WSU Recruit Switches to USC, Sees Stock Immediately Jump

OK, sure, this is sour grapes - big time - for USC sweeping BC native Trey Henderson off his feet over the weekend. USC robs from the poor and steals away a WSU verbal commit. It's happened before, it'll happen again, and I can't blame a kid for getting his dream chance to play for the monster empire that is the USC football factory. But come on, USC, don't you have enough high-school All-Americans in the fold? Isn't it enough to get every recruit you want, that you don't have to beat the bushes and take away a 2-star kid who committed to little 'ol WSU in December?

Now, to take a guy away from WSU is one thing. But to see his rating suddenly rise to a 3-star selection after committing to USC? After he had been a 2-star diamond in the rough all this time, to suddenly see the uptick right at the moment he commits to USC? To also jump up 20 spots in the national positional rankings? I guess the idea is hey, if the kid is good enough to get an offer from USC, he must be a future star. But had he stuck with his pledge to WSU, anyone doubt that 2-star ranking would be beside Henderson's name right about now? Neither do I.

On to other items of business. The good news from a WSU angle is that there are some commitments coming in with a few days left before signing day. Allen, TX high school defensive back Chima Nwachukwu gave WSU a verbal commitment today. Chidi is a 5-11, 192-pound safety with excellent quickness (4.5 in the 40) and who has played both corner and safety in high school. Early indications are that he'll likely be a corner in the Pac-10. Chima chose the Cougars over Texas A & M and Rice, among others. The Cougars also landed Oga Faumui, a 6-3, 290 lb. JC defensive tackle from Garden City, and is originally out of Auburn, WA. Faumui was 2nd-team all-league last year, and was athletic enough to play some defensive end according to his JC coach. The Arizona schools, plus Hawaii and Nebraska, were on Faumui's list.

So the class is just about complete at this point. With the two new commits today, that leaves the Cougars at 26 players for this year, barring any more last-minute surprises. I'll be back on Wednesday evening to recap the events of signing day. I'm also headed to the Bill Doba football dinner in Bellevue, WA on Friday, where this year's class will be reviewed and video will be shown for many of the signees. I'll have a full recap on that this weekend.