PULLMAN - Washington State’s defensive line didn’t just win Tuesday’s practice. It controlled it, especially once the Cougars moved into the second half at Gesa Field and started stacking up live-looking reps against the offense.
The front came at WSU’s quarterbacks from every angle. Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk worked off the edges, while Paul Hutson, Kaden Beatty and Jirah Leaupepetele kept collapsing things from the interior.
Leaupepetele was a problem all day, beating his man to shut down several inside runs, and Malachi Wrice did the same. On one sequence, a crowd of Cougars met running back Leo Pulalasi and drove him backward for a loss.
The most eye-catching stretch came in 11-on-11 work, when quarterback Julian Dugger was sacked on three straight plays. Ishmael Gibbs got the first one on a cornerback blitz. Then Josh Wedel got home, followed by redshirt freshman defensive tackle Malijah Tucker, both of them winning up front and finishing in the backfield.
That made Tuesday easily the best day yet for a defensive front that could wind up being the deepest group on the roster. Leaupepetele, Wrice, Wedel and Tucker all flashed, but so have Hutson, SMU transfer Damarjhe Lewis, Balaam Miller and others as camp has gone on.
Whether that depth lasts all season - including road trips to Washington and Kansas State to open the year - is still to be determined. But for now, the group is giving Washington State a real foundation.
“Really the whole group, I have seen an increase or a jump from where we ended in spring ball to where we’re at now,” defensive ends coach Andrew Browning said, “and that’s been really good to see. We have a lot more work to do before we’re ready to play that first game, but I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
The defensive front owned the day, but the cleanest highlight came from the secondary. Cornerback Elmo Wartson jumped a pass from Owen Eshleman and came away with an interception, a play that fit the tone of a camp in which WSU’s defensive backs have started to make more noise. Wartson has been working with what appears to be the Cougars’ second- and third-team defenses, but he’s beginning to show the kind of talent that made him a recruiting target for Baylor, Mississippi State, Boise State and others over the winter.
It was also one of the first interceptions thrown by Eshleman, Caden Pinnick and Dugger over the first five days of camp. That trio has not been perfect, but it has done a good job of protecting the ball, which matters to head coach Kirby Moore and offensive coordinator Matt Miller. The only other pick came Saturday, when safety Jaylen Thomas intercepted a tipped Dugger pass that was a little behind its target.
Pinnick opened the first offensive 11-on-11 reps and had some sharp moments. He hit veteran Tony Freeman on a deep crossing route along the sideline, then delivered a strike over the middle to Missouri transfer wide receiver Daniel Blood, who went up and completed the catch on the way down.
But Pinnick also had his rough spots once the action moved to Gesa Field. One deep throw sailed too far and never gave a receiver a chance, while another go-route along the sideline came up short and hit the turf near his target’s feet. Pinnick and Eshleman both had their best days Saturday, when each connected on two deep balls, and that may have helped them gain a little ground in the competition.
Pinnick has also started using his legs more, scrambling to extend plays after spending the first few days more in the pocket. That’s the calling card for Dugger, though the no-tackling rule for quarterbacks has made that harder to fully appreciate through the first four days. The Cougars are set to go full pads Wednesday, which should sharpen the picture.
Dugger had his own uneven moments Tuesday, including a swing pass that landed just wide of receiver Jordan Dees. Like the others, he’ll need more time in the pocket to settle things down, and Washington State’s defensive front doesn’t look interested in giving that away.
Other notes from Tuesday’s practice:
• Veteran Jonny Lester continues to rep at right tackle, even with veteran transfer Max McCree back, which now looks more like the staff’s plan than a temporary look
• Freshman running backs Marquez Wimberly and Tremayne Hill have been getting first- and second-team reps, though it remains unclear how much they’ll play behind Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Leo Pulalasi
• Redshirt freshman tight end Peyton Read caught a pass from Pinnick and turned it into a long gain
In Other News...
Owen Eshelman Just Added Intrigue To WSUs Quarterback Battle
Owen Eshelman had plenty of reasons to look elsewhere after Washington State changed coaches and added another transfer quarterback, but he chose to stay put and keep working in Pullman. The second-year quarterback has made clear he appreciates the new staff and the way the room has been pushed by competition, which gives the Cougars a deeper and more interesting battle under center as camp approaches.
Eshelman also sounds like a player leaning into the process rather than chasing shortcuts, talking about his preparation and the value of the summer he spent around teammates away from the field. For Washington State, that matters because the quarterback competition is no longer just about arm talent or experience - it is also about who can handle the daily grind of a reshaped room and emerge from it as the most dependable option. [Read more 🡒]
WSUs Edge Rush Suddenly Carries Big Apple Cup Pressure
During fall camp, Washington State has gotten a clearer picture of its defensive end room, and it starts with Linus Zunk and Matyus McLain. Defensive ends coach Andrew Browning has praised both for the experience and leadership they bring to a group that needs steady hands as the Cougars head toward the Apple Cup opener, where edge play could quickly become one of the more important storylines on the field.
Behind those two, the staff has also been pushing the next wave of pass rushers into the mix. Ben Beatty and Michael Hughes are among the younger players being developed for rotational work, with the staff trying to build enough depth so the position does not lean too heavily on just a couple of veterans once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Tripp Gives WSU One Sure Thing In Key O-Line Battle
As Washington State works through fall camp, one part of the offensive line already looks settled: Ashton Tripp is holding down the starting job at left tackle. It is a familiar spot for him after last season, and it gives the Cougars at least one dependable presence while the staff continues to sort out the rest of the front.
The bigger question remains on the right side, where Jonny Lester, Noah Dunham, Kyle Martin and Nick Bakken are all in the mix for spots. Offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie has made versatility a priority as the group battles through camp, and the next stretch will be about finding the right combination while keeping everyone moving forward. [Read more 🡒]