By BEN MCCARTY
News staff writer
February 12, 2008
Hood River Valley High School football player
Adam Coerper signed his Letter of Intent to play for the
Washington State University Cougars in the first hours of
national signing day for college football recruits on Wednesday.
“It’s a huge jump and I’m super excited about
it,” Coerper said.
Coerper made an official visit to WSU in late
January and was offered a scholarship by new Cougars coach Paul
Wulff.
That left Coerper to decide between WSU and
Portland State, and in the end WSU’s better facilities, academic
programs and an opportunity to play in the Pac-10 won Coerper
over.
“Everything just worked out in my favor,” he
said.
Coerper played defensive end, tight end and
punted for the Eagles last season and was named to the All-Mount
Hood Conference team as well as an honorable mention to the
all-state team.
The whole process was a bit of a whirlwind for
Coerper. After receiving an offer from Portland State, Coerper
was set to go there, but Wulff, newly appointed as WSU’s coach,
invited him for a visit and won Coerper over.
Coerper was one of 22 recruits to sign with the
Cougars for Wulff’s inaugural class.
In his press conference to announce his signing
class, Wulff called Coerper “the type of kid that WSU is built
on” and said “anytime you see a 6’5 kid that can run like that
and be physical as he is you get interested.”
HRV coach Tracy Jackson said it was the work
that Coerper put into those attributes that made him a standout.
“The things that he didn’t do well he improved
on,” he said. “A lot of guys with talent don’t really think they
need to.”
Coerper said he enjoyed his time at HRV and
thanked the coaches that have helped him over the years from
youth football to high school.
Now he is looking forward to the chance to help
Washington State become a factor in Pac-10 football again.
“I hope I can get to the Rose Bowl and win the
Apple Cup,” he said.
And for his parents, who have been life-long
Oregon fans, there will not be any question of who they are
rooting for on Saturdays.
“I’m a Coug now,” Walt Coerper said. “Oregon
who?”
