While recruiting of Heaps is extremely important for Sarkisian because he's next door, it may be more important to Mendenhall, whose narrow recruiting universe top-heavy with LDS prospects, makes signing Heaps a huge priority.

Last February, Mendenhall lost Manti Teo, the nation's top prep linebacker, a LDS athlete from Hawaii.

Sarkisian made Heaps a top priority since UW hired him from USC a few months ago. He's also got a bead on Jesse Scroggins of Lakewood, Calif., and Nick Montana (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), who is the son of Joe.

Tom Luginbill, the national recruiting director for ESPN's Scouts, Inc., said BYU would be a better fit for Heaps than UW.

"I don't even think it's a question," Luginbill said, comparing Heaps' pocket presence to the likes of former Cougars Kevin Feterik and Sarkisian.

Guys he said were made to "sit back in the shotgun, utilize his quick release, dink and dunk and move the offense."

Luginbill said Heaps may not be the right fit for UW, an offense many expect under Sarkisian to utilize a lot of play-action passing and the deep ball.

Today isn't just a big day for the Cougars. It's potentially The Day for Mendenhall and his class of 2010.

We shall see.

E-MAIL: dharmon@desnews.com