(WR Kyle Williams – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
OG Brock Dieu, OG Christian Hilborn, OT Fa’alili Fa’amoe, OT Esa Pole, DE Andrew Edson, DE Nusi Malani, DE Quinn Roff, LB Taariq Al-Uqdah, LB Kyle Thornton, CB Jamorri Colson, NB Kapena Gushiken, PK Dean Janikowski and PT Nick Haberer.
Key Players Departing:
QB Cameron Ward (Miami, FL transfer), RB Nakia Watson, WR Josh Kelly (Texas Tech transfer), WR Lincoln Victor, OC Konner Gomness, DE Brennan Jackson (Rams R5), DE Ron Stone Jr., LB Devin Richardson, CB Cam Lampkin, CB Chau Smith-Wade (Panthers R5), FS Sam Lockett III, SS Jaden Hicks (Chiefs R4), KR Levton Smithson, and PR Isaiah Hamilton.
(ATH Kayo Patu – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: ATH Kayo Patu (Seattle, Washington).
3 Star Recruits: QB Zevi Eckhaus (Bryant transfer), RB Josh Joyner (Oxnard, California), EDGE Malachi Wrice (McAlister, Oklahoma), DS Tyson Weaver (Sammamish, Washington), LB Wesley Steiner (Auburn transfer), WR Kris Hutson (Oregon transfer), WR Tre Shackelford (Austin Peay transfer), DE Syrus Webster (Utah Tech transfer), and RB Wayshawn Parker (Sacramento, California).
2023 Results:
G01 @ COLORADO STATE W 50-24
G02 #19 WISCONSIN W 31-22
G03 NORTHERN COLORADO W 64-21
G04 #14 OREGON STATE W 36-35
G05 @ UCLA L 17-25
G06 ARIZONA L 6-44
G07 @ #9 Oregon L 24-38
G08 @ Arizona State L 27-38
G09 STANFORD L 7-10
G10 @ California L 39-42
G11 COLORADO W 56-14
G12 @ #4 Washington L 21-24
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 5-7 (11th in PAC12)
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
P12: 2-7
Non-P12: 3-0
Head Coach: Jake Dickert
Washington State: 15-16
Career: 15-16
Bowls: 0-2
(LB Kyle Thornton – cougfan.com)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: John Mateer (13-17, 235 yards, 76.5%, 13.8 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Dylan Paine (25 car., 150 yards, 6.0 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Kyle Williams (61 rec., 843 yards, 13.8 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Kyle Williams (6)
Sacks: Nusi Malani (2.5)
Tackles: Kyle Thornton (87)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Kapena Gushiken (5)
Tackles For Loss: Kyle Thornton (4.5)
Forced Fumbles: Kyle Thornton (1)
Kick Returns: Leyton Smithson (7 ret., 224 yards, 32.0 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Dean Janikowski (10-15 fg/fga., 67%, 44-44 xp/xpa., 74 pts.)
Punting: Nick Haberer (46 punts, 2041 yards, 44.4 avg., 14 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 10 John Mateer (RS SO)
RB: 15 Djouvensky Schlenbaker (RS SO)
WR: 8 Carlos Hernandez (SO)
WR: 2 Kyle Williams (SR/TR)
WR: 1 Kris Hutson (SR/TR)
TE: 24 Cooper Mathers (SR)
LT: 76 Esa Pole (SR/TR)
LG: 61 Christian Hilborn (RS JR)
OC: 70 Devin Kylany (RS JR)
RG: 65 Brock Dieu (RS JR)
RT: 79 Fa’alili Fa’amoe (RS JR)
KR: 89 Leyton Smithson (JR)
PK: 49 Dean Janikowski (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 15 Nusi Malani (SR/TR)
DT: 44 Khalil Laufau (SO)
DT: 60 David Gusta (RS JR)
DE: 3 Syrus Webster (SR/TR)
LB: 52 Kyle Thornton (RS SR)
LB: 18 Taariq Al-Uqdah (RS SO)
NB: 4 Kapena Gushiken (SR/TR)
CB: 29 Jamorri Colson (RS JR/TR)
CB: 1 Stephen Hall (RS JR/TR)
FS: 6 Adrian Wilson (RS FR)
SS: 32 Tanner Moku (SR)
PR: 1 Kris Hutson (SR/TR)
PT: 38 Nick Haberer (SR/TR)
(DE Nusi Malani – cougfan.com)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/31 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS | Washington State leads the series 3-1. The Cougars won (44-24) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/07 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS | Washington State trails the series 0-2. The Cougars lost (10-28) the last meeting between schools in 1964.
09/14 vs. Washington Huskies | Washington State trails the series 33-76-6. The Cougars are 1-8 since 2014, and their last series win (40-13) was in 2021.
09/20 SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS | Washington State trails the series 31-0. The Cougars won (31-0) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/28 @ BOISE STATE BRONCOS | Washington State leads the series 5-1. The Cougars won (47-44) the last meeting between schools in 2017, and their only series loss (28-31) was in 2016.
10/12 @ Fresno State Bulldogs | Washington State leads the series 3-2. The Cougars lost (6-29) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/19 HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS | Washington State trails the series 2-3. The Cougars lost (20-38) the last meeting between schools in 2009.
10/26 @ San Diego State Aztecs | The series is tied 1-1. The Cougars lost (24-42) the last meeting between schools in 2011, and they won (45-17) the inaugural meeting in 2007.
11/09 UTAH STATE AGGIES | The series is tied 2-2. The Cougars lost (23-26) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/16 @ New Mexico Lobos | Washington State leads the series 2-0. The Cougars won (21-17) the last meeting between schools in 2004, and they won (23-13) the inaugural meeting in 2003.
11/23 @ Oregon State Beavers | Washington State leads the series 57-48-3. The Cougars are 9-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (10-24) was in 2022.
11/30 WYOMING COWBOYS | Washington State leads the series 5-2. The Cougars are won (41-19) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-1
MWC: 4-4
Non-MWC: 1-3
Overall: 5-7 (7th in MWC)
gridironpredictions.net 