Cougar Corner | Washington State Football's Top 10 Players for 2009: No. 9

The countdown of my top 10 Washington State football players for the coming season continues.

It's going to take more than 10 great players to turn the fortunes of Cougar football around. Coming off arguably the worst season in school history, it's going to take a tremendous effort from every player on the roster.

Singling out 10 players as the most important contributors is a challenge when the WSU football roster is loaded with talent.

The list began with a pick from the offensive unit, sophomore quarterback Marshall Lobbestael checking in at No. 10.

Moving on with No. 9, my pick is another player on the offense.

Johnny Forzani has the potential to stretch defenses from the wideout position and the athletic talent to make big plays any time he touches the football.

Forzani has come down from Canada to play a little American college football at the Division I level. Stating the obvious is necessary. 

To say Forzani was a standout in high school would be summing things up nicely. He averaged 30 points, leading the city of Calgary in scoring his junior year at Dr. E.P. Scarlett HS. He followed that up with 42 points per game to lead the entire province in scoring. Forzani set a city scoring record with 64 points against St. Francis.

Did I mention that Forzani was a basketball star in high school? Or that he didn't even play football in high school?

Before dismissing me as a crank, though the label might apply, check out some of the background on Forzani as a football player.

His father, Tom Forzani, was an 11-year veteran All-Star of the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders. Dad is a member of the CFL Hall of Fame. Before playing outstanding football in the CFL, Forzani enjoyed a fine college career at Utah State.

Here's another curious twist: The elder Forzani went to Utah State to play basketball but switched over to football.

Johnny played a year of college basketball in Canada at Douglas College. The team won a national championship. After the basketball season, Forzani was invited to a junior Calgary Colts (of the Canadian Junior Football League) camp by one of the owners of the Stampeders and the team coach and general manager.

How did those two come up with the idea to have Forzani turn out for the camp? They are his uncle and godfather. The Colts are the junior club for the Stamps.

Last year Forzani led the Colts, and the league, in yards-per-catch with 21.0. He was a first team all-star, Rookie of the Year, and named Most Outstanding Receiver. Not bad for his first year of organized football.

While playing for the Colts, Forzani has some serious timed 40-yard dash results. He consistently runs 4.4 to 4.6 and has stopped the watch as low as 4.37. In simple terms, that's blazing speed.

Jeremy Crabtree, Recruiting Editor for Rivals.com, had this to say about him:

"Washington State might have gotten a steal with Johnny Forzani, a 6'1", 205-pound receiver from Calgary, Alberta. After spending most of his life playing basketball, he switched to football and became one of the top players for the Calgary Colts, a scout team for the Calgary Stampeders, a team in the Canadian Football League. "

If you look up the definition of "sleeper," Johnny Forzani's photo will be there.

Forzani registered and entered WSU in January. He continued the learning process during spring football under the tutelage of one of the best coaches in the nation, coach Mike Levenseller. Yes, Coach Levenseller played a few seasons in Calgary with the Stampeders. Strange coincidence?

Though Forzani is a work in progress, he has so much raw talent there is little doubt that he's a player.

Remember the name.

Johnny Forzani.

Tomorrow I'll continue counting up toward No. 1 with my No. 8 pick.

Originally published on Examiner.com