Washington State may have to open Pac-12 play without one of its top backs.
The league’s first availability report listed Kirby Vorhees as questionable for Saturday’s home game against Fresno State, a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on USA Network. Vorhees is working through an upper-body injury he picked up in practice this week, and WSU coach Kirby Moore said he’s “a little dinged up, but he’s he’s done a good job getting back into practice. So we’re just working through that.”
Moore also labeled Vorhees a gametime decision, along with cornerback Jalil Tucker, who started the Sept. 6 Apple Cup but has been sidelined since suffering an injury in that game.
The more encouraging news for the Cougars came at tight end, where Trey Leckner is probable and could make his season debut. Leckner has missed all of spring ball and fall camp after aggravating a foot injury over the summer, but his return would be a boost for a Washington State offense that has not yet settled in against FBS opponents.
A redshirt junior from Snohomish, Leckner started nine of 13 games last season and caught 24 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns, tying for the third-most touchdowns by a tight end in WSU single-season history. In 2024, he appeared in 12 games, starting two, and finished with three catches for 56 yards and a score.
The availability report also brought tougher injury news for the Cougars’ defense. Linebacker Nylan Brown is expected to miss “a significant amount of time” after suffering a foot injury in last weekend’s loss to Arizona, Moore said. Brown played 12 snaps on special teams before going down, and Moore said the injury could end his season, though “we’re determining that right now.”
Brown has mostly filled a reserve linebacker role this season, with Keith Brown and DJ Warner starting and Isaiah Hung serving as a key backup. Redshirt sophomore Gage Jones could also see more work, Moore said. Brown has played only 22 snaps on defense this year.
Elsewhere on the report, linebacker Jack Ellison is doubtful and safety Kyle Peterson is out, along with defensive ends Malachi Wrice and Mike Hughes. Those end absences could matter most for a front that has leaned heavily on starters Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk, who have logged 184 snaps apiece through four games.
WSU’s remaining depth at defensive end includes redshirt sophomore Ben Beatty, a key backup, and redshirt sophomore Fernando Lecuona Jr., who has limited experience.
Vorhees has rushed 36 times for 210 yards and two touchdowns in four games, with most of that production coming in a 109-yard performance against FCS Duquesne, when he also scored. Last week against Arizona, he ran for 39 yards on nine carries.
If Vorhees is unable to go, Maxwell Woods should see more touches. Woods has 173 yards on 28 carries and has flashed burst and elusiveness early in the season, even though most of his production also came against Duquesne. Leo Pulalasi could also factor in more if Vorhees sits, though he has not played as much as Woods.
The Pac-12 is using an availability report this season for the first time, joining the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.
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For Clemons, the standard is simple: when the ball comes his way, he has to make the play. He also took a hard look at his own performance and the larger expectations that come with playing receiver, knowing the group will be judged not just on effort but on results. For a team still trying to steady its offense, the question now is whether that message turns into cleaner execution before the frustration grows louder. [Read more 🡒]