WYRSCH PUMPED THE WAIT IS OVER
Star lineman to finalize commitment to Washington
SOQUEL >> Tuesday was like Christmas Eve for Soquel High lineman R. J. Wyrsch. The National Letter of Intent early signing period for NCAA Division I-bound football players begins Wednesday and runs through Friday.
His present? Four more years of competitive football.
After giving a verbal commitment to Pac-12 Conference power University of Washington in April, the 6-foot-7, 260-pound senior patiently waited to make his decision official. Wyrsch will sign documents at the 50-yard line at Soquel on Wednesday at noon.
“I’m very excited about making it official on Wednesday and can’t wait to sign,” he said Tuesday morning. “I’ve been very anxious to sign, definitely counting down the days.”
Despite having played just one season of varsity football, Wyrsch also received offers from San Jose State, Fresno State, UNLV, Yale, Harvard, Northern Arizona, and Penn.
His senior season is on hold due to COVID-19 state and county restrictions prohibiting participation in contact sports.
Given his relative inexperience in the sport, Wyrsch said he’s leaving the decision on whether to redshirt his freshman season up to his college coaches. Instead, he’s focusing on what’s in his control.
“I’ve been training as hard as I can to compensate for the loss of the season,” he said, though athletes, fans, and coaches state-wide are still hoping to have a football season beginning in January.
In his first full season playing the sport, Wyrsch made quite the impression. He helped the Knights (83, 4-2) tie for second place in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Cypress Division and make the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time since 2012.
For his efforts, Wyrsch was named first-team all-league on both offense and defense.
Wyrsch, who plans to major in either psychology or communications, will play offensive tackle in college.
He said he has been watching all the Huskies’ games on TV this season and loves the fact the team is running the ball in dominating fashion.
The Huskies (3-1) qualified for the Friday’s Pac12 Championship against USC (5- 0), but they were replaced Monday by Oregon (3-2) after dealing with a number of positive COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional players under contact tracing protocols.
That news hasn’t dampened Wyrsch’s spirits.
Wednesday’s signing will be celebrated for more than just one day. Not just by him, but football fans too. Nearly 1,000 fans welcomed him on social media after he announced his commitment on Twitter.
His signing will also serve as inspiration to continue to be as prepared as possible.
“I can’t wait to sign,” he said. “My family, close friends/people and coaches will be there. It’s a very special to have everyone there who has supported me. And I can’t wait to keep working.”
“I’ve been training as hard as I can to compensate for the loss of the season.” — Soquel High lineman R. J. Wyrsch