For Washington State linebacker DJ Warner, the difference between guessing and knowing can happen in a heartbeat.
That’s why Trent Bray’s spot on the sideline matters so much. With the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach close enough to talk through mistakes in real time, Warner doesn’t have to wait until later to understand what just happened. As he works through the shift from defensive end to linebacker, that instant back-and-forth has become a real asset.
“It’s big for me,” Warner said. “I’m someone who wants instant feedback.
I’m able to go through a play and then instantly look at him to see his reaction, kind of see if I did something right or did something wrong. And then if I did something wrong, I’m able to go to the sideline and instantly correct it.
So it’s been big. It’s been very helpful to have somebody who knows the game as much as him in my corner.”
Warner’s transition is still a work in progress, but the early returns have been solid. After spending his first two college seasons at defensive end - one at Kansas and one at SMU - he’s now carrying a bigger load at linebacker, with more assignments and more responsibility on every snap.
“It’s definitely play by play,” Warner said. “I have a lot more assignments.
It’s definitely a lot more than defensive end, but it’s a blessing having all this responsibility on my plate. I feel like that’s something that younger players kind of yearn for, is more responsibility.
So I’ve just been taking it as a blessing ... from week one to week two to week three, it’s been a lot of improvement.
“Still have a long ways to go, but something that I preach on is I learn through failure.”
Through three games, the 6-4, 233-pound Warner has 12 tackles with one for loss and 0.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus says he has missed just two tackles.
Saturday brings a familiar name across the field. Warner, who is from Glendale, Ariz., will face Arizona when the Wildcats come to Pullman for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS.
“I had a relationship with them from the start of my recruitment process,” Warner said. “It being one of the close schools, it was definitely one of the schools that I was able to go see play live as a kid.
But this is a new coaching staff. I’ve never been in contact with them much.
Just a lot of guys on the team, I played against them in high school. So it’s going to be great to see them after the game.”
While Warner’s adjustment has been one of the more interesting storylines on the defensive side, Washington State’s offensive line also got a needed reset in the 48-7 win over Duquesne on Saturday.
Left tackle Ashton Tripp had an old partner back beside him when Jonny Lester slid from right tackle to left guard. That put the two back together on the left side, where they spent most of last season.
For Tripp, and for the line as a whole, Duquesne arrived at the right time after a pair of rough outings.
“I think that game just came at a good time for everybody,” Tripp said. “The first two games didn’t start out how we wanted it to be, but get back with that game and then keep on going ... last week, our coach was emphasizing that it’s about us this week. Just tighten up our game, figure it out, and then it really worked out for us.”
Tripp and Lester joined Noah Dunham, Jaylin Caldwell and Kyle Martin as players with game and starting experience at WSU from last year. Right guard Nick Bakken, meanwhile, has become one of the Cougars’ steadiest linemen despite coming in with just 64 career snaps, all of them at right tackle with South Dakota State in 2024.
“Since he’s gotten here, he’s always had the right mindset,” Tripp said. “So just learning the offense, learning the scheme, and then learning how to play right guard in a positive way.
He’s also gotten a lot stronger. He’s a big dude, so he’s really took in that role and has gone off with it.”
In Other News...
Washington State Brings Two Big Problems Into Arizonas Night Test
Washington State walked away from its 48-7 win over Duquesne with plenty to like, especially on offense, where Kirby Moore pointed to cleaner execution and a noticeable bump in confidence. Even in a lopsided result, though, the Cougars still had reminders that the work is far from finished, and Moore was quick to frame the game as a step forward rather than a finished product.
The next test arrives under the lights against Arizona, and the concerns are easy to spot. Washington State wants to cut down on offensive holding penalties and settle down the kicking game after Jack Stevens recent struggles, but Moore said he will keep leaning on him for now. For a team trying to turn one good performance into something more lasting, those small issues could loom large very quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Brutal First Conference Test Through The Air
Washington States first conference test in Pullman arrives with a clear focal point: Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita. The Wildcats enter at 2-1, and their offense runs heavily through the arm of a passer who has already set the Arizona career passing record, making this a revealing early snapshot of where the Cougars stand against a proven aerial attack.
For Washington State, the challenge is less about guessing what Arizona wants to do and more about whether it can slow it down. The matchup in Pullman puts the Cougars against one of the Pac-12s most polished passers, and how they handle that pressure through the air should say plenty about their readiness for the rest of conference play. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Sticking With New Offensive Line As Another Concern Lingers
Washington State came out of its recent game with a fresh look up front, and Kirby Moore said the Cougars are going to stick with it when they face Arizona. Jonny Lester has been moved to left guard, Jaylin Caldwell has taken over at right tackle and Kyle Martin is no longer in the starting mix, a sign the staff is still searching for the right combination to steady an offensive line that has needed help.
The line shuffle is only part of the larger picture, though, because placekicking remains an issue and injury updates are still hanging over the week. Moore said cornerback Jalil Tuckers status is uncertain, while also pointing to the work of several defensive players and stressing that the Cougars still have room to improve in a few key areas as they head into another conference test. [Read more 🡒]