WSU football transfer portal tracker: Kirby Moore continues to replenish defense
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Jan. 9—PULLMAN — At Washington State and across the college football ecosystem, it's transfer portal season.
The transfer portal opened Friday and it will close on Jan. 16, giving players a two-week window to enter and look for new landing spots.
Below is a live tracker of Cougs in the portal. First is a list of the names, and further down are capsules on each player and their backgrounds. It's being updated to reflect each player who enters the portal and each player who commits to the program.
It's important to keep this in mind: Players can choose to withdraw their names from the portal. It may be likely that the players listed below have played their final snaps at WSU, but it's no guarantee.
Outgoing (34)
Darrion Dalton, DT, sr.
AJ Davis, CB, rs-jr.
Luke Leighton, TE, rs-so.
Troy Petz, P, rs-jr.
Ryan Harris, K/P, sr.
Isaac Terrell, DE, jr.
Tyrone Cotton, CB, fr.
Adlai Lounsbury, P, fr.
Travon Pankey, RB, fr.
Trevor Bindel, OL, fr.
Duhron Goodman, S, jr.
Trillion Sorrell, CB, fr.
Brody Miller, S, fr.
Ajani Sheppard, QB, rs-so.
Connor Sullivan, DT, fr.
Donovan Fitzmaurice, DT, fr.
Jack Janikowski, DE, rs-so.
Titus Miller, DT, rs-fr.
Damarius Russell, S, fr.
Bryson Lamb, DT, rs-jr.
Dylan Paine, RB, rs-sr.
Sullivan Schlimgen, LB, fr.
Malaki Ta'ase, DE, so.
Jesiah Cornwell, TE, jr.
Max Baloun, DT, rs-sr.
Mike Sandjo, DT, rs-sr.
Jaxon Potter, QB, rs-so.
Carter Pabst, WR, fr.
Anthony Palano, LB, rs-fr.
Kenny Worthy, CB, rs-fr.
Devin Ellison, WR, rs-jr.
Jovan Clark, LB, fr.
Dalton Anderson, QB, fr.
Cameron Weir, WR, fr. (walk-on)
Incoming (18)
Darrius Clemons, WR, Oregon State
Balaam Miller, DT, Saint Francis
Christopher Solis-Lumar, CB, Cal Poly
Matyus McLain, DE, Idaho
Jshawn Frausto-Ramos, CB, Arizona
DJ Warner, DE, SMU
Linus Zunk, DE, Vanderbilt
Beau Phillips, RB, Central Washington (DII)
Nathaniel Salmon, TE, IMG Academy
Ike Okafor, DT, Cal
Eduwa Okundaye, DE, Arizona
Jack Bal, S, Arizona State
Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis
Tank Hawkins, WR, Florida
Jeremiah Bernard, S, Cal Poly
Nylan Brown, LB, Kent State
Jaylen Thomas, CB, San Jose State
Jalil Tucker, CB, Oregon State
Incoming
Jan. 9
Darrius Clemons, WR
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, Clemons started his career with two seasons at Michigan, then spent the 2024 season at Oregon State, where he made 25 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns, starting the final six games of that season. Clemons didn't play last season due to an injury.
Clemons played sparingly in Ann Arbor, where he totaled only four catches for 40 yards in two seasons, so he hit the transfer portal after that season. He wound up closer to home, at Oregon State, roughly a two-hour drive from his hometown of Portland.
As a class of 2022 prospect out of Westview High in Portland, he earned all manner of offers: Alabama, Oregon, USC, Auburn, Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington and others. He was one of the gems of the class, ranked as the top prospect in the state of Oregon by 247 Sports, and the No. 24 wide receiver in the country.
Balaam Miller, DT
Miller spent three years at Saint Francis, an FCS school in central Pennsylvania, where he posted 23 tackles (14 solo) last season, including 1 1/2 sacks and one pass breakup. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 311 pounds, Miller chose the Cougars over offers from Boston College, Memphis and Colorado State, he said in a social media post.
Last season, Miller registered a total of nine quarterback pressures, including three with one sack against Louisiana-Monroe and two with one sack against Wagner.
Christopher Solis-Lumar, CB
As a true freshman last season, Solis-Lumar logged 332 snaps in 11 games, breaking up three passes and making 23 tackles. He finished the season with a Pro Football Focus defense grade of 68.5, which is above average, and a coverage grade of 63.2.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Solis-Lumar was a class of 2025 product of Pasadena High in California, where he earned offers from Oregon State, Boise State, San Diego State and FCS clubs Portland State and Bethune-Cookman at the time.
