Cougar Recruiting: Tuel rates WSU visit a 10

FUTURE COUGAR JEFF TUEL was in Pullman this weekend for his official visit and while the Cougar-Duck outcome wasn't what he was hoping for, he gave his crimson experience a "10." The Fresno quarterback talks about the coaches, the future, the Oregon game and three things he sees happening in the near future at Washington State.

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Paul Wulff has seven known verbal commitments in the 2009 recruiting class, six of whom are rated three stars. Recruits, generally, don't see wins and losses in the same light as do fans. The tough loss to Oregon, said Jeff Tuel, has no bearing on his commitment to the Cougs.

"Not at all. I know it's a really young team right now and they're rebuilding this year," said Tuel, out of Clovis West High. "I heard one of the coaches say that it's growing pains which I think is a really good way of explaining (the loss). They're young. And we're going to get bigger, stronger and faster."

Tuel (6-2, 190, 4.67) spent a good chunk of time this weekend talking with his future position coach and WSU offensive coordinator, Todd Sturdy.

"I talked to coach Sturdy quite a bit," said Tuel. "He just talked about the game, we talked about the future a little bit and that went really well. Since my unofficial, when my parents were there, we had already gotten all of our questions answered. Coach Wulff asked me (Saturday) if I had any more questions and I didn't -- I am still very impressed."

Tuel's player host was was Cougar freshman quarterback J.T. Levenseller.

"I bonded with (Levenseller) -- he showed me around the town after the game and he was really nice," said Tuel.

TUEL SAID THERE were three other official visitors in Pullman (CF.C has calls into all three) and that he felt a good connection with the trio.

"I was working on them a little bit, pointing out all the positives,said Tuel. "And I think they all had a really good time.

"It went really well. The main thing I was looking for was the atmosphere of the game day and I really liked it. The fans were awesome...I'd give it a 10, I didn't have any unanswered questions, everything was great."

TUEL RUNS AN offense at Clovis West that is similar to Washington State's no-huddle.

"Tuel is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the West this year," says Scout.com's Brandon Huffman. "He's fast, quick and has excellent mobility. I was really impressed by his arm and fluid throwing motion and his footwork is very good. He was the top quarterback at our UnderArmour/Scout.com Combine in Phoenix.

This spring, Tuel ranked No. 4 nationally by one measure for quarterbacks 6-2 or taller and had a 4.13 shuttle, the second quickest time in the country. He's also an outstanding student and easily achieved a qualifying score on the SAT.

Jeff Tuel profile