that superlative on the recruiting trail these last few weeks as they put together the last pieces of their 2020 recruiting class.
As the letters of intent roll in throughout the morning and early afternoon, we’ll track them in real time, providing full player biographies below with links to Twitter profiles and Hudl highlight tapes.
Nathaniel James
Position: Defensive tackle
High school: Avon (Avon, Ind.)
Height/weight: 6-0, 250
Other notable offers: Indiana
On James: If iron sharpens iron, then imagine the work James got in the Indianapolis suburbs, practicing opposite Notre Dame-bound Blake Fisher, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound offensive tackle at Avon who’s considered the ninth-best offensive lineman in the country and holds offers from Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Ohio State. Working against James probably didn’t hurt Fisher, either. The only Midwest prospect in this recruiting class, James had a monster senior season at Avon, finishing with 71 total tackles and six tackles-for-loss, including five sacks. He added 11 quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery for an Orioles team that finished the season 9-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play. James recently posted a video of his personal record back squat, a 750-pound lift that was performed in front of Avon teammates and coaches.
Justin Lohrenz
Position: Defensive end
High school: Columbine (Littleton, Colo.)
Height/weight: 6-4, 230
Other notable offers: Air Force, Colorado State
On Lohrenz: A gifted pass-rusher from Colorado, Lohrenz told The Spokesman-Review last week it had always been his “dream” to play in the Pac-12 and is eager for his first opportunity to play the University of Colorado – be it next season in Boulder or down the road – after Mel Tucker and the Buffaloes chose not to offer the Columbine standout. During his senior season, Lohrenz logged 66 tackles in 14 games and finished with better than one sack per game and 17 total. The Rebels were 11-3 on the season, winning three playoff games before falling short in the state title game – a 35-10 loss to Cherry Creek. Lohrenz has solid height for the position he’ll be playing in Pullman, but at 230 pounds, the Cougars will most likely utilize a year to beef him up, with most of their defensive ends in the 250-270-pound range.
Dylan Mayginnes
Position: Offensive guard
High school: Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Height/weight: 6-5, 285
Other notable offers: None
On Mayginnes: What are the chances two Mayginnes brothers will be starting on WSU’s offensive line in the future? The Cougars had an advantage with younger brother Dylan having invited older brother Hunter as a walk-on one year earlier. Dylan hosted WSU coaches Mason Miller and Jeff Phelps nearly a year ago and was sold on the Cougars before anyone else in the class, committing in early April. “I love his work ethic, I love his leadership, I love how he continues to get better,” Hamilton coach Mike Zdebski told azcentral.com about Dylan Mayginnes after the player committed. Mayginnes’ Hamilton team finished the season 9-2 and the lineman blocked for an offense that scored 38.7 points per game.
Hunter Escorcia
Position: Safety
High school: Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.)
Height/weight: 6-2, 175
Other notable offers: Utah, Yale, Navy, San Diego State
On Escorcia: Washington State’s secondary lost a ball-hawking safety from California when Jalen Thompson left last summer, but the Cougars gain another one in Escorcia, who, at 6-foot-2, should give the Cougars plenty of length in the back end. His ability to tackle in open space should also be a welcome sight for a group that regressed in that area this season. Pac-12 schools weren’t necessarily swarming Escorcia but the Vista Murrieta standout did have another Pac-12 offer, from Kyle Whittingham and Utaho, who’ve evolved into one of the league’s top defensive units and have gone to consecutive conference title games.
Marshawn Buchanan
Position: Running back
High school: Adelanto (Adelanto, Calif.)
Height/weight: 5-11, 178
Other notable offers: Arizona, Oregon State, Boise State
On Buchanan: Eric Mele’s position group adds another intriguing piece with Buchanan, who carries all of the traits necessary for a running back in the Air Raid offense. The workhorse Adelanto tailback produced on the ground his final two prep seasons, carrying the ball 284 times for 2,916 yards and 33 touchdowns in just 24 games. Buchanan wasn’t thrown to much as a senior, but he made the most of the receptions he had, catching five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Boise State made an attempt to flip Buchanan three weeks ago when the Broncos hosted the running back for an official visit, and he held two other Pac-12 offers from schools who utilize the position in a more traditional sense. But, Buchanan might have a chance to crack the rotation at WSU in two years with Deon McIntosh graduating and Max Borghi potentially leaving early for the NFL.
Devin Kylany
Position: Offensive guard
High school: Lake Stevens (Lake Stevens, Wash.)
Height/weight: 6-4, 275
Other notable offers: Air Force, Arizona State
On Kylany: Some have decried WSU’s recruiting efforts in the state of Washington, but that certainly doesn’t apply on the offensive line, where Kylany will make it five straight years of the Cougars signing an in-state offensive lineman. Kylany had an offer from WSU’s Cheez-It Bowl opponent, Air Force, and one from Arizona State, but chose WSU, perhaps because of the success other Washingtonians such as Josh Watson, Abraham Lucas, Cody O’Connell and Andre Dillard had in Mike Leach’s offense. Kylany was in danger of missing the entirety of his senior season at Lake Stevens after tearing his ACL in the 2019 Mat Classic, but he recovered in time to join his football teammates for their state opener against Union.
