Washington State Locks In Key Returnees as NIL Era Reshapes College Football Landscape
In a college football world that’s changing by the minute, Washington State is doing what it needs to do: adapt, evolve, and retain talent. On Sunday, the Cougars announced that offensive lineman Jaylin Caldwell is re-signing with the program for the 2026 season, joining fellow returnees Ashton Tripp and Keith Brown. All three are now officially locked in for next fall under revenue-sharing NIL agreements-deals that are quickly becoming the new normal in college football.
These signings aren’t just symbolic. They’re strategic.
For new head coach Kirby Moore, they offer a solid foundation as he begins his first season leading the Cougars. And for WSU, they’re a sign of commitment to building a competitive roster in the NIL era, where programs can now share revenue directly with players thanks to the House settlement.
Last season, WSU’s football revenue-sharing pool sat in the $2 to $2.5 million range. Now, the goal is to nearly triple that, with interim athletic director Jon Haarlow eyeing a jump to $7 million.
That figure doesn’t even include what the Cougar Collective-WSU’s primary NIL collective-can bring to the table. In other words, the Cougs are going all in.
Ashton Tripp: The Anchor Returns
Among the trio of returnees, left tackle Ashton Tripp might be the most impactful. He was a rock on the offensive line in 2025, starting all 13 games and giving up just one sack on 490 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. That kind of consistency on the blind side is hard to come by, and Tripp delivered it in spades.
Tripp’s pass-blocking grade sat at 48.4, with a slightly better 50.0 in run blocking. While those PFF numbers suggest room to grow, the eye test and the film tell a story of a player who held his own against some solid defensive fronts. His return is especially crucial with the departures of center Brock Dieu and right tackle Christian Hilborn-two veterans who’ve been mainstays up front for the past three seasons.
That leaves Moore and new offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie with some reshuffling to do. But having Tripp back gives them a sturdy piece to build around.
Jaylin Caldwell: A Big Body Ready to Step Up
Caldwell’s return might’ve flown under the radar for some, but make no mistake-this is a big deal, literally and figuratively. At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Caldwell has the size you want in a right tackle. And while he didn’t see much action this past season-just 81 snaps across two games before a season-ending injury-he made the most of his limited reps.
In those two games, including a start against Ole Miss, Caldwell allowed only two pressures. That’s a solid showing for a player adjusting to the FBS level after transferring from Division II Grand Valley State.
He was also trending up before the injury, earning a 65.1 run-blocking grade from PFF in the Virginia game. That’s above average and suggests he’s starting to put it together.
With Hilborn gone, the door is wide open for Caldwell to step into a starting role on the right side. His return gives the Cougars a chance to maintain some continuity on the line-something that’s becoming harder to find in today’s transfer-heavy environment.
Keith Brown: Veteran Leadership for a Thin Linebacker Room
On the defensive side, WSU gets a much-needed boost with linebacker Keith Brown deciding to stick around. This one wasn’t a given-Brown had previously announced his intention to enter the transfer portal before pulling the plug on that move. Now, he’s back in the fold, and that’s a win for a linebacker group that’s losing some key pieces.
Brown missed the 2025 season with a fall camp injury but was expected to play a big role at middle linebacker. His return gives the Cougars a veteran presence in a room that’s suddenly pretty thin.
Caleb Francl and Parker McKenna, both starters this past season, are out of eligibility. And freshman standout Anthony Palano, who started seven games at MLB, is planning to enter the portal when it opens on January 2.
That leaves a big question mark at the heart of the defense. Brown’s experience and leadership could help stabilize things, especially if the Cougs can’t hold on to freshman linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen.
Schlimgen, who started five games this fall, originally followed former coach Jimmy Rogers from South Dakota State. With Rogers now at Iowa State, there’s some uncertainty about where Schlimgen might land next.
The Bigger Picture
These re-signings aren’t just about filling roster spots-they’re about setting a tone. In the new era of college football, where NIL and revenue-sharing are reshaping the recruiting and retention game, Washington State is showing it’s ready to compete. Keeping players like Tripp, Caldwell, and Brown in the building gives the Cougars a blend of experience, upside, and continuity-three things every first-year head coach needs.
For Moore, it’s a strong start. For WSU, it’s a sign that the program is embracing the future head-on. And for Cougar fans, it’s something to build on heading into 2026.