Washington State Heating up Recruiting Trail with Three Verbal Commits in Three Days
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The recruiting trail for Washington State has heated up with coaches able to spend a little more time forging relationships with key players across the country. On Thursday, the Cougars landed California all-purpose back Romello Harris and then added junior college cornerback Robert Taylor and Utah defensive end Lyric Bartley on Saturday.
Harris has been a key recruit for WSU with offensive coordinator Clay McGuire and wide receivers coach Graham Harrell working for months on setting up the long-term relationship. Harris did not disappoint the Cougars coaching staff rushing for 1,943 yards on 203 carries with 25 touchdowns in nine games helping Tulare Union to a 9-2 record in 2015. Harris added 11 receptions for 123 yards with another score to his stat line.
The Cougars landed the California native over offers from Colorado State, Air Force, Fresno State, Navy, Washington, and Duke. WSU had an in with Harris, JC Robles is a good friend of the Tulare Union standout.
Robert Taylor, listed at 5’11”, 180 pounds, is an under the radar recruit out of City College of San Francisco. Taylor had three reported offers after coming up with 43 tackles, six pass breakups, and five interceptions in 2015. The other teams offering Taylor included Purdue and West Virginia.
Lyric Bartley did a little bit of everything for Taylorsville High School this season rushing 16 times for 86 yards with five touchdowns and caught three passes for another 20 yards. The 6’3”, 245 pounder made his mark on defense coming up with 61 tackles and 18 tackles for a loss in nine games. The Salt Lake City area native added 13.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, and four passes defended to his impressive senior resume.
The Cougars now have 22 verbal commitments to their 2015 recruiting class with a heavy lean in the secondary and at wide receiver. WSU has up to six players who could line up at safety or corner and four expected to play wide receiver once in Pullman.
2016 Washington State Commitment List
CB D’Jimon Jones, 6’1”, 170 lbs, Federal Way HS, Federal Way, WA
CB Isaiah Love, 5’11”, 160 lbs, West Covina HS, West Covina, CA
CB Marcus Strong, 5’11”, 170 lbs, Wilmer Carter HS, Rialto, CA
CB Robert Taylor, 5’11”, 180 lbs, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
CB Skyler Thomas, 5’11”, 174 lbs, Citrus Hill HS, Perris, CA
CB Jalen Thompson, 5’10”, 166 lbs, Downey HS, Downey, CA
DE Lyric Bartley, 6’3”, 245 lbs, Taylorsville HS, Taylorsville, UT
LB Erik Glueck, 6’2”, 230 lbs, Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma, WA
LB Derek Moore, 6’2”, 211 lbs, Crenshaw HS, Los Angeles, CA
LB Chima Onyeukwu, 6’3”, 215 lbs, Contra Costa C.C., San Pablo, CA
LB Jihad Woods, 5’11”, 215 lbs, Helix HS, La Mesa, CA
OL Chrisitan Haangana, 6’6”, 347 lbs, Milpitas HS, Milpitas, CA
OL Keenen King, 6’4”, 297 lbs, Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NV
OL Joshua Watson, 6’5”, 265 lbs, Cascade HS, Everett, WA
QB Cody Brewer, 6’6”, 223 lbs, Flour Bluf HS, Corpus Christi, TX
QB Justus Rogers, 6’2”, 215 lbs, Bellevue HS, Bellevue, WA
RB Romello Harris, 5’10”, 175 lbs, Tulare Union HS, Tulare, CA
TE Mason Vinyard, 6’5”, 200 lbs, Helix HS, La Mesa, CA
WR Renard Bell, 5’10”, 165 lbs, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA
WR Stephen Houston, 6’3”, 185 lbs, Rio Mesa HS, Oxnard, CA
WR Grant Porter, 6’2”, 184 lbs, Upland HS, Upland, CA
WR Josiah Westbrook, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Squlicum HS, Bellingham, WA
Photo credit: visaliatimesdelta.com; No. 6 Romello Harris breaks to the outside for the Redskins.