WSU’s Kirby Vorhees to Miss Idaho Potato Bowl, Plans to Enter Transfer Portal
Washington State will be without its top running back when it takes the field Monday for the Idaho Potato Bowl. Kirby Vorhees, the Cougars’ hard-nosed third-year sophomore tailback, is expected to enter the transfer portal and won’t suit up against Utah State, according to a source.
The portal doesn’t officially open until January 2, but with the regular season in the books, players across the country are already announcing their intentions. Vorhees becomes the 13th WSU player to signal his plans to transfer.
It’s a significant loss for a WSU offense that had come to rely on Vorhees down the stretch. After transferring in from FCS powerhouse South Dakota State, he didn’t claim the starting role until Week 8, but his impact was felt well before then. He quickly emerged as the Cougars’ most reliable option in the backfield, finishing the year with 576 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
At 5-foot-11 and 208 pounds, Vorhees brought a physical edge to the run game. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and led the team with 30 forced missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus. His breakout moment came against SEC contender Ole Miss, when he ripped off a 46-yard touchdown run to give WSU a third-quarter lead-part of an 88-yard performance that showed just how dangerous he could be in space and between the tackles.
“Kirby runs hard,” former WSU coach Jimmy Rogers said after that game. “When you run behind your pads like that, you’re really physical.
He’s really elusive. Kid cares just as much as anybody on this team.
One of the first guys in to do everything. He’s one of the last guys to leave, and he’s battle-tested, for sure.
He’s a winner.”
That kind of praise wasn’t just coach-speak-it reflected the respect Vorhees earned in a short time with the program. He followed Rogers to Pullman after two seasons at South Dakota State, and now, with Rogers heading to Iowa State, there’s speculation that Vorhees could follow him again.
In the meantime, WSU is prepping for its bowl matchup under interim head coach Jesse Bobbit, who has been serving as the team’s defensive coordinator. Bobbit will also join Rogers’ staff at Iowa State after the bowl game, but for now, he’s focused on finishing strong with the Cougars. The rest of the coaching staff is expected to remain intact for Monday’s game.
With Vorhees out, the Cougars will turn to a mix of backs to carry the load. Angel Johnson, who started the first six games of the year, is a likely candidate to step back into a lead role.
Also in the mix: third-year sophomore Leo Pulalasi and redshirt freshman Maxwell Woods, who combined for 277 yards on 58 carries this season. It’s a by-committee approach, but there’s experience and upside in that room.
WSU’s new head coach, Kirby Moore-formerly Missouri’s offensive coordinator-was officially introduced earlier this week. He’s already begun conversations with players entering the portal and plans to continue those discussions in the coming days. It’s a transitional moment for the program, but Moore brings a fresh offensive perspective that could reshape the Cougars’ identity moving forward.
As for the bowl game, players who have entered the portal are still eligible to play, though not all will. Among those sitting out are backup corner Kenny Worthy III and freshman wideout Carter Pabst. Others, like junior receiver Tony Freeman and redshirt freshman linebacker Anthony Palano, are expected to take the field.
The Cougars may be short-handed, but they’re not short on motivation. Monday’s game in Boise offers a final chance for this group to close the chapter on a challenging, transitional season-and for some, it’s the last time they’ll wear the crimson and gray.