Cougars’ backup QB Apodaca will transfer

Washington State quarterback Austin Apodaca will finish the school year, then transfer, according to Friday’s Spokesman-Review. 

As a redshirt freshman in 2013, Apodaca was the No. 2 behind starter Connor Halliday. In three appearances, all of which came in relief,  Apodaca went 21 of 42 for 187 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Apodaca, a Longmont, CO. native, verbally committed to former WSU coach Paul Wulff. When Wulff was fired at the end of 2011 following a 4-8 season, then replaced by Leach, Apodaca stuck to his commitment and chose Pullman, becoming the heir apparent to Halliday.

When Apodaca signed his national letter of intent, Leach praised him for his footwork and displaying admirable leadership qualities. He also called him “one of the most accurate guys I’ve had the opportunity to recruit.”

In the Spokesman-Review story, Apodaca didn’t indicate where he plans to transfer, or provide a reason for why he is leaving, saying “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” Regardless, it was apparent toward the end of the 2013 that he’d be battling to keep his backup role with soon-to-be redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Bruggman, ranked the No. 25 passer in the country in 2012 coming out of Phoenix’s Brophy Prep.

In his latest recruiting class, made official when national letters of intent came in Wednesday, Leach also signed Fort Lauderdale, FL. quarterback Peyton Bender, adding depth to the position with the most responsibility in Leach’s Air Raid offense.