National Signing Day Wrap-Up: WAC

The WAC enters a precarious position in 2012. The conference had to file a NCAA special petition to receive recognition, as rules dictate a league must house eight programs. Losing partners resulted in lost bowl games, so don’t expect more than one WAC team to participate in the postseason come December.

As the programs await invitations from the super-sized Conference USA/Mountain West mish-mash or the newly Karl Benson-led Sun Belt, a new class comes in for a historic final season. Reigning league champion Louisiana Tech solidified itself with an impressive class to lead the way. UT San Antonio and Texas State both come aboard from the Championship Subdivision with numerous in-state recruits. TSU’s Dennis Franchione has a rather impressive group for the Bobcats’ inaugural FBS campaign.

Rankings are very strange from the recruiting services, though. Because the WAC is somewhat under the national radar, evaluators’ insights differ vastly. Ranks listed below are from Rivals.com, though Scout.com honored Idaho’s Jason Gesser the conference’s Recruiter of the Year. UI ranked No. 4 on the Rivals list.

Idaho

17 Signees
Conf. Rank: 4
Notables: DB Jayshawn Jordan; OL Kyree Oliver; DB Ma’ne Manaea

Louisiana Tech

17 Signees
Conf. Rank: 1
Notables: WR Jon Greenwalt; DE Stephen Gibson; ATH Adairius Barnes

New Mexico State

17 Signees
Conf. Rank: 2
Notables: DE Kalvin Cruz; LB Trashaun Nixon; QB Andrew McDonald; DT Kevin Laudermill

San Jose State

20 Signees
Conf. Rank: 3
Notables: ATH Christian Tago; OL Fernando Villanueva; QB David Fales; RB Jalynn McCain

Texas State

25 Signees
Notables: RB Robert Lowe; DB Justin Albritton; OL Hayden Lambert; QB Fred Nixon

Utah State

15 Signees
Conf. Rank: 5
Notables: OL Patrick Ward; RB Tavarreon Dickerson; DB Devonta Glover-Wright

UT San Antonio

23 Signees
Notables: LB Charles Wort; DB H.B. Rosser; LB Brandon Guerrero; DB Cody Berry