Fourteen Washington State Cougars are back in NFL training camps, a strong showing for a program that had 14 players in the league during the regular season last year and saw six of them keep playing into the playoffs.
The Cougars also had two players in Super Bowl LX, and Abraham Lucas came away with the win for the Seattle Seahawks. That continued a run of WSU representation on the NFL’s biggest stage: the Cougars have now had a player in the Super Bowl in four straight seasons and in five of the last six.
That list stretches across several recent title games. Deone Bucannon won Super Bowl LV in 2021 with Tampa Bay.
Jaylen Watson of Kansas City beat Andre Dillard and Gardner Minshew II with Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Watson and the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
Watson and Jaden Hicks played in Super Bowl LIX in 2025. Then in 2026, Lucas and Seattle beat Kyle Williams of New England in Super Bowl LX.
A few familiar names are now settling into camp with new teams. Jalen Thompson signed a free-agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason after starting all 15 games he appeared in for Arizona last season and finishing with 95 tackles, one sack, six pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Jaylen Watson also changed teams, landing with the Los Angeles Rams after a season in which he started all 15 games for Kansas City, posted 64 tackles, two sacks, six pass breakups and two interceptions, and missed the final two games because of injury.
Gardner Minshew II opened camp with the Kansas City Chiefs after appearing in four games for them last season, including one start before an injury. He is entering his eighth NFL season.
On the defensive side, Frankie Luvu is back with the Washington Commanders for his ninth NFL season after starting all 17 games last year and putting up 86 tackles, three sacks, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The Commanders also have Deebo Cracraft, who began his ninth NFL season after appearing in two games and returning two punts last season.
The Chargers are bringing back Daiyan Henley for his fourth NFL season after a big year in which he started all 17 games, led the team with 103 tackles and added 3.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two interceptions.
Kansas City also has Jaden Hicks and Esa Pole in camp. Hicks is entering his third NFL season after playing all 17 games last year, making three starts, recording 49 tackles, sharing a sack and breaking up four passes. Pole is beginning his second NFL season after appearing in three games and starting twice at left tackle.
Abraham Lucas is back for his fifth NFL season with Seattle after starting all 20 games at right tackle last season and helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX over the Patriots.
Other Cougars on the move include Brennan Jackson, who is with the Las Vegas Raiders for his third NFL season after appearing in three games last year and making three tackles before a season-ending injury. Cam Lampkin is also in his third NFL season and was on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad without appearing in a game last season.
Tucker Large has started his rookie NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles after signing as an undrafted free agent.
Chau Smith-Wade is entering his third NFL season with the Carolina Panthers after playing in 16 games last year, starting six, and finishing with 56 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown.
In Other News...
WSUs Defensive Ends Are Turning Fall Camp Into A Real Opportunity
Washington State came out of spring with a clearer picture on the edge, where Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk looked like the two most established options heading into fall camp. Both arrive with college experience already on their rsums, McLain from Idaho and Zunk from Vanderbilt, and both showed enough during spring practices to suggest they can bring some pass-rushing presence to a spot that needs it.
The bigger question now is how much help the Cougars can find behind them as camp unfolds. Michael Hughes, Eduwa Okundaye and Malachi Wrice are in the mix for depth, and the next few weeks will determine whether Washington State has a solid rotation or just a pair of ends carrying most of the load. For a position group built around opportunity, fall camp is where those roles can start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Swimming Doubles Down After A Breakthrough Season
Washington State Swimming is banking on continuity after a breakthrough first season, elevating Jackie Mudd to associate head coach as Russell Whitaker looks to build on last years momentum. Mudd made an immediate impact in Pullman, helping guide the Cougars to a second-place finish at the Mountain West Conference Championships and an undefeated dual-meet run, a strong sign that the programs recent rise is about more than a one-year spike.
Mudd arrives at the new title with a background that fits the job, bringing prior college coaching experience from Colorado School of Mines along with a resume that includes work with USA Swimming. For a program trying to turn a standout season into something more lasting, the promotion signals confidence in the staff structure already in place, even as the next step for the Cougars is still being written. [Read more 🡒]