(Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Cameron Ward, RB Nakia Watson, OC Konner Gomness, DE Andrew Edson, DE Brennan Jackson, DE Quinn Roff, CB Chau Smith-Wade, FS Sam Lockett III, SS Jaden Hicks, KR Lincoln Victor, PK Dean Janikowski and PT Nick Haberer.
Key Players Departing:
WR Donovan Ollie, WR De’Zhaun Stribling, OG Grant Stephens, OT Jarrett Kingston, OT Ma’ake Fifita, DE Ron Stone, DT Christian Mejia, LB Travion Brown, LB Daiyan Henley, LB Francisco Mauigoa, CB Derrick Langford Jr., NB Armani Marsh, SS Jordan Lee and PR Robert Ferrel.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Kyle Williams (UNLV transfer), ATH Leo Pulalasi (Lakewood, Washington), CB Warren Smith (El Cerrito, California), ATH Ethan O’Connor (Los Alamitos, California), WR Josh Kelly (Fresno State transfer), OT Esa Pole (Hayward, California), EDGE Isaac Terrell (Lehi, Utah), OT Moah Dunham (Yuba City, California), WR Isaiah Hamilton (San Jose State transfer) and OT Nathan Gates (Huntington Beach, California).
2022 Results:
G01 IDAHO W 24-17
G02 @ #19 Wisconsin W 17-14
G03 COLORADO STATE W 38-7
G04 #15 OREGON L 41-44
G05 CALIFORNIA W 28-9
G06 @ #6 USC L 14-30
G07 @ Oregon State L 10-24
G08 #14 UTAH L 17-21
G09 @ Stanford W 52-14
G10 ARIZONA STATE W 28-18
G11 @ Arizona W 31-20
G12 #13 WASHINGTON L 33-51
BOWL vs. Fresno State L 6-29
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 7-6 (7th in PAC12)
Home: 4-3
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-1
P12: 4-5
Non-P12: 3-1
Head Coach: Jake Dickert
Washington State: 10-9
Career: 10-9
Bowls: 0-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Cameron Ward (320-497, 3232 yards, 64.4%, 6.5 avg., 23 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Kakia Watson (144 car., 769 yards, 5.3 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Nakia Watson (30 rec., 296 yards, 9.9 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Nakia Watson (13)
Sacks: Brennan Jackson (6)
Tackles: Jaden Hicks (76)
Interceptions: Sam Lockett III (3)
Pass Deflections: Chau Smith-Wade (8)
Tackles For Loss: Brennan Jackson (12)
Forced Fumbles: Chau Smith-Wade (3)
Kick Returns: Lincoln Victor (22 ret., 445 yards, 20.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Dean Janikowski (11-14 fg/fga., 79%, 40-41 xp/xpa., 73 pts.)
Punting: Nick Haberer (59 punts, 2502 yards, 42.4 avg., 22 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 Cameron Ward (RS SR/TR)
RB: 25 Nakia Watson (RS SR/TR)
WR: 6 Josh Kelly (RS JR/TR)
WR: 2 Kyle Williams (JR/TR)
WR: 5 Lincoln Victor (SR/TR)
TE: 24 Cooper Mathers (JR)
LT: 76 Esa Pole (JR/TR)
LG: 66 Ma’ake Fifita (RS JR)
OC: 77 Konner Gomness (RS JR)
RG: 65 Brock Dieu (RS SO)
RT: 79 Fa’alili Fa’amoe (RS SO)
KR: 5 Lincoln Victor (SR/TR)
PK: 49 Dean Janikowski (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Ron Stone (RS SR)
DT: 15 Nusi Malani (JR/TR)
DT: 60 David Gusta (RS SO)
DE: 80 Brennan Jackson (RS SR)
LB: 52 Kyle Thornton (RS JR)
LB: 8 Devin Richardson (RS SR/TR)
NB: 4 Kapena Gushiken (JR/TR)
CB: 29 Cam Lampkin (SR/TR)
CB: 6 Chau Smith-Wade (JR)
FS: 00 Sam Lockett III (RS SR/TR)
SS: 25 Jaden Hicks (RS SO)
PR: 00 DT Sheffield (JR/TR)
PT: 38 Nick Haberer (JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/02 @ Colorado State Rams | The series is tied 1-1. Last season’s 38-7 win was the first meeting between schools since 2013.
09/09 WISCONSIN BADGERS | Washington State trails the series 1-2. Last season’s 17-14 win was their first win of the series dating back to 1976.
09/16 NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS | Washington State won (59-17) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.
09/23 OREGON STATE BEAVERS | Washington State leads the series 56-48-3. The Cougars are 8-2 since 2013 and their last series win (31-24) was in 2021.
10/07 @ UCLA Bruins | Washington State trails the series 20-41-1. The Cougars lost (63-67) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/14 ARIZONA WILDCATS | Washington State trails the series 19-27. The Cougars are 6-2 since 2013 and their last series loss (37-58) was in 2017.
10/21 @ Oregon Ducks | Washington State trails the series 40-53-7. The Cougars are 4-6 since 2013 and their last series win (34-20) was in 2018.
10/28 @ Arizona State Sun Devils | Washington State trails the series 16-28-2. The Cougars are 4-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (34-38) was in 2019.
11/04 STANFORD CARDINAL | Washington State trails the series 31-40-1. The Cougars are 6-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (28-30) was in 2015.
11/11 @ California Golden Bears | Washington State trails the series 30-48-5. The Cougars are 5-4 since 2013 and their last series loss (20-33) was in 2019.
11/17 COLORADO BUFFALOS | Washington State leads the series 7-6. The Cougars won (41-10) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/25 @ Washington Huskies | Washington State trails the series 33-75-6. The Cougars are 1-8 since 2013 and their last series win (40-13) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
P12: 2-7
Non-P12: 1-2
Overall: 3-9 (5th in PAC12 North)
gridironpredictions.net 