Jackquintin Bal didn’t arrive at Washington State with much buzz. That’s what makes this first month so interesting. A former Arizona State walk-on who logged just 27 defensive snaps in three years there, Bal has gone from portal footnote to real factor for the Cougars almost overnight.
Through four games, the 6-foot-2, 191-pound fourth-year from Peoria, Ariz., has carved out a meaningful role, starting the last three contests. On Saturday against Arizona, even in a 34-24 loss, he was all over the field: nine tackles, a pass breakup and a 25-yard pick six that gave WSU a big defensive moment.
"It all starts with preparation," Bal said. "The corners this week, great communication.
It was 100 percent of communication, and you see it. Pre-snap the communication was there.
We're talking, and that's just the play to make. I have to be there."
The rise has come in stages. Bal played 19 snaps in the Apple Cup, then started against Kansas State and played 33 snaps.
He started again against Duquesne and was on the field for 21 snaps, before his workload jumped to 67 snaps against Arizona. Pro Football Focus says he has missed just two tackles all season.
Kirby Moore said the staff has noticed the way Bal has handled the jump in responsibility.
"Love Jack Bal's mindset coming in the building," Kirby Moore said. "He was naturally in a different role and then with Jalil (Tucker)'s situation, transitioned right there with JT (Jaylen Thomas) moving over to nickel and he's capitalized on that in the open field and some tackling situations, making a play on the ball there. He has to continue to have confidence moving into conference play."
An injury has helped open the door, but Bal has done more than just step through it. He’s made enough plays to force the staff to think hard about what comes next when Tucker returns, especially with the position picture getting crowded again. Whether he keeps starting or not, Bal has already earned a bigger place in the rotation.
Saturday carried a little extra meaning, too. Arizona is from his home state, and while he didn’t suit up for the Wildcats, the matchup still came with plenty of familiar faces. He said there were no former Centennial High teammates on the Arizona roster, but he knew plenty of players from growing up in the state.
"I love these guys," Bal said of his teammates. "Every day I come here, it doesn't matter if you're on the offensive line, defensive line line running backs, I shake everybody up.
We are family. I love these boys.
And we came together quickly, whether it's in the spring, the winter, running the Friday workouts, the hill, we came together quickly. And this is definitely a family."
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Kirby Moores Washington State Debut Comes With Real History Attached
Kirby Moores first season at Washington State arrives with more weight than a standard coaching debut, because the matchup on the other sideline also carries its own layers. Fresno State comes in under second-year coach Matt Entz, a proven winner who built his reputation at North Dakota State, and the Bulldogs have already shown the kind of balance that can make a September or early-season test feel much bigger than the calendar suggests.
There is also some familiar coaching overlap in the backdrop, with Moore now trying to put his own stamp on the Cougars after stops as an offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Missouri. Meanwhile, Fresno State has gotten important recent production from quarterback Jayden Mandal and running back Rayshon Luke, giving the Bulldogs a steadier profile as Moore steps into a game that connects his present job to parts of his past in more than one way. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces An Early Home Test It Cant Take Lightly
Washington State is back at Martin Stadium for its first true Pac-12 home test of the season, and Fresno State brings just enough intrigue to make this one feel less routine than a typical early conference date. The Bulldogs arrive at 3-1 after a relatively soft non-conference slate, but they have still shown enough on offense to demand attention, with quarterback Jayden Mandal steering the attack and giving the Cougars a different kind of challenge than they have seen so far.
For Washington State, the game also sets up a few individual matchups that could shape the afternoon. Fresno State receiver Josiah Freeman has been one of the names to track, while cornerback Simeon Harris will be part of the Cougars' effort to keep the Bulldogs from finding easy answers outside. Early conference games can punish a team that assumes the record tells the whole story, and this is the sort of home opener in league play that can reveal whether Washington State is ready to handle the details that matter. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Could Get A Big Offensive Boost At The Perfect Time
Washington State may be getting a timely lift on offense as it heads into the Fresno State game, with tight end Trey Leckner trending the right way after a foot injury. What looked like a longer wait has moved faster than expected, and coach Kirby Moore said Leckner should take part fully in practice this week, with a chance to work back into the lineup as a starter.
For the Cougars, the timing matters. The offense could use another dependable target and another layer in the passing game, especially with a road test on deck, while the defense is still managing uncertainty of its own with starting cornerback Jalil Tucker not yet settled in after his injury. If Tucker cannot go, WSU may have to lean on the same defensive rotation it has been using, making Leckners possible return even more significant. [Read more 🡒]