Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting…..

First, the big fish that verballed today – a 4-star defensive tackle from San Diego, rated the #20 defensive tackle in America. Vaunted run-stuffing, 6-0, 290 lb samoan named Fevaea’i Ahmu (sounds like it’s spelled?!?). Here’s some info:

This one is huge. Literally. It’s also a cause for celebration, jumping up and down would not be out of order.Four WSU coaches certainly thought it appropriate.Coming by to see Fevaea’i Ahmu Tuesday night: Washington state coaches Mike Walker, Robb Akey, Ken Greene and George Yarno. During the in-home, Ahmu told them he wanted to be a Cougar.”I can’t remember the words exactly,” laughed Ahmu. “But I said something like ‘I think I’m ready to be a Cougar.'”Cue the hops.”They were just jumping,” Ahmu said. “I saw coach Walker and coach Yarno get UP! They were jumping. They were all jumping, coach Akey, everybody,” he laughed.Our guess is there are some dents in the living room ceiling, especially if defensive coordinator Akey was flying high in the Ahmu household.”Coach Yarno said he was getting goosebumps. They were really happy that I decided to go to the school.”The 6-0, 290-pound wrecking ball from San Diego is among the top prospects in the West. He simply wreaked havoc upon offenses this year for Serra High.Washington State bested Oregon in the Ahmu sweepstakes. Colorado and Arizona were among other suitors on his short list.Cougar defensive line coach Mike Walker was the primary recruiter on Ahmu — the former WSU and CFL defensive line standout was the deciding factor in Ahmu choosing the Cougs over the Ducks.”I just felt I had a little more of a connection with coach Walker, I felt he could (best) teach me.”Ahmu told CF.C after his Apple Cup visit that the experience Walker brings to the table, how much Ahmu thinks he can learn from defensive line coach, was a huge plus.”Coach Walker is definitely a positive there — his playing defensive tackle (in college and the pros.) It really seems like he knows the game,” Ahmu said at the time.Defensive coordinator Robb Akey and coach Bill Doba also each made a strong impression on Ahmu on his official visit.”And coach Akey, he’s high tempo and he’s excited about me.””Coach Doba, he’s real calm, collective and a fun going guy. It just seems like he’ll take care of me if I go there.”

Another verbal:

James Bradley – 5-9 1/2, 175 lb corner from Garland, TX. He chose the Cougs over ASU and Colorado, among others. He earlier gave Mississippi State a verbal commitment, but then backed out after having a big senior season. Known as a big-time playmaker with tremendous hands. Said South Garland coach Mickey Moss of the defensive back; “He is a playmaking machine.”

He committed Saturday night during his visit to WSU. “I told coach Greene, the DB coach — yes, he was happy. He basically ran downstairs and went and got all the other players.”

Upon arrival, the Washington State campus made an instant and favorable impression upon Bradley. A winter wonderland isn’t something you often see in Texas.”I liked it. The trip was just a whole different atmosphere. It was cold, it wasn’t cold-cold, but there was snow on the ground and it was just different from where I’ve grown up. I haven’t seen snow in a pile of years.”Also turning the head of Bradley, the togetherness of the Cougar football team.”Everything revolves around the college. They caught my eye. I just liked the whole football program — there’s so much unity. It’s like one big family.”Academically, Bradley has already achieved a qualifying SAT score and is in fine shape.”I made a 970,” Bradley said matter-of-factly.On the season Bradley notched 58 tackles, five INTs, eight pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and seven blocked field goals/PATs. Also returned punts and kickoffs, and played on all the special team units.”They’ve got a good thing coming,” said Bradley. “Let all the Washington State fans know, here I come.” Oh yeah, he’s also BLAZING fast – 4.41 in the 40 at a Texas camp last summer!

If you are keeping score at home, that is now 3 recruits in the last year that the Cougs have landed from Texas. Linebacker Marcus Burton, a hard-hitting linebacker, and linebacker Tyson Kirksey, a singing from 2004 but an academic casualty, are both expected to be Cougs this spring. That win over the Horns in the Holiday may turn out to be the biggest splash the Cougs could have hoped for, at least in a state that regulary churs out over 100 division 1 prospects every single year.

Now, the worrisome news – Ty Willingham is pretty dry-witted, boring, you name it. But the man can recruit, bottom line. He’s also african-american. Any minority kid in America might actually want to her his message now, with a D-1 school that has made history with a football and basketball head coach as african americans! The response has been lukewarm, at best, as Willingham wasn’t on any top-10 lists floating around. We all know UW wanted Tedford in the worst way, followed by Urban Meyer, Superior, Nick Saban, etc. All spurned UW on the spot. PHEW. But, I actually think this is a great hire for them, one that won’t lead them to a BCS bowl, but certainly one that will clean up that program and recruit some kids that a 1-10 program might never be able to reach. He’s a gift from the sky is the way one guy told me yesterday. He might be right.

Ho-hum. Pretty boring time right now with the *yahn* bowl season under way…..

By the way, BET EVERYTHING on Oklahoma, right here and now! They are going to win by at least 10 points, maybe 14.