In his one season of action at Cal Poly, Solis-Lumar allowed 17 catches on 23 targets, which is a rather high 74% catch rate. But he also played some of his best football against the toughest opponents on the Mustangs' schedule, breaking up two passes and earning a PFF coverage grade of 89.8 against Big Sky powerhouse Montana, which went on to make the FCS playoffs semifinals.
Jshawn Frausto-Ramos, CB
Frausto-Ramos didn't play last season at Arizona, where he spent only one year. But he started his career at Stanford, where he played in 21 games in two seasons, including five starts. He totaled 40 tackles, one pass breakup and two sacks in that span, making a splash right away as a true freshman.
Listed at 6 feet and 200 pounds, Frausto-Ramos was a consensus four-star recruit in the class of 2023, fielding offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas, Colorado, Louisville and a handful of other Power 4 schools at that time. But he chose the Cardinal, where he got on the field almost immediately.
Beau Phillips, RB
Accepting a preferred walk-on spot with WSU, Phillips will more likely make an impact as a kickoff returner. Last season, he returned eight kicks for 343 yards and two touchdowns, which came in the same game. He has real speed when he gets going, showcasing that to the tune of 331 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries, good for an average carry of 5.7 yards — doing it all in just seven games.
Phillips is a native of Snoqualmie, where he starred at Mt. Si, becoming the 4A state offensive player of the year.
Matyus McLain, DE
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, McLain started all 12 games last season for the Vandals, totaling 42 tackles, including 13 1/2 for loss and 4.5 sacks. That helped him earn All-Big Sky honorable mention honors on defense.
A native of Priest River, Idaho, McLain spent three years at Idaho, playing in 24 total games. Last season, he pocketed 34 quarterback pressures, registering at least four in five games — which includes a six-pressure game against St. Thomas.
Jan. 8
DJ Warner, DE
As a sophomore last season at SMU, Warner played in all 12 games, totaling two sacks on 18 quarterback pressures. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, Warner played his true freshman season at Kansas, where he also played in 12 games. That means when he suits up for WSU, he'll have 24 games of Power Four experience to his name, which could help his team establish the same kind of defensive line depth that played a key role in the Cougs' 2025 success.
Warner is a native of the Phoenix area, where he earned offers from Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State and others as a class of 2024 prospect. He eventually took his talents to Kansas, where he picked up five QB pressures in his 12 games, playing in a backup role.
Eduwa Okundaye, DE
Okundaye played in eight games in two years at Arizona. He played four games on special teams in his true freshman season in 2024, then four more on defense last season, posting one QB pressure. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 243 pounds, Okundaye was a class of 2024 prospect, landing offers from Houston, Kansas State, San Diego State and others at that time. He could compete for a starting role early at WSU.
Linus Zunk, DE
Zunk played in 36 games across three seasons of action at Vanderbilt, tallying three sacks on 13 pressure last season. A native of Berlin, Germany, Zunk is listed at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, a hulking pass rusher who figures to make an immediate splash with the Cougs. Last fall, he also registered 15 tackles, including 3 1/2 for loss, giving him 38 tackles (7 1/2 for loss) and five sacks for his Commodore career.
Ike Okafor, DT
Okafor redshirted and didn't play as a true freshman at Cal last season. Hailing from Nigeria, Warner is listed at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, the kind of size that could pair well with Warner on the Cougars' defensive line. For Okafor's pledge, WSU might be able to thank new defensive ends coach Andrew Browning, who spent the previous eight seasons with the Golden Bears.
As a class of 2025 prospect, Okafor picked up offers from Texas Tech, Minnesota, Houston, ASU, Pittsburgh, UNLV and a handful of other schools. With his size and raw potential, he had huge upside — and he still does, according to WSU coaches, who might hand him real snaps in short order.
Jan. 7
Nathaniel Salmon, TE
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Salmon is a native of New Zealand, where he played professional basketball, a career that later brought him to Australia, where he averaged a cool 15 points and 5 rebounds in a city called Gold Coast.
In fact, Salmon didn't pick up a football for the first time until 2024, when he was invited to an NFL academy in Gold Coast. In December of that year, he was one of 14 players selected to the NFL's International Player Pathway, which is a program run by the NFL to increase the number of players from outside the U.S. and Canada in the league.
