Washington State’s fall camp is almost in the books, and the Cougars head into Friday’s second and final scrimmage with most of the roster picture already coming into focus.
After a gameday walk-through Thursday morning - practice No. 13 of camp - WSU has only two sessions left: the scrimmage Friday at 11 a.m. at Gesa Field and a Sunday evening practice that will finish out the 15-practice stretch. Coaches have not been eager to spell everything out publicly, but the shape of this team is becoming pretty clear.
The quarterback battle remains a closely held topic, yet all signs point to UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick getting the first crack ahead of returners Julian Dugger and Owen Eshelman. On defense, the starting end spots appear set with Idaho transfer Matyus McLain and Vanderbilt transfer Linus Zunk. There’s also a real chance many presumed starters won’t be pushed for the full scrimmage as the staff looks to protect bodies with camp winding down.
Even with the depth chart mostly settled, there are still a few spots worth watching Friday.
At running back, Kirby Vorhees is established as the starter after a 2025 season in which he ran for 576 yards and five touchdowns. He handled first-team reps throughout spring ball and early in camp, though he’s missed almost the past week with an undisclosed injury that Kirby Moore has played down. The bigger question now is who backs him up.
Maxwell Woods looks like the front-runner. The redshirt sophomore has been one of camp’s fastest risers, flashing burst and wiggle that have turned into chunk plays. Practice only tells part of the story with a runner like that, since so much of his game is built on making defenders miss, but he’s done enough to put himself in line for the No. 2 job.
Leo Pulalasi is also in the mix. The redshirt junior has long been one of the more dependable backs on the roster, the kind of player who can reliably grind out four or five yards and keep an offense on schedule.
And there are two younger names to keep an eye on: true freshmen Marquez Wimberly and Tre Hill. Both have worked with the second- and third-team offenses and have looked sharp and aggressive.
A strong scrimmage could put them firmly on the staff’s radar.
Tight end is another spot where camp has opened a door. Jack Pedersen, the UCLA transfer, is expected to be the starter. He brings a sturdy all-around game, blocks well, catches what’s thrown his way in the short and intermediate passing game, and gives the position a veteran presence.
But the more intriguing development has been redshirt freshman Peyton Read. With Trey Leckner expected to be out until mid-season and Beau Baker recently sidelined with injury, Read has taken advantage of the extra work. He’s shown real ability as a pass-catcher in practice and in WSU’s first scrimmage, and if offensive coordinator Matt Miller wants to get a little creative, Read could end up with a meaningful role.
There’s also movement along the offensive line. Coming out of spring, Max McCree looked like the likely answer at right tackle. The Washington transfer had never played that position before arriving in Pullman, but he handled it well during spring ball and seemed to be in position to claim the job.
Fall camp has shifted things. Jonny Lester now looks more likely to start at right tackle after moving over from left guard.
He was the first lineman to slide to tackle when injuries hit the line last season, which says plenty about his versatility, and he’s backed that up this summer with steady work at the spot. He’s also missed the last three practices with an undisclosed injury, though the sense is that coaches are being careful with him, just as they have been with Vorhees.
If Lester is held out Friday, the backup race becomes a little more interesting. Jaylin Caldwell, who missed spring while rehabbing an injury, has been filling in at right tackle with the second unit.
McCree has been working at left tackle in those looks, his usual position, so Caldwell seems to be the name most likely to get another extended opportunity. Still, McCree could get more chances in the scrimmage too.
On defense, McLain and Zunk have drawn plenty of attention for good reason. They’ve been relentless off the edge throughout camp.
But redshirt freshman Josh Wedel is a name worth tracking as the final week closes. He moved from defensive end to defensive tackle early in camp and has looked solid there.
At 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds, he has the size to add more depth inside if the Cougars want it.
And then there’s former defensive tackle Soni Finau, who is exploring a return to the team under the NCAA’s new ruling granting extra eligibility to class of 2022 athletes who ran out following the 2025 season. He has been at each of the past three practices, and the university’s compliance office is working through the details with Finau on his potential eligibility. If that comes together, he could re-enter the picture this fall.
In Other News...
Soni Finau Could Spark A New Washington State Camp Debate
Soni Finau was back around Washington State practice this week, a sign that the Cougars are at least exploring another move that could shape their defensive line depth. Finau already has a season in Pullman under his belt as a defensive tackle, and his presence matters because the interior group is one of the more competitive spots on the roster, with several players already battling for snaps.
The question now is whether Washington State can get him cleared to play again, which would give the Cougars another experienced body inside and complicate an already crowded camp picture. For a defensive front that is still sorting out roles, Finaus return would not just be a depth add, it could force another round of decisions in a group where every practice rep seems to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Defense Keeps Sending A Message About This Position Group
Washington States defense has spent fall camp making its case the hard way, one practice rep at a time. The pass rush has been steady, the coverage has held up, and a handful of players have kept popping up on the field, with Isaiah Hung, Jeremiah Bernard and Jirah Leaupepetele all earning notice for the kind of plays that usually get a staffs attention in August.
The bigger takeaway for the Cougars may be what this says about the interior of the defense. Defensive tackle looks deeper than it has in a while, with veterans and transfers all pushing for snaps, and that kind of competition can change the tone of a camp quickly. There is still sorting to do before the depth chart settles, but the message from practice has been hard to miss: this group is not short on options. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Has Another Polynesian Standout Fans Should Know
Washington State defensive lineman Jirah Leaupepetele has earned a spot on the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, a recognition that puts him among a broader group of standouts with Polynesian ancestry across the country. The list spans 68 players from 35 NCAA Division I programs and is tied to an award presented annually by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which honors both performance and integrity on and off the field.
For the Cougars, it is another reminder of the programs connection to Polynesian talent, a pipeline that has mattered in Pullman for years. The watch list will narrow to finalists in December 2026 before the winner is revealed later that month, giving Leaupepetele a chance to keep building on a profile that already has him on a national stage. [Read more 🡒]