Gabe Marks big reason Air Raid a threat to Pac-12 defenses

[...] Marks is putting up Crabtree-style numbers as the Pac-12's leading receiver and a centerpiece of Leach's Air Raid offense.

Marks has 69 catches through nine games for the surprising Cougars (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12).

Leach, who is not prone to superlatives, said it's premature to compare Marks to Crabtree, who won two Biletnikoff awards as the top receiver in college football and now plays for the Oakland Raiders.

The fiery Marks is the go-to receiver when the Cougars need to keep a drive alive.

Dom Williams, the team's second-leading receiver with 54 catches, said Marks is as competitive in practice as he is in games.

Marks, a junior who redshirted last season, has 192 career receptions and needs four catches on Saturday against No. 18 UCLA to become Washington State's all-time leading receiver.

When the team lost to then-No. 8 Stanford on a missed 43-yard field goal on the final play of the game, Marks entered the interview room afterward and immediately instructed reporters not to blame the rain and wind that had hampered the offenses all game.

[...] despite the giddiness of fans that the Cougars have qualified for a bowl game, Marks said there is much to accomplish in the final three games of the regular season.