Jaylin Caldwell Returning to WSU: A Big Boost for the Cougars' Offensive Line in 2026
Washington State’s offensive line just got a little more solid heading into 2026. Right tackle Jaylin Caldwell is officially returning to Pullman next season, the program announced Sunday. That’s a big win for the Cougars, who are starting to piece together some much-needed continuity up front.
Caldwell joins left tackle Ashton Tripp and linebacker Keith Brown as the first three confirmed returnees for next year’s squad. And while Brown brings leadership on the defensive side, it’s Caldwell’s return that could help stabilize an offensive line that’s seen its share of turnover.
Why Caldwell’s Return Matters
At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Caldwell has the size and pedigree you want anchoring the edge of your line. He stepped into the starting role at right tackle this past season when Christian Hilborn went down, logging 81 snaps across two games-against Ole Miss and Virginia-before an injury of his own ended his season early.
While that’s a small sample size, what Caldwell showed in those reps was encouraging. He looked comfortable in pass protection and showed enough physicality in the run game to suggest he can hold his own as a starter. For a WSU program that’s trying to rebuild its offensive identity, having a potential plug-and-play tackle already in-house is a major plus.
And let’s be real: in today’s college football landscape, where offensive linemen are among the most sought-after commodities in the portal, keeping a player like Caldwell in the building is no small feat.
A Battle Brewing at Right Tackle?
With Hilborn graduating, the right tackle spot is officially up for grabs. Caldwell will likely enter spring ball as the early front-runner, but don’t count out Xavier Thorpe, who’s also expected to be in the mix. That competition should bring out the best in both players-and whoever wins the job will have earned it.
Caldwell’s journey to Pullman has been anything but linear. Originally from Chicago, he played his high school ball at Phillips and started his college career at Division II Grand Valley State, where he appeared in 25 games over three seasons. When he entered the transfer portal last year, he drew interest from a long list of FBS programs, including Florida State, Kentucky, Missouri, and Coastal Carolina, among others.
Ultimately, Caldwell chose Washington State-and he made it clear last summer that Pullman just felt different.
“The area is like no other,” Caldwell said at the time. “The people seem more real here. They seem to want to form a relationship and it’s not just strictly business.”
Eligibility and Outlook
Caldwell arrived at WSU with two years of eligibility, and because of the injury that sidelined him this past season, he’s likely to get one of those years back. That means he could be in Pullman for two more seasons-plenty of time to develop into a key piece of this offensive front.
And if the Cougars can get a few more returnees to join Caldwell and Tripp, they might just have the makings of a quietly formidable offensive line.
Building Continuity Up Front
Center Kyle Martin hinted before the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl that he has no plans to leave. Left guard Jonny Lester, a Spokane native married to a current WSU student, also seems like a strong candidate to return. If both come back and can help convince projected right guard starter Noah Dunham to do the same, WSU could return four of five starters on the offensive line.
That kind of continuity is rare these days, especially with the transfer portal in full swing. But Washington State has quietly developed a culture of offensive linemen sticking around. From Abraham Lucas and Liam Ryan to Konner Gomness, Ma’ake Fifita, and more recently Hilborn and Brock Dieu, the Cougars have seen several linemen start-and finish-their careers in Pullman.
If Caldwell follows that same path, it could be a huge win for WSU-not just in 2026, but beyond.