By Theo Lawson
The Spokesman-Review
For the umpteenth time under eighth-year coach Mike Leach, Washington State will sign a recruiting class that won’t look nearly as impressive as that of its peers in the Pac-12 Conference. Yet, once the fax machines slow down and the last letter of intents trickle in, Leach and his coaching staff will return to Rogers Field and shift their attention back to preparation for the Dec. 27 Cheez-It Bowl vs. Air Force.
And how many Pac-12 programs can flaunt at least five consecutive postseason appearances? There’s just four: UW (10), USC (7), Utah (6) and WSU (5). Surely, the Cougars used that superlative on the recruiting trail these last few weeks as they put together the last pieces of their 2020 recruiting class.
As the letters of intent roll in throughout the morning and early afternoon, we’ll track them in real time, providing full player bios below with links to Twitter profiles, highlight tapes and quotes from WSU assistant coaches as they visit with the broadcasting team of Matt Chazanow, Alex Brink and Jessamyn McIntyre on the signing day show.
Nathaniel James
Position: Defensive tackle
High school: Avon (Avon, Ind.)
Height/weight: 6-0, 250
Other notable offers: Indiana
On James: If iron sharpens iron, then imagine the work James got in the Indianapolis suburbs, practicing opposite Notre Dame-bound Blake Fisher, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound offensive tackle at Avon who’s considered the ninth-best offensive lineman in the country and holds offers from Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Ohio State. Working against James probably didn’t hurt Fisher, either. The only Midwest prospect in this recruiting class, James had a monster senior season at Avon, finishing with 71 total tackles and six tackles-for-loss, including five sacks. He added 11 quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery for an Orioles team that finished the season 9-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play. James recently posted a video of his personal record back squat, a 750-pound lift that was performed in front of Avon teammates and coaches.
Justin Lohrenz
Position: Defensive end
High school: Columbine (Littleton, Colo.)
Height/weight: 6-4, 230
Other notable offers: Air Force, Colorado State
On Lohrenz: A gifted pass-rusher from Colorado, Lohrenz told The Spokesman-Review last week it had always been his “dream” to play in the Pac-12 and is eager for his first opportunity to play the University of Colorado — be it next season in Boulder or down the road — after Mel Tucker and the Buffaloes chose not to offer the Columbine standout. During his senior season, Lohrenz logged 66 tackles in 14 games and finished with better than one sack per game and 17 total. The Rebels were 11-3 on the season, winning three playoff games before falling short in the state title game — a 35-10 loss to Cherry Creek. Lohrenz has solid height for the position he’ll be playing in Pullman, but at 230 pounds, the Cougars will most likely utilize a year to beef him up, with most of their defensive ends in the 250-270-pound range.
Dylan Mayginnes
Position: Offensive guard
High school: Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Height/weight: 6-5, 285
Other notable offers: None
On Mayginnes: What are the chances two Mayginnes brothers will be starting on WSU’s offensive line in the future? The Cougars had an advantage with younger brother Dylan having invited older brother Hunter as a walk-on one year earlier. Dylan hosted WSU coaches Mason Miller and Jeff Phelps nearly a year ago and was sold on the Cougars before anyone else in the class, committing in early April. “I love his work ethic, I love his leadership, I love how he continues to get better,” Hamilton coach Mike Zdebski told azcentral.com about Dylan Mayginnes after the player committed. Mayginnes’ Hamilton team finished the season 9-2 and the lineman blocked for an offense that scored 38.7 points per game.
Hunter Escorcia
Position: Safety
High school: Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.)
Height/weight: 6-2, 175
Other notable offers: Utah, Yale, Navy, San Diego State
On Escorcia: Washington State’s secondary lost a ball-hawking safety from California when Jalen Thompson left last summer, but the Cougars gain another one in Escorcia, who missed most of his senior season with an injury but still managed two interceptions and 28 tackles in just three games. Escorcia, at 6-foot-2, should give the Cougars plenty of length in the back end and his ability to tackle in open space should be a welcome sight for a group that regressed in that area this season. Pac-12 schools weren’t necessarily swarming Escorcia but the Vista Murrieta standout did have another Pac-12 offer, from Kyle Whittingham and Utaho, who’ve evolved into one of the league’s top defensive units and have gone to consecutive conference title games.
Marshawn Buchanan
Position: Running back
High school: Adelanto (Adelanto, Calif.)
Height/weight: 5-11, 178
Other notable offers: Arizona, Oregon State, Boise State
On Buchanan: Eric Mele’s position group adds another intriguing piece with Buchanan, who carries all of the traits necessary for a running back in the Air Raid offense. The workhorse Adelanto tailback produced on the ground his final two prep seasons, carrying the ball 284 times for 2,916 yards and 33 touchdowns in just 24 games. Buchanan wasn’t thrown to much as a senior, but he made the most of the receptions he had, catching five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Boise State made an attempt to flip Buchanan three weeks ago when the Broncos hosted the running back for an official visit, and he held two other Pac-12 offers from schools who utilize the position in a more traditional sense. But, Buchanan might have a chance to crack the rotation at WSU in two years with Deon McIntosh graduating and Max Borghi potentially leaving early for the NFL.
Devin Kylany
Position: Offensive guard
High school: Lake Stevens (Lake Stevens, Wash.)
Height/weight: 6-4, 275
Other notable offers: Air Force, Arizona State
On Kylany: Some have decried WSU’s recruiting efforts in the state of Washington, but that certainly doesn’t apply on the offensive line, where Kylany will make it five straight years of the Cougars signing an in-state offensive lineman. Kylany had an offer from WSU’s Cheez-It Bowl opponent, Air Force, and one from Arizona State, but chose WSU, perhaps because of the success other Washingtonians such as Josh Watson, Abraham Lucas, Cody O’Connell and Andre Dillard had in Mike Leach’s offense. Kylany was in danger of missing the entirety of his senior season at Lake Stevens after tearing his ACL in the 2019 Mat Classic, but he recovered in time to join his football teammates for their state opener against Union.
