When Washington State lines up at Husky Stadium in September to face Washington, the Cougars’ secondary could look almost unrecognizable.
That’s what happens when a team brings in 32 transfers over one offseason, and several of the newcomers happen to play cornerback. It was a clear area of need, and Kirby Moore’s staff addressed it with help from connections like new safeties coach Greg Burns and cornerbacks coach Brandyn Thompson.
Now the real question is which of those new faces will actually lock down jobs once fall camp opens Aug. 6.
The cornerback competition appears wide open, though Texas State transfer Khamari Terrell looks like the closest thing to a favorite. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Terrell spent his first three seasons at Oregon, where he had 14 tackles and one pass breakup. After that, he moved to Texas State and put together a stronger 2024, finishing with 36 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception as the Bobcats went 7-6 and beat Rice in a bowl game.
Terrell didn’t just pile up numbers in spot duty, either. He came off the bench for the first four games before starting the final eight, and he also added a quarterback pressure - a hurry against Louisiana-Monroe. On the year, he gave up 24 catches on 38 targets.
The one catch is that Terrell missed a chunk of spring practice with an injury, so WSU hasn’t gotten a full look at him yet. His size and experience make him a strong candidate to be a major piece of the defense, but fall camp will have to answer the rest.
He’ll be pushed by Cal Poly transfer CJ Solis-Lumar, another 6-foot-1 corner who logged 332 total snaps across 11 games last season. Solis-Lumar recorded 23 tackles and broke up three passes, giving Washington State another big-bodied option on the outside. Whether both players end up starting, or whether one forces the other down the depth chart, is one of the more interesting battles to watch.
Oregon State transfer Jalil Tucker is in that mix too, and he brings a different kind of resume. Last season for the Beavers, he played in 11 games with 10 starts, finishing with five pass breakups and one interception. He allowed 27 catches on 47 targets, but he also gave up four touchdown receptions and posted a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 54.2.
Tucker’s path to Pullman has been a winding one. He began at Oregon in 2022, where he took part in just seven snaps in one game and kept his redshirt intact. He then spent the next two seasons at San Diego Mesa College, where he played 19 games total, including a 2024 season with four tackles and one interception.
Another name to know is Elmo Wharton, a junior college transfer who could end up being the sleeper in the room. Listed at 6-3 and 174 pounds, Wharton spent the last couple seasons at Modesto College and drew interest from Baylor, Mississippi State, Boise State and others before choosing Washington State. He looked sharp in spring ball, even if he was still working with the second team at times.
There are returners in the mix as well. Redshirt freshman Jamarey Smith, who started in the Potato Bowl last winter, is one to watch, along with Kai Rapolla and Ishmael Gibbs.
But make no mistake: this cornerback room will likely be driven by the transfers. With so many new bodies competing for a handful of roles, the players who separate themselves in camp could wind up shaping how good this defense becomes in the fall.
In Other News...
WSU Enters Camp With A Wide Open Battle At Receiver
Washington State heads into fall camp Thursday with one of its most unsettled position groups sitting at receiver, where the Cougars have layered in several transfer additions to reshape the depth chart. Tank Hawkins, Darrius Clemons, Daniel Blood, Jordan Dees and Ryan McKendry all arrive with a chance to factor in, while returning receiver Tony Freeman is also in the mix for a meaningful role as the staff sorts out who can handle the biggest load.
The competition has some added intrigue because the group is not just crowded, it is still sorting through availability questions before the first full stretch of camp work begins. Blood's spring showing gave him a strong case to push for early snaps, and Clemons brings obvious talent if he can stay on the field, which leaves Washington State with a receiver room that could look very different by the time the season opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Enters Fall Camp With Two Huge Battles Unsettled
Washington State opens fall camp on Aug. 6 with a lot more than routine tune-ups on the schedule. Kirby Moore is starting his first camp as head coach, and with 15 practices on the calendar plus scrimmages on Aug. 15 and 21, the Cougars are using this stretch to set the tone for a roster that still has plenty of sorting to do. The staff is trying to install its identity while also figuring out which newcomers and returners are ready to claim jobs when the season starts to take shape.
The biggest questions sit right at the heart of the programs two most important units. The quarterback race will be one of the first things to watch as Moore and his staff evaluate who can steady the offense, while new defensive coordinator Trent Bray is charged with piecing together a rebuilt defense after major production walked out the door. There should be competition all over that side of the ball, especially at linebacker, edge and in the secondary, which means this camp is as much about discovery as it is about preparation. [Read more 🡒]