Published Dec 27, 2024
Transfer Tracker: The latest Washington State offseason movement
Kuria Pounds
Wazzu Watch staff writer

Washington State kicks off the DirecTV Holiday Bowl on Friday night, and the transfer portal has laid waste to the Cougars, with a mass exodus being at the forefront of the conversation around WSU over the past two weeks instead of the upcoming bowl game.

It first started with a few names right after the season ended before offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle officially left for the same position at Oklahoma, then former defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding was relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season following some tough performances for his defense.

The portal opened Dec. 9 and more names entered for WSU, totaling 32 current players from the roster in the portal, with 12 of them being former starters in Pullman before deciding to venture off.

To culminate the departures, a shock to the Pullman community took place when former head coach Jake Dickert accepted the opening at Wake Forest after rumors started to swirl on X on Tuesday night heading into Wednesday morning.

The more concerning factor of all of this, the Cougars are still in the midst of preparing for a bowl game.

WSU Athletic Director Anne McCoy announced first the team will not be dropping out of the bowl game with all the absences, and current assistant Pete Kaligis will serve as the acting head coach for the game with wide receivers coach Nick Edwards as the acting offensive coordinator.

McCoy stated in her press conference that the Cougars will be prioritizing finding the right fit for the next head coaching position at Washington State instead of just trying to find someone to fill the position for the time being.

The Cougars have many holes to fill, not just in the upcoming weeks for the bowl game but also for the future of the program.

- Head coach

- Offensive coordinator

- Defensive coordinator

- Quarterbacks coach

- Running backs coach

The future of the program is currently bleak, but there is still hope that the school will not be a launching pad and be a landing spot for other athletes with the new Pac-12 conference forming in two years time.

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Transfer Tracker

Outgoing players – 31

Nick Haberer (P) – committed to Vanderbilt

Ansel Din-Mbuh (DT) – committed to TCU

Wayshawn Parker (RB) – committed to Utah

Ethan O’Connor (DB)

Khalil Laufau (DL) – committed to Houston

Luke Roaten (OT)

Landon Roaten (OT)

Kris Hutson (WR) – committed to Arizona

Jackson Lataimua (S)

Adrian ‘Boogie’ Wilson (S) – committed to Arizona State

Tre Shackelford (WR) – withdrew from the portal on Dec. 28

Fa’alili Fa’amoe (OT)

John Mateer (QB) – committed to Oklahoma

David Gusta (DL)

Stephen Hall (CB)

Brandon Hills (WR)

King Williams (DB)

Brady McKelheer (QB)

Hyrum-Benjamin Moors (DT)

Mahki Whitney (TE)

Aslan Fraser (CB)

Tai Fa’avae (LB)

Warren Smith (CB)

Josh Meredith (WR) – withdrew from the portal on Jan. 1

Taariq ‘Buddah’ Al-Uqdah (LB) – committed to Washington

Evans Chuba (QB)

Isaiah Cobbs (WR)

Jamorri Colson (CB) – withdrew from the portal on Dec. 26

AJ Hasson (OL)

Michael Hughes (DE)

Leon Neal Jr. (CB)

Frank Cusano (LB)

Chris Barnes (WR)

Incoming players – 0

washingtonstate
FOOTBALL
Scores / Schedule
footballfootball
8 - 5
Overall Record
0 - 1
Conference Record
2024 schedule not available.