After picking up the tight end position, he was invited to train at IMG Academy in Florida, where he spent 10 weeks, and he was later granted four years of eligibility by the NCAA. And now he's a Cougar, heading to Pullman to try and find a niche in Moore's offense, which might yet have a role for him.
Jan. 6
Caden Pinnick, QB
As a redshirt freshman last season, the 6-foot-even Pinnick completed 240 of 345 passes (70%) for 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, winning Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors. He also registered 125 carries for 437 yards and three scores, good for an average rush of 3.5 yards, underscoring his dual-threat capabilities.
Pinnick could start right away for the Cougs, who don't have a clear-cut QB1 otherwise. Pinnick has the most experience of any QB the team is set to return, and in the offensive-minded Moore's system, Pinnick could really flourish.
Tank Hawkins, WR
In two years with the Gators, Hawkins played in eight games, totaling 12 catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. He played in six in 2024, then after playing in four games last season, he chose to opt out of the rest of the year — preserving his redshirt season and giving him three more years of eligibility.
A consensus four-star recruit out of IMG Academy in the class of 2024, Hawkins fielded offers from Alabama, Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Nebraska, Wisconsin and others at that time. He has blazing speed, running a reported 4.25-yard 40-yard dash at an Ohio State camp.
Jack Bal, safety
Bal played in three games in three years with the Sun Devils, all coming last season, which comes out to 27 snaps in total. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2023, then recorded only one stat in three games last season, which was allowing one reception on one target against FCS Northern Arizona.
Jan. 5
Jeremiah Bernard, safety
As a redshirt freshman last fall fall, Bernard played in 12 games, with eight starts. He recorded six pass breakups and four interceptions, including one in three of his last four games of the season. Listed at 6 feet and 195 pounds, Bernard totaled 57 tackles, 33 solo and three for loss, plus one sack and one forced fumble. He earned All-Big Sky second team honors.
Bernard's arrival will help WSU offset the loss of its top three safeties: Tucker Large, Cale Reeder and Matthew Durrance, all of whom have exhausted their eligibility
Jan. 4
Nylan Brown, LB
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds, Brown comes to WSU after two years at Kent State, where he started one of 11 games last season. He totaled 58 tackles across those two seasons, including three tackles for loss. He pocketed four quarterback pressures last year.
An Indianapolis native, Brown was a three-star prospect out of Ben Davis High, where he picked up offers from Kent State, Indiana, Marshall, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green and others.
Brown's addition will help WSU offset the losses of outgoing senior linebackers Caleb Francl and Parker McKenna, who have exhausted their eligibility. True freshman Sullivan Schlimgen and redshirt freshman Anthony Palano patrolled the middle of the field, but both are in the transfer portal, putting their futures at WSU in doubt. Both profile as candidates to follow former coach Jimmy Rogers to Iowa State, but that much has yet to materialize.
Jaylen Thomas, CB
A native of the San Jose area, Tucker totaled 59 tackles, six pass breakups and one tackle for loss as a redshirt freshman last season, starting in all 12 games. He earned a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 64.8, which ranked below former WSU CBs Colby Humphrey and Jamorri Colson last season, allowing 30 catches on 54 targets — a solid reception rate of 56%.
Listed at 6 feet and 186 pounds, Thomas was a three-star prospect out of Los Gatos High, where he earned offers from hometown SJSU and FCS club Cal Poly.
Jan. 3
Jalil Tucker, CB
A pledge that likely came together thanks to defensive coordinator Trent Bray, who coached Tucker last season at Oregon State, where Bray was head coach in 2024 and part of 2025. Listed at 6 feet and 170 pounds, Tucker totaled five pass breakups and one interception for the Beavers, playing 11 games with 10 starts.
This season, Tucker registered a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 54.2, which is below average. He allowed 27 catches on 47 targets, a respectable catch rate of 57%, but he also gave up four touchdown receptions.
A product of Lincoln High in San Diego, Tucker is well-traveled. He started his career in 2022 at Oregon, where he played only seven snaps in one game, preserving his redshirt season. He then played the next two seasons at San Diego Mesa College, where he played in 19 total games, posting four tackles and one pick in 2024 and one tackle in 2023.
Outgoing
Jan. 8
Darrion Dalton, DT
New school: TBD
It's unclear whether Dalton has any eligibility left. He appeared to play his last season last fall with the Cougars, starting eight of 13 games and recording 22 tackles, two for loss and 1 1/2 sacks. But in a social media post on Jan. 8, he said in his 2023 season at San Diego State, he was wrongly pushed to play through injury, making his injury worse.
