PULLMAN - Jaylen Thomas turned one throw from a good practice into the loudest moment of Washington State’s Day 7 fall camp session.
As Caden Pinnick wound up and tried to hit a receiver over the middle, Thomas read the play, jumped the route and took the interception back the other way for a pick-six at Gesa Field. The safety finished the play with a backflip in the end zone, then celebrated with a teammate who had sprinted down to join him. For a defense that has been driving the tone of camp, it was the kind of burst that fit right in.
“We’re in the middle of camp,” Eastern Washington transfer defensive tackle Jirah Leaupepetele said. “Need some energy going.”
WSU’s defense has brought plenty of it through seven practices. The Cougars have already picked off three passes in 11-on-11 work, with one interception coming from each of the quarterbacks competing for the starting job: Julian Dugger, Owen Eshleman and Pinnick.
The front has made life difficult on all three, forcing quick decisions, scrambles and off-target throws. The secondary has backed it up, and that combination has become one of the defining threads of camp.
Thomas’ play was the latest example. He and Cal Poly transfer Jeremiah Bernard have been working with the first-team defense, a strong sign that both are on track for starting roles. Bernard made his own splash earlier in the week with a diving pass breakup, and Thomas followed with the kind of takeaway that can light up a practice in a hurry.
The safety room is being guided by Greg Burns, whose coaching path runs from WSU to Idaho, Louisville, USC, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas State, Arizona State, Purdue, UMass, Cal, Oregon State, USC, Arizona and most recently San Jose State. He also spent three years playing at Washington State, finishing in 1995. Thomas said Burns has already made a strong impression.
“I like his whole football intelligence,” Thomas said after one practice last week, referring to Burns. “He’s such a football guru, and he’s just been around so long.
He’s learned so many things, and I feel like every day I’m learning something new from him. He has something he thought about last night that he’s like, oh, this could help you help the defense, help the team in just the littlest way.
And those little things stack up each and every time.”
While the defense keeps stacking plays, the quarterback battle remains unsettled. Dugger, Eshleman and Pinnick have all flashed at times, but none has separated from the pack in a meaningful way.
Dugger had a throw that stood out on Wednesday, while Pinnick and Eshleman both hit deep balls on Saturday. A week into camp, the race still feels open.
There is, though, one detail worth watching: over the last two practices, which have shifted to Gesa Field to finish, Pinnick has been the first quarterback on the field and has often taken the first reps in team periods. That could be a sign he’s edging ahead.
Even with the interception, Thursday brought some good work from Pinnick. In an 11-on-11 period at Rogers Practice Field, he stepped up in the pocket and fired back-to-back completions to Oregon State transfer receiver Darrius Clemons, who made catches crossing the middle and angling toward the sideline. Both throws stood out as some of Pinnick’s best of camp, especially because he handled pressure from a WSU defensive line that has been causing problems all August.
Clemons’ camp hasn’t drawn the biggest spotlight, but he has been getting steady first-team reps and looks positioned to start at receiver. Tony Freeman and Daniel Blood also appear likely to be part of that group after making tough catches in recent practices.
The question, as always, is who will be getting them the ball. Pinnick may be the closest thing to a leader right now, especially with his spot at the front of the quarterback rotation in the last couple practices. Still, Thursday’s interception was a reminder that nothing has been settled yet.
Notes
- Running back Kirby Vorhees missed a second straight practice, and cornerback Jalil Tucker sat out for a third straight day. Both are likely starters.
- With Vorhees out, redshirt sophomore Maxwell Woods worked as WSU’s first-team running back.
- WSU’s starting offensive line is looking more and more like Ashton Tripp at left tackle, Kyle Martin at left guard, Noah Dunham at center, Nick Bakken at right guard and Jonny Lester at right guard.
That group has been taking first-team reps over the last several practices.
- The second-team offensive line included Max McCree at left tackle and returner Jaylin Caldwell at right tackle.
- In a team period at Rogers Practice Field, Eshleman held off pressure and completed a crossing route to tight end Hudson Cedarland for a solid gain.
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