Louis Rankin Removing the Redshirt...
One thing Husky fans will be anxious to see
during next fall will be the end of running back Louis Rankin's redshirt season.
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Rankin's name was a household word during his recruitment, but he's been waiting
in the wings since he arrived at Washington last fall - now, he's ready for,
what he feels, will be a breakout spring...
Rankin is (so far) slated to join the running
back roster for spring - but he's got some competition ahead of him in
Sampson, and
Singleton - all three have seen legitimate playing time, "I know that
they've got the experience right now", said Rankin, "But I feel I can compete."
Rankin came into Washington at 6-0, 190 - he's
now at 6-1, 195.
"I think they were good", Rankin told
Realdawg.com about the recent mat drills at Washington, "I think I'm in real
good shape heading into spring and I'm definitely ready."
When he was being recruited, the big talk was
that of Rankin's bloodlines; his uncle is former NFL standout, Webster
Slaughter, who spent 13 years in the league.
"He didn't come up last year because I wasn't
playing yet", said Rankin, "But I'm pretty sure he'll come up this year for some
games."
With a May birthday on the way for Louis, he's
showing a genuine maturity regarding his underclassman status on the running
back roster, "I wish I would have played last year", he said, "But I think in a
lot of ways it humbled me to sit out and just watch - I think I grew mentally
stronger as a result."
And he's learning more by the minute, "I'm
looking forward to seeing more of what Coach Jackson will be like as our running
backs coach", said Rankin, "Coach Heater was a good coach, and I know coach
Jackson will be a good one too, either way, I'll benefit as a running back."
"I see myself competing", Rankin concluded,
"I'll go out and do the best I can, and whatever God allows me to do."
Player Page
Louis Rankin's Bio (per Washington Media
Guide)
High School and Personal: Scored 41
touchdowns as a senior to rank second in California ... 41 touchdowns was top
mark ever for Stockton prep player and fifth best mark by a San Joaquin Section
player ... 34 of Rankin's touchdowns came on the ground ... rushed for 2,245
yards ... 14 receptions led to five scores and 272 yards .... also scored twice
on kick returns ... first-team all-state pick by CalHi Sports as a multi-purpose
player ... team was 12-2 his senior season and won the San Joaquin League for
the second consecutive season ... reached the championship game of the Division
I playoffs ... team was 11-2 his junior season ... one of 10 finalists for the
Cal-Hi Sports California Mr. Football player of the year award ... also a member
of the Trojans' basketball and track teams ... named to PrepStar's All-West
Region team.