Ryan Leaf Position: Quarterbacks Experience: Third Season Recruiting Area: Fort Worth area

Now in his third season on the West Texas A&M football staff, after a standout career at Washington State and a five-year career in the NFL, is Ryan Leaf. Leaf will again lend his talents towards working with the team's quarterbacks.

Under his tutelage, Buff quarterbacks posted incredible numbers in 2007, gaining 5,155 passing yards, averaging 396.5 yards passing per contest and tossing 51 TDs. The teams pass yardage and TDs were tops in the nation.

In his first season in Canyon, Leaf helped guide an offensive unit, led by quarterback Dalton Bell, to a spectacular season. The Buffs put up 5,139 yards of total offense and ranked second, nationally, with 326.1 passing yards per contest. Individually, Bell threw for 3,998 yards and 32 touchdowns before signing a free agent contract with the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

Before joining the coaching ranks, Leaf emerged as one of the nation's top collegiate quarterbacks as he passed for over 8,000 yards during his three-year career at WSU. His time in Pullman, Wash., culminated his junior year (1997) when he was named a first team All-American after throwing for a school-record 3,968 yards and 34 touchdowns in addition to leading the Cougars to the Rose Bowl for only the third time in school history. Leaf finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy at the end of that season, finishing behind award-winner Charles Woodson of Michigan and Tennessee's Peyton Manning. The Great Falls, Mont., native still ranks among WSU's all-time leaders in passing yardage, passing touchdowns and net yardage.

During the 1998 NFL draft, Leaf was selected second overall by the San Diego Chargers. After three years with the Chargers, Leaf continued his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks before retiring from professional football in 2002. His best statistical season came in 2000 when he tossed 1,883 yards and 11 touchdowns for San Diego.

In 2005, Leaf returned to school at Washington State where he earned his bachelor's degree in arts and humanities with a minor in psychology. Leaf currently resides in Amarillo.