WSU already thinking ahead with Sankey

Bishop Sankey may have only played half a season, but it was enough to get the word out. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore running back from Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Wash. was verbally offered a scholarship by Washington State University on Saturday, making Sankey the earliest Cougar football offer ever.

"I went down there for Junior Day," Sankey told Scout.com Sunday. "At the end of the day we had a dinner for everybody before they left, and right after the dinner coach (Steve) Broussard and coach (Paul) Wulff called me over and sat down with me and my dad and said they would like to offer me a scholarship.

"I was excited. I wasn't expecting it. I big smile came across my face."

Thoughts on an on-the-spot commitment weren't in Sankey's plans. "I'm at the beginning of all this," he added. "I'm going to wait it out and see if I get any other offers."

One thing is for sure: The Sankeys will be getting a fat Crimson and Gray FedEx envelope the beginning of September.

Originally from the Akron, Ohio area, Sankey moved out west with his family in the middle of his eighth grade. This past season at Gonzaga Prep, Sankey missed basically half the season to a high ankle sprain. "I pulled a ligament between my tibula and fibula," he said. Nevertheless, he was able to finish the last two games of the season. In 2008, Sankey ran for 626 yards in five games with an average of 10.6 yards per carry. He scored seven touchdowns for the Bullpups.

"I'm going to go to a few camps this spring," Sankey told Scout.com when asked about his spring and summer plans. "I'm going to a Football University camp this spring in Seattle." He is also considering attending college camps at Notre Dame, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State, but doesn't have anything set in stone at this time.

By virtue of Wulff's promise, the Cougars are currently Sankey's top choice. "They are my number-one school, because they are the only school to offer me," he said. He also mentioned Oregon, Washington, Oregon State and Ohio State. "Pretty much all the schools in the Pac-10 and a few schools in the Big-10," he added.

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