Keyshawn Smith
Position: Wide receiver
High school: Lincoln (San Diego)
Height/weight: 6-0/165
Other notable offers: Tennessee, Boise State, San Diego State
On Smith: Mike Leach and the Cougars filled out another strong wide receiver class when Smith committed last week, despite an SEC offer from Tennessee, one from mid-major powerhouse Boise State and another from his hometown Aztecs. Smith did it all for Lincoln as a senior, catching 46 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing 16 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns and also throwing one touchdown for David Dunn’s Hornets, who finished with a 10-3 record and lost to Oceanside in the state championship game. At 6-feet, Smith is poised to play in the slot at WSU and could give the Cougars another shifty, sure-handed option in two years after current “Y” receiver Renard Bell graduates.
Moon Ashby
Position: Outside linebacker
High school: Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)
Height/weight: 6-4, 200
Other notable offers: Kansas State
On Ashby: While he’s listed at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Ashby’s head coach at Valley Christian, Mike Machado, described his player as “all of 6-foot-5” and “210 pounds” in a San Jose Mercury News story published in August. Ashby, it seems, will have the chance to play at “Rush” linebacker for WSU, but his frame – comparable to that of Cougars freshman Travion Brown – could also make him a viable option at either of the middle linebacker positions. As a senior at Valley Christian, the same school that produced Ron Stone, Ashby totaled 71 tackles, had 10 tackles-for-loss and 2½ sacks. He added one interception and defended six passes for Machado’s Warriors, who went 11-2 and allowed just 82 points on the year, pitching four shutouts along the way.
Justin Anderson
Position: Cornerback
High school: Menlo-Atherton (Menlo Park, Calif.)
Height/weight: 6-1, 175
Other notable offers: Boston College, Iowa State, Utah
On Anderson: Recently named the Peninsula League Bay Division Utility Athlete of the Year, Anderson was a weapon on offense and defense for Menlo-Atherton, which went 7-4 overall and 5-0 in league play, coming up just short in the first round of the CIF Central Coast Section Playoffs. Anderson spent time as a dual-threat quarterback during his junior season, but the Bears utilized him as a receiver this fall and the senior caught 29 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns In 10 games. He was also a valuable return man for Menlo-Atherton, bringing back both kicks and punts for touchdowns, and had one interception and 20 tackles while patrolling the Bears’ secondary. The Cougars plan to employ him at cornerback, a position of need for a team that’s losing starter Marcus Strong and had three other defensive backs dismissed midseason.
James McNorton
Position: Offensive tackle
High school: Liberty (Brentwood, Calif.)
Height/weight: 6-5, 265
Other notable offers: Oregon State
On McNorton: A late bloomer, McNorton moved to Liberty from nearby Heritage for his senior season and opened the year without a single college offer. They started trickling in, first from schools in the Big Sky and Mountain West, before WSU pulled the trigger on Sept. 20 and Oregon State did six days later. McNorton took his official visit to Pullman during the Cougars’ bye week and committed two days after that. According to 247Sports, McNorton has bulked up since moving to Liberty, putting on 20 pounds, but there’s a good chance he’ll add another 30-40 before stepping into the rotation at WSU. McNorton’s Liberty had a strong season, winning 10 games, but the Lions came up short in the second round of the state playoffs, losing 21-14 to Pittsburg.
Julian Ripley
Position: Offensive tackle
High school: Rancho Cucamonga (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
Height/weight: 6-6, 245
Other notable offers: San Diego State
On Ripley: Originally, Ripley was planning to stay closer to home, committing to San Diego State in June before flipping to WSU in September three days after taking an official visit. The Rancho Cucamonga senior, who’s half-Mexican and half-Samoan, has had success on the field and away from it, helping the (Rancho) Cougars win nine games this fall while maintaining a 4.1 grade-point-average. With most of their starting/backup offensive linemen weighing in around 300 pounds, the (WSU) Cougars will probably spend the next few years working with Ripley on his body, as they’ve done with other young, projectable tackles in the past, such as Abraham Lucas and Andre Dillard. Ripley, who jumped at his first Pac-12 offer, closed down his recruitment just two days after choosing WSU.
Rodrick Tialavea
Position: Offensive tackle
High school: Highland (Salt Lake City)
Height/weight: 6-5, 315
Other notable offers: Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia
On Tialavea: The hometown Utes never offered Tialavea, but the big offensive tackle still had plenty of Power Five interest and didn’t decide on WSU until late, announcing his commitment just last week. The Cougars often spend a few years sculpting their young offensive linemen, taking on projects who need a year or two in the weight room to fill out their long, tall frames. At 6-foot-5, Tialavea already has the length the Cougars like at the position, and at 315 pounds, he seems to have the size, too. After a redshirt season Tialevea could have a real shot to compete for playing time. Left tackle Liam Ryan graduates after the 2020 season and it doesn’t seem too far-fetched to think right tackle Abraham Lucas could leave school a year early for the NFL Draft.
