Washington State Gets Key Boost with Ashton Tripp and Keith Brown Returning for 2026
In an era where roster turnover is the norm and the transfer portal never sleeps, Washington State got a major win this weekend - and not from a game. Left tackle Ashton Tripp and linebacker Keith Brown are both officially returning for the 2026 season, giving new head coach Kirby Moore a pair of foundational pieces to build around.
Let’s start with Tripp. You don’t just stumble upon a 6-foot-7, 303-pound left tackle who can anchor your offensive line week in and week out.
Tripp didn’t just start all 13 games for the Cougars this past season - he led the team in snaps. That kind of durability and consistency is rare, especially in the trenches, where injuries and rotations tend to shuffle the deck constantly.
Tripp’s return is massive, both literally and figuratively. He gave up just one sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus, and capped the year with a clean-sheet performance in Washington State’s bowl win over Utah State.
No sacks, no pressures, just steady protection in the Cougs’ final game of the year. That’s the kind of outing that gets coaches excited and quarterbacks sleeping a little easier.
But what makes Tripp’s return even more significant is the context. With a coaching change and the ever-present lure of the portal, players like Tripp - experienced, productive, and in-demand - are often the first to test the waters. Instead, he doubled down on his commitment to Pullman.
This isn’t just about football for Tripp. It’s about home. The Kennewick native, just a couple of hours from campus, made it clear back in August that his roots run deep with the Cougars.
“Definitely stay the course,” Tripp said at the time. “My first year, I got to play a little bit, but it wasn't where I wanted to be.
And then just kept going at it, doing the extra stuff and got to where I am now ... it's home. I'm two hours away.
Family can come to all my games, and I just love this place. I won't leave this place, it's awesome.”
That kind of mindset matters - especially in a locker room that’s about to undergo some transition under Moore. Tripp isn’t just a returning starter; he’s a tone-setter.
And speaking of tone-setters, linebacker Keith Brown is back too. Brown made headlines earlier in the week when he tweeted his return to Wazzu, just days after initially announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal. That tweet was quickly deleted, and now it’s official - Brown is staying put for his final year of eligibility.
The reasons behind the change of heart haven’t been made public, but there’s some natural speculation that the arrival of Trent Bray as defensive coordinator could have played a role. Brown hails from Lebanon, Oregon - not far from Corvallis - and was originally recruited by Oregon State, where Bray was his position coach. That prior connection may have helped tip the scales back toward Pullman.
While Brown missed the entire 2025 season recovering from shoulder surgery, he was a key contributor in 2024, racking up 26 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. But his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. Brown has become one of the vocal leaders in the locker room, a presence that teammates rally around on and off the field.
For a program navigating change, retaining players like Tripp and Brown is about more than just talent - it’s about continuity, leadership, and identity. These are the kinds of players who help bridge the gap between coaching staffs and keep a team’s culture intact.
Washington State still has plenty of questions to answer heading into 2026. But with Tripp locking down the blind side and Brown returning to lead the defense, the Cougars have a strong foundation to build on - and that’s a win worth celebrating in December.