Subscribe now

Mt. Spokane standout Kannon Katzer accepts walk-on offer from Washington State

Mt. Spokane Kannon Katzer runs the ball against Peninsula during the first half of a playoff high school football game, Fri., Nov. 15, 2019, at Joe Albi Stadium. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

On the heels of the most productive season by a running back in recent Spokane-area history, Mt. Spokane standout Kannon Katzer will head to Washington State as a walk-on, he announced on his Twitter account Saturday night.

Katzer, considered a two-star prospect by 247Sports.com, was originally planning to play at Riverside (California) City College before receiving a walk-on offer from first-year coach Nick Rolovich and the Cougars.

Katzer’s 247Sports.com doesn’t show any official offers, but he reported one from Division II Central Washington and apparently had interest from the University of Montana and a handful of lower-level schools including Colorado School of Mines, Minot State, Dakota State and Eastern Oregon.

The 3A Associated Press All-State First Team selection was the most productive player in Washington across all classifications as a senior and led Mt. Spokane to the quarterfinal round of the 3A playoffs before the Wildcats lost 10-3 to O’Dea of Seattle.

Katzer had the most productive rushing season by an area player since former Gonzaga Prep, Washington and NFL running back Bishop Sankey, totaling 247 carries for 2,543 yards and 34 rushing touchdowns. Sankey had 2,602 yards as a senior for the Bullpups in 2010.

He was also used in the Wildcats’ passing game, catching 19 passes for 262 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and returned both punts and kicks, racking up 367 return yards and one touchdown. In total, Katzer finished the season with 3,171 all-purpose yards and 39 touchdowns.

The Greater Spokane League MVP received an endorsement from Sankey, who tweeted “DI POWER 5 HIM!” when responding to a post comparing Sankey’s senior stats to those of Katzer.

In Pullman, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Katzer will join a group of running backs including All-Pac-12 selection Max Borghi, senior Deon McIntosh, redshirt freshman Jouvensly Bazil, redshirt senior Clay Markoff, redshirt junior Cole Dubots and redshirt freshman walk-on Braeden Potter.