Washington State Trio Earns Pac-12 Honors After Breakout 2025 Campaign
As the 2025 regular season winds down, Washington State is sending a clear message: the Cougars are building something special in Pullman. And that message just got a little louder, with three standout players earning Pac-12 Conference Top Performer honors for their efforts this season.
Senior linebacker Parker McKenna, junior defensive end Isaac Terrell, and junior punt returner Tony Freeman were each recognized by the conference for their dominant play in 2025. These aren’t just token acknowledgments - each of these players made a real impact, week in and week out, on both sides of the ball and in the return game.
McKenna: The Heart of the Cougar Defense
Let’s start with Parker McKenna, who was named the Pac-12’s top defensive performer. The senior linebacker was the engine of the Cougars’ defense, starting all 12 games and leading the team with 83 tackles.
McKenna didn’t just rack up numbers - he made his presence felt in crucial moments. He added five tackles for loss, including two sacks, and showed off his versatility with an interception, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.
McKenna consistently showed up in big games, logging three double-digit tackle performances. He had 10 tackles in the win at Colorado State, a season-high 12 against a top-five Ole Miss squad, and another 10 - plus a pick - in the win over Toledo.
That kind of production, especially against high-caliber opponents, is exactly what you want from your senior leader. He was the anchor, the communicator, and the tone-setter for a defense that took real strides this season.
Terrell: Breakout Force on the Edge
While McKenna was the steady force in the middle, Isaac Terrell brought the heat off the edge. The junior defensive end was named the conference’s top defensive line performer, and it’s easy to see why.
Terrell played in 11 games, starting five, and still managed to lead the Cougars in both tackles for loss (12) and sacks (7). That’s production you typically see from a full-time starter - Terrell did it in a rotational role.
His breakout moment came early, when his first career sack resulted in a safety against San Diego State. But the real eye-opener came later in the year, when he posted four tackles for loss and two sacks at fourth-ranked Ole Miss - the most TFLs by a Cougar since 2017. He closed the regular season with a career-high six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in a win over Oregon State, capping off a season that firmly put him on the radar as one of the Pac-12’s most disruptive linemen.
Freeman: Game-Changer in the Return Game
Then there’s Tony Freeman, who turned special teams into a weekly highlight reel. Named the Pac-12’s top special teams performer, Freeman was electric as a punt returner, averaging 16.8 yards per return - good for sixth-best in the country. He consistently flipped the field, racking up seven returns of 20-plus yards and five of 40-plus, which ranked third nationally.
Freeman’s impact wasn’t limited to just one or two games - he was a threat all season. A 42-yard return helped spark the win over Colorado State.
He broke off a 47-yarder at Oregon State, then topped that with a 58-yard return in the win over Louisiana Tech. But his finale was the showstopper: 169 punt return yards - a single-game WSU record - in the win over Oregon State, including returns of 43 and 59 yards.
That kind of production changes games, and Freeman delivered it with consistency.
Oh, and by the way - he also started seven games at receiver, catching 51 passes for 557 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn’t just a return specialist; he was a two-way weapon.
Looking Ahead
With bowl season on deck, the Cougars are set to take on Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Monday at 11 a.m. PT on ESPN.
But regardless of what happens in Boise, the foundation laid this season is clear. McKenna, Terrell, and Freeman didn’t just put up numbers - they helped shape the identity of a Washington State team that’s starting to turn heads in the Pac-12.
And if this trio is any indication of what’s brewing in Pullman, Cougar fans have every reason to be excited about what’s next.