Cedrick Pellum
Position: Wide receiver
High school: James Madison (Dallas)
Height/weight: 6-1, 185
Other notable offers: Indiana, Kansas, Houston
On Pellum: A wide receiver who draws his nickname from former Detroit Lions star Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, Pellum is set to become the third Texan pass-catcher on WSU’s roster, joining redshirt freshman Kassidy Woods and true freshman Donovan Ollie – all of whom were recruited by inside receivers coach Dave Nichol, a Dallas native who played in the slot for Texas Tech before Mike Leach arrived in Lubbock. Pellum caught 27 passes for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns as a junior at James Madison and was recently named 2019 6-3A All-District Honorable Mention. Pellum uses his body well at 6-foot-1 and his agility makes him a potent deep threat.
Jackson Lataimua
Position: Safety
High school: Junipero Serra (San Mateo, Calif.)
Height/weight: 5-11, 195
Other notable offers: Nevada
On Lataimua: Of the Cougars’ signees, Lataiumua was the last one still playing for his high school team, when the defensive back and Junipero Serra took on unbeaten Corona del Mar in Norwalk for the CIF Division I-A state championship. The Padres fell 35-27, but still finished the season at an impressive 13-2 mark and it was a 3-yard touchdown run from Lataimua in the state semifinal that secured a title game berth for the Padres. Lataimua’s been a key part of Serra’s offense these last few years, but he’ll come to WSU to help the Cougars’ embattled secondary unit, and is now one of only two safeties in the class of 2020 with Alaka’I Gilman’s decommitment. The Cougars have gone to Serra before, plucking nickel Pat Nunn from the Bay Area powerhouse, along with wide receiver Easop Winston Jr., who played for head coach Patrick Walsh before going to City College of San Francisco City College.
Joey Hobert
Position: Wide receiver
High school: San Juan Hills (Capistrano, Calif.)
Height/weight: 5-11, 175
Other notable offers: BYU, Hawaii, San Diego State
On Hobert: A slot receiver from Southern California, Hobert will draw plenty of comparisons to River Cracraft, Kyle Sweet and now Brandon Arconado, who all played the “Y” for Mike Leach and thrived in the Air Raid despite minimal interest from other Power Five schools on the recruiting trail. As Mr. Everything for San Juan Hills, Hobert caught 78 passes for 1,216 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, rushed for one touchdown, recovered a fumble for a touchdown, returned two interceptions for touchdowns, brought back two punt returns for touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He scored on offense and defense and had a blocked kick in San Juan Hills’ 21-15 victory over Loyolya to win the school’s first-ever CIF-SS championship.
Jayden de Laura
Position: Quarterback
High school: Saint Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Height/weight: 6-1, 190
Other notable offers: Ohio State, USC, Hawaii
On de Laura: A few of college football’s blue blood programs tried to lure the three-star prospect away after the Cougars became the first Power Five to offer, but de Laura didn’t waver after committing in early October. De Laura capped off a prolific senior season at Saint Louis by throwing for 3,353 yards and 27 touchdowns and leading the Crusaders to a second consecutive Open Division state championship – the first QB to do so at the Hawaiian powerhouse that’s also produced Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa, Timmy Chang and Jason Gesser. The Crusaders won the state title game 45-6 – the largest margin of victory in championship game history – as de Laura finished off his prep career with an unblemished 22-0 record. A few college blue bloods came after de Laura not long after he pledged to WSU, but the quarterback recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Cougars despite interest from Ohio State and USC.
Marquise Freeman
Postion: Outside linebacker
High school: Cocoa (Cocoa, Fla.)
Height/weight: 6-3, 185
Other notable offers: Nebraska, Louisville, West Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Kentucky.
On Freeman: The Floridian’s addition was a surprise to Cougar fans and avid recruiting followers. While Freeman’s held an offer from WSU since before his senior season at Cocoa High – situated in the town of Cocoa, just east of Orlando – the player never indicated any interest in the Cougars, or any program at all for that matter, and entered the Early Signing Period without committing. It’s possible WSU held a scholarship for Freeman in case Chamberlain (Fla.) High defensive end Johnny Walker chose to decommit, or perhaps WSU was prepared to pull Walker’s scholarship in case Freeman wound up choosing the Cougars. Either way, the defense is getting a three-star edge rusher from the state of Florida.
Gabriel Lopez
Position: Defensive end
High school: Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
Height/weight: 6-3, 227
Other notable offers: Minnesota, Yale, UNLV
On Lopez: The three-star edge rusher and his Desert Pines team absolutely ripped through the regular season, outscoring opponents 516-104 before dropping the state championship game to Centennial (Las Vegas), 20-7. Opposing quarterbacks were under constant duress when they faced the Jaguars, who had one of the state’s top pass-rushers in Lopez, responsible for 37 total tackles on the season. Lopez came into the season with 33 sacks in his career, needing just a half-sack to tie the unofficial Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record. He did so in the Jaguars’ first game, with two sacks against Bishop Manogue, and dominated the rest of the way. Of the 37 tackles Lopez made, 20 were tackles-for-loss, and of those 20 tackles-for-loss, 15 were sacks.