PULLMAN -- Washington State’s offensive line is still sorting itself out in fall camp, but one spot has been rock solid. Ashton Tripp has held down left tackle with the ones, just as he did in spring and throughout all 13 games last season.
At 6-foot-7 and 307 pounds, the fourth-year lineman from Kennewick was among the first Cougars to choose to return after last season, and offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie pointed to him as a standard-bearer for the group.
"Ashton's done a great job just as the embodiment of the whole elite edge program," Abercrombie said. "And that really trickles into the offensive line room and everything that we're trying to accomplish from our mentality, our attitude, playing the game the right way, having a toughness about ourselves. But it doesn't change our process with our fundamentals and technique when we're right.
"And he's been a really good example of that day in and day out. We have to constantly improve every single day and Tripp knows that. So raise his game to another level, but he's been doing a pretty good job as a leader."
That “elite edge” is part of Kirby Moore’s mission statement for the program, and Tripp has become one of the clearest examples of it on the roster.
The bigger puzzle right now is the rest of the line, especially on the right side. After spring, the expectation was that Maximus McCree would be at right tackle, with Noah Dunham or Kyle Martin at right guard and the other at center. Five days into fall camp, though, the look has shifted.
Jonny Lester has been the main right tackle, Dunham has worked at center, Martin has been at left guard and Nick Bakken has been at right guard.
"Finding the best five is really our focus," Abercrombie said. "So whether it's Jonny playing guard or playing tackle, whatever gives us our best opportunity to go out, win, and execute at a high level.
Across the board, guys are going to be asked to play different positions. But the main focus is finding the right five and improving every single day."
Dunham and Martin have both shown they can handle either spot on the interior, but early in camp Washington State appears to be leaning toward Martin at left guard and Dunham at center.
"It's just good for the entire room," Abercrombie said of versatility. "That competitive advantage that we're talking about and being versatile.
I know Coach Moore has said it time and time again, we have to make sure our communication is on point. And the room's very competitive and they're doing a good job pushing each other to be their personal best."
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