He is now lobbying the NCAA to give him one more year of eligibility.
Jan. 7
Troy Petz, P
New school: TBD
After playing the first two years of his career at Washington, Petz spent last season at WSU, where he didn't see any action.
Jan. 7
Ryan Harris, K/P
New school: TBD
The Cougars' primary punter and kickoff kicker, Harris appeared in all 13 games. He punted 52 times for 2,116 yards, which comes out to an average punt of 41 yards. He placed 15 punts inside the 20 and had nine of 50-plus yards, including a long of 60. He also kicked off 65 times, registering 40 touchbacks.
Jan. 6
Luke Leighton, TE
New school: TBD
Leighton spent three years at WSU, only getting on the field last season, when he appeared in 12 games, almost entirely on special teams. Listed at 6-5 and 230 pounds, Leighton is a native of Eugene, Oregon.
Jan. 6
AJ Davis, CB
New school: TBD
After spending the first three years of his career at SMU, Davis took his talents to WSU, where he appeared in 10 games last season, mostly on special teams. He made two tackles in total. He wasn't part of the Cougs' cornerback rotation.
Jan. 3
Isaac Terrell, DE
New school: Iowa State
Terrell's departure is likely the costliest of all for WSU, which will have to say goodbye to one of the best Cougar pass rushers in recent memory. In his third season of action, Terrell started six of 12 games, piling up 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks. In WSU's loss to Ole Miss in October, he made four tackles for loss, tying the program record for most in a single game.
A Utah native, Terrell added six more QB hurries and logged one safety, underscoring the versatility and aggression he brought to WSU's defensive line. Terrell clearly took steps forward this season with his motor and athleticism, which unlocked his ability to lead the way up front.
Tyrone Cotton, CB
New school: TBD
A Chicago native, Cotton redshirted this season and never saw the field.
Adlai Lounsbury, P
New school: Iowa State
Lounsbury also redshirted this season and didn't see any action as a Cougar.
Jan. 2
Bryson Lamb, DT
New school: Iowa State
One of the more costly losses on defense for WSU, Lamb started all 12 games and totaled 25 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Lamb, a reliable and physical presence on the interior, also blocked a field goal against Colorado State, underscoring the growth he showed in his redshirt junior campaign this fall.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 301 pounds, Lamb finally broke out the way he was waiting for earlier in his career. Among rotation players, Lamb finished seventh on the team with a run defense Pro Football Focus grade of 68.8. A Bellingham native, spent four seasons at WSU, playing in 27 games across three years of action.
Jack Janikowski, DE
New school: Iowa State
After two years in a reserve role with the Cougars, Janikowski broke out this season, registering 10 tackles and one sack in 13 games. Listed at 6-2 and 242 pounds, Janikowski also recorded three tackles for loss and four QB pressures. He was a valuable part of WSU's pass rush rotation, playing 168 snaps of defense on the year.
The brother of former WSU placekicker Dean Janikowski, Jack made a career-high five tackles in a road loss to Oregon State. If he and Lamb do depart the Cougars, the program will have serious holes to fill at the defensive line and defensive end positions, especially because veterans Max Baloun and Mike Sandjo are also on their way out.
Travon Pankey, RB
New school: TBD
Originally committed to former coach Jimmy Rogers as part of South Dakota State's class of 2025, Pankey never saw the field at WSU and took a redshirt season. He's a native of Kansas City.
Titus Miller, DT
New school: TBD
After redshirting his true freshman season in 2024, Miller played 14 snaps of defense in four games this season. It was clear Miller wasn't particularly close to earning meaningful playing time at WSU.
Damarius Russell, safety
New school: Iowa State
Russell played in five games as a true freshman, keeping his redshirt season intact. He didn't earn a prominent enough role to burn his redshirt, as Rogers predicted he would before the season, but Russell's upside was clear. In the Potato Bowl, he returned an interception for a long touchdown, but it was called back due to a penalty.
A Minnesota native, Russell totaled two tackles as a Cougar. He also flipped his commitment from SDSU to WSU when Rogers accepted Washington State's head coaching position.
Trevor Bindel, OL
New school: Iowa State
Bindel redshirted this season in his true freshman campaign, but he played in three games, filling in for injured teammates. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, Bindel made his college debut on Nov. 1 against Oregon State, when he subbed in for right guard AJ Vaipulu. He also played two snaps in WSU and OSU's second clash and three more in the Cougars' Idaho Potato Bowl win over Utah State.
