WSU Football | Gibson will return for his senior season

After receiving an NFL draft projection that he says was "not too high and not too low," probably Washington State's best player has decided to return for his senior year.

Wide receiver Brandon Gibson, who caught the tying and winning touchdown passes in the Apple Cup, will wear crimson and gray for one more season.

Gibson, 20, from Rogers High School in Puyallup, received the requested projection from the NFL and then decided to return to school. He declined to disclose his projected round.

Gibson, a first team All-Pac-10 selection this past season, led the league in receiving yards with 1,180 and yards per catch (17.6). He missed one game with an injury.

Ex-Cougar Jason Hill, who faced a similar decision before the 2006 season and decided to play his fourth year of college football, was one of the former Cougars Gibson consulted. Hill was taken in the third round of the 2007 draft by San Francisco.

Gibson said his main goal is to help the Cougars get to a bowl game but he also said he wants to improve his skills and "be the best player I can be." He replied "absolutely" when asked if he thinks playing another year of college football will improve his draft status.

Gibson said he was pleased that receivers coach Mike Levenseller is one of two holdover coaches on the staff of new coach Paul Wulff.

"I'm excited to work with him one more year," Gibson said of Levenseller. "Every year, he's made me a better player."

As for getting to know the new coaching staff, Gibson drew laughs on a conference call when he said, "It's a starting-over process. Like getting a new girlfriend and learning everything about them."

In other news, the Cougars have received an oral commitment from Andrei Lintz, a 6-foot-4, 225 pound tight end from Meridian High School outside Bellingham, according to an official at the school.

Lintz was a 1A all-state defensive pick as a lineman this past season. An all-purpose player, he punted, returned punts and kickoffs, caught passes and spent some time as running back. He had more than 1,300 all-purpose yards.

Offensive lineman Andy Roof, who was required to leave WSU for the fall semester after breaking the school's alcohol-violations policy, has re-enrolled and is rejoining the team.