Comments from WSU Head Coach Mike Price
Football head coach talks about this year's recruiting class.
February 4, 1998
OVERALL: "I'm very pleased with this recruiting class. I think this was an unusually good year for the state of Washington. We were very selective in the players we recruited and there is always the chance we missed some players who will go to other schools and be very good players. It was very unusual we didn't get any of the five quarterbacks in the state who signed with division one schools, but we did get the quarterback we wanted in Jason Gesser. In my evaluation, I felt he was our number one choice. We have 10 players who can run 4.5 seconds or faster in the 40. We have 10 big players and we have five wide receivers, a recruiting area we thought was important.
IMPACT PLAYERS: "Leaford Hackett is a player who can come in and play next year at wide receiver. He has a chance to be the slot receiver. Chris Martin will have an opportunity at cornerback. He is very talented and that is a place we need help. Tyler Hunt could be a long snapper candidate. The wide receivers we have coming in have the ability, size, and speed to contribute as freshmen and probably could start.
OTHER RECRUITS: "It many be a couple of days before the rest of the letters of intent get to us. Not all the paper work required has been returned on at least two other players.
SUMMER CAMP: "We got seven players who were in our summer camp last year. That's the most we have ever signed.
RANKING: "I think it is a real good recruiting class. I really don't care how we are ranked. Maybe I do care. Maybe they need to put us at nine or ten again so we can fight our way back up again. We are used to doing that. Like I say, its not who you recruit, but what you do with them when you get them.
CONTRACT: "I used (not having signed a new contract yet) to my advantage because they (recruits) brought it up in the home and we were able to talk about what was happening and re-establish my commitment and how long I would be at Washington State.
COMPARED TO PAST CLASSES: "I think it is one of the best we have had. We invited 50 players in for visits and we'll get half of them. We usually figure 33 percent of the players who visit will sign. We didn't have many players who visited turn us down. We have room for one more player. We have six defensive linemen, three defensive backs, one linebacker, three offensive linemen, two tight ends, one quarter, five wide receivers, one athlete, and hopefully one running back.
ALEAGA: "He (Ing Aleaga) is awesome. We are very proud to have him sign. I think he can help us next year. He is big, thick, strong, very talented, the kind of player physically who can help next year. He is a great character person from a great family. He is big enough to play nose guard, tackle or end. He is real strong, very physical.
GESSER: "Jason Gesser is kind of a Jake Plummer type quarterback. He is a little more physical, but perhaps not quite as quick. He is agile, very well coached, excellent technique, and could come in next year and play for us or anybody. He is that good. He will be able to compete right away if we choose to open that door of opportunity.
BROWN: "You have to say Kevin Brown is our number one recruit. He is awesome, a real game-breaker."
