PULLMAN -- Washington State is finding out fast where its roster can least afford attrition, and the early injuries have hit those exact spots.
Two weeks into the season, the Cougars are dealing with major trouble at cornerback and wide receiver, the same positions that already looked thin on paper. That reality showed up in a hurry against Kansas State, and it could shape how WSU handles the next stretch.
The cornerback situation is the more immediate headache. Jalil Tucker was already a question mark after leaving the Apple Cup early, though Kirby Moore said after that game he should be good to go. Khamari Terrell being out was the real surprise, and suddenly both starting cornerbacks were unavailable.
WSU had to shuffle pieces around to survive it. Jamarey Smith moved from nickel to outside cornerback on Saturday, Jaylen Thomas dropped from free safety to nickel, and Jackquintin Bal got the start at safety. Kai Rapolla opened at the other corner spot, while CJ Solis-Lumar rotated in heavily as well.
The problem is that there just isn’t much proven help behind them. Elmo Wartson, Kayo Patu, Ishmael Gibbs and Nick Norrah are the other cornerbacks on the roster. Patu only converted from safety this fall, Gibbs is really a natural nickel, and Norrah is a walk-on freshman.
More information on Tucker and Terrell is expected later this afternoon, but for now the Cougars are in a tough spot at a critical position.
Wide receiver is shaky too, especially with Tony Freeman out and the rotation cut down to just three players. Washington State simply doesn’t have a deep pool of experienced options to lean on there.
Jordan Dees should at least get some run, and Tank Hawkins probably deserves more than the single snap he has been getting. But Dees had an uneven fall camp, with drops and penalties showing up at times. Hawkins looked better in fall camp than he did in the spring, though that explosive speed still hasn’t shown up enough.
After Daniel Blood, Darrius Clemons and Branden Ganashamoorthy, the depth gets thin fast. Dees and Hawkins are next in line, and then it becomes a matter of youth and inexperience. Noah Westbrook flashed a little in the spring, but spent most of fall with the threes.
The rest of the group is made up of players still trying to carve out a foothold. JC transfer Ryan McKendry has been hurt for much of his time at WSU, while fellow JC transfers Jevon Walker and Jay Porter were mostly depth pieces. Freshman Oliver Bender and walk-ons Caleb Northcroft and Isaiah Docken round out the room.
The injury wave also makes last winter’s portal losses look worse. Landon Wright and Mackenzie Alleyne were the kinds of players Washington State expected to keep around - guys without a ton of snaps or tape - but both were lured away by power conference schools.
At some point, the Cougars have to find a better balance. Three-wide receiver sets are not a long-term answer, and WSU may need to see what Dees and Hawkins can provide while also giving one of the younger receivers a chance to grow into a role.
This week’s matchup with Duquesne could offer that opening. The Cougars are a 35-point favorite, and a softer landing might be exactly what they need to get some of the younger players real game reps.
In Other News...
Washington State Enters Home Opener With One Issue It Can't Ignore
Two losses in, Washington State is already staring at a familiar early-season problem: an offense that has not found enough rhythm and a protection unit that has left too much on the quarterback. Kirby Moore said the Cougars need collective improvement and hinted at changes in player rotations as the staff looks for answers before the home opener, a game that can steady things quickly or deepen the concern if the same issues follow them back to Pullman.
Caden Pinnick has become part of that conversation too after brushing off questions in his postgame session, then later acknowledging the mistake and saying he needs to grow from it. Washington State is trying to clean up more than just the passing game, because the defense has also been asked to carry too much of the load and fatigue is starting to show after so many snaps in recent games. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Home Opener Puts Kirby Moore's Biggest Early Test Front And Center
Washington States first game at Martin Stadium under Kirby Moore arrives with a little less polish and a lot more urgency after the Cougars opened with a loss at Kansas State. The home opener against Duquesne should give Moore and his staff a cleaner look at where this team stands, but it also comes with the kind of early pressure that can shape a first season fast, especially with injuries already affecting key pieces.
Duquesne comes in carrying its own concerns, having started the year with two losses and sitting last in the FCS in total offense. For Washington State, that makes this more than a routine September matchup. It is a chance to steady the tone, get healthier where possible and show some growth in front of a home crowd before the schedule starts asking tougher questions. [Read more 🡒]
Abraham Lucas Keeps Giving WSU Fans Another Reason To Be Proud
Abraham Lucas keeps turning Sundays into a showcase for what Washington State fans already knew they had in him. In Seattles Week One win over the New England Patriots, the former Cougars standout was a major part of both the run game and the pass protection, reinforcing his value along the Seahawks line after recently signing a three-year contract extension.
Lucas also had a moment back home that said plenty about how far he has come. He helped unveil a new weight room at Archbishop Murphy High School that now bears his name, another sign that his path from local prospect to NFL starter still resonates in Pullman and beyond, even as other Pac-12 alums like Jalen Thompson begin new chapters and Kyle Williams sees a bigger role in New England. [Read more 🡒]