Cougar Corner | WSU Football:Top 10 Players for 2009: No. 4

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

The countdown to No. 1 continues with No. 4.

Selection of the Top 10 players for Washington State this coming season has been a challenge. That speaks volumes about how much improvement there has been during the off-season.

A few of the names in the first six listed are somewhat familiar to Cougar fans. None of them will find themselves on pre-season All Pac-10 lists.

No matter.

Coach Paul Wulff  is familiar with the role of underdog. Until the Cougs win a few games early in the schedule, that's a label they will be shackled with.

No matter.

Rather than run down the previous six picks, lets get right to it.

Andy Mattingly checks in at No. 4. The senior from Spokane will be returning to outside linebacker after moving to defensive end last year for much of last year. The move tells you a lot about Mattingly in terms of a football player.

Coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign at outside linebacker, there was a real need on defense to improve the play by the down linemen. Mattingly made the move when asked. He did so with the motivation of a new challenge and that the move might help his team.

Coach Ball and Coach Sears wanted to play a 4-3 front and moving Mattingly from standup to a down lineman would facilitate that defensive scheme. Very few teams have been successful in conference play with a 3-4 front. WSU did little to change that generalization.

As it played out, the Cougs were forced into 3-4 fronts often because of personnel available to play.

If you don't recall the results, that's a good thing. Trust me, you don't want to look up the stats from last year.

At 6'4" and 250 pounds, Mattingly is undersized to play defensive line in the Pac-10. No slight on the young man, that's just the way it is. Offensive blocking schemes are fairly easy to draw up when attacking an undersized down lineman that is quick off the ball. Time and again, Mattingly learned first hand how all of that plays out.

It would be reckless to say that Washington State will be deep at the D-line positions this fall.

One thing that can be said is Andy Mattingly brings intensity, speed, experience and leadership to the Washington State defense.

Earned respect is a quality/trait too often overlooked. Mattingly has earned the respect of his teammates. That, added to the rest of his attributes, positions him to be a leader.

Frequently younger players will reference their desire to send the seniors out with a great season. Mattingly is the poster boy for that level of admiration by the younger players on the Cougar football squad. As one of 12 seniors on the roster, no question Mattingly will be proudly playing the best football he can for Washington State.

The Mead HS grad has a great chance to earn All Pac-10 honors, but that won't be his goal. Might not even be in his Top 10. Mattingly is a Coug and will pour his heart and soul into every down he's on the field this season. That is something coaches and fans can count on.

Mattingly is another player who has contributed over his three years in Pullman, which his stats prove:

Big play talent is a label that applies to Andy Mattingly.

Last year he was a force in the Oregon State game making 11 tackles. Look for him to garner the attention of every opposing offensive coordinator this season. He's that kind of nightmare. And if the OC decides to double team him, that's just fine.

The play of student/athlete Andy Mattingly will be one of the reasons Cougar football will be exciting stuff once again in 2009.

Originally published on Examiner.com

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