UPDATE: First Leach recruit is Texas LB

MIKE LEACH has landed his first Washington State verbal commitment. He found the lad in familiar territory -- the Lone Star State -- and today linebacker Keith Ewing told CF.C why he committed to WSU sight unseen.

"I saw that they brought in the new coach and I wanted to be part of something new," said Keith Ewing (6-1, 215).

Ewing said WSU assistant Eric Morris was by recently for an in-home visit.

"The recruiter came by and talked to my family -- there were 10 of us and we had all sorts of questions for him," said Ewing. "He answered them all really well...They like that I play hard, that I have good character and have good grades. And they like that I can hit."

HE CAN indeed. Ewing racked up 13 sacks this season on his way to being named Texas' Class 5A District Co-Defensive MVP.

"(Morris) said they will use their linebackers a lot, and they like me for blitzing," said Ewing.

Ewing also said WSU chief of staff Dave Emerick was no doubt instrumental in his verbal commitment to WSU. Emerick was part of the Arizona staff that had been recruiting Ewing all season -- and because of his familiarity with Ewing as a player and person, things moved quickly with WSU once Leach became head coach.

Ewing chose WSU over offers from Arizona, Arkansas and Houston. He said he will officially trip to Wazzu sometime in January.

"Coach Mike Leach has a contract for at least seven years," Ewing told his hometown paper. "The coaching staff said I was the first on their list. I don't have to worry about the head coach situation, like UH (Houston) or Arizona."

Keith Ewing profile