Because of the flashes he showed as a true freshman, Bindel might have been able to crack the rotation next fall, but he would likely slot in behind right guard Noah Dunham.
Duhron Goodman, safety
New school: Iowa State
Backing up WSU's veteran safety trio, Goodman acquitted himself well in his one season with the Cougars, making eight tackles in nine games. He missed the final four games of the season with an injury, but he played a solid backup safety when he was healthy, perhaps giving him a path to meaningful snaps in 2026.
Goodman started his career in 2023 at Portland State before transferring to a junior college for the 2024 season.
Trillion Sorrell, CB
New school: Iowa State
Sorrell may have redshirted in his true freshman season, but he played in five games (bowl games don't count against eligibility), signaling how highly the Cougars' coaches thought of him. Listed at 6-1 and 170 pounds, Sorrell was another of Rogers' class of 2025 SDSU commits, and Rogers said before the season Sorrell may force his way into the CB rotation.
That didn't exactly unfold, at least not to the extent Rogers predicted, but it's clear how bright a future Sorrell has.
Brody Miller, safety
New school: Iowa State
Another of Rogers' 2025 SDSU commits, Miller played in five games this fall, preserving his redshirt season. All but one of his snaps came on special teams. A Minnesota native, Miller showed some flashes with his athleticism.
Ajani Sheppard, QB
New school: TBD
A former transfer from Rutgers, Sheppard arrived in Pullman after spring ball, but in time for a four-way QB competition during fall camp. But as the season drew closer, it became clear that Sheppard was on the outside looking in, losing ground to the other three quarterbacks in the mix.
A New York native, Sheppard never got on the field as a Cougar. He'll take his dual-threat skillset to another club next fall.
Connor Sullivan, DT
New school: TBD
A hulking presence listed at 6-4 and 270 pounds, Sullivan played 13 snaps in three games in his true freshman season, preserving his redshirt year. Sullivan, an Illinois native, was another player committed to Rogers in SDSU's class of 2025.
Donovan Fitzmaurice, DT
New school: Iowa State
Perhaps the freshman with the most promising future on WSU's defense this season, Fitzmaurice's departure is trouble for the Cougars. In nine games this fall, he totaled 10 tackles with one sack, plus one QB hurry against Virginia that led to an incompletion. He provided valuable depth on the Cougs' defensive line, and in his first season of college ball, Fitzmaurice made it clear he was ready for a more prominent role in 2026.
Fitzmaurice, a class of 2025 prospect, also flipped his commitment to WSU and followed Rogers. He hails from the St. Louis area.
Jan. 1
Dylan Paine, RB
New school: TBD
A longtime Cougar, Paine didn't see the field this season, partially because he was still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in the middle of last season. Paine, a native of Tumwater, was healthy toward the end of the season — but by then, WSU had established a pecking order at running back.
As he gets set for what would be a seventh year of college football, Paine is in search of more playing time, which may not have been in his future at WSU. He turned in a nice 2023 season, rushing 25 times for 150 yards and one touchdown, showing some real speed and physicality. But his 2024 injury spelled the end of his WSU career.
Dec. 29
Sullivan Schlimgen, LB
New school: Iowa State
Starting the final five games of the season at middle linebacker, Schlimgen totaled 43 tackles with one for loss. He was one of the Cougars' better tacklers, which is why Rogers elevated him to a starting role mid-season, and he delivered. He collected nine tackles along against SEC power Ole Miss.
A class of 2025 prospect, Schlimgen initially committed to Rogers at South Dakota State, making Iowa State a possibility for him.
Dec. 17
Malaki Ta'ase, DE
New school: Iowa State
After spending his freshman year at New Mexico State, Ta'ase transferred this spring to WSU, where he totaled 16 tackles (four for loss) and 2.5 sacks. He played in all 12 games, including one start, which came against Toledo.
A native of the Phoenix area, Ta'ase played about 21 snaps per game for the Cougars, whose defense benefited from the depth he helped provide.
Dec. 15
Mike Sandjo, DT
New school: TBD
A former transfer from SMU, where he spent the 2022-24 seasons, Sandjo was limited by injuries for much of his one season with the Cougars. All told, he started two of four games, logging four total tackles.
His only appearances came in four games: against San Diego State, North Texas, Colorado State and Washington.
Max Baloun, DT
New school: Iowa State
After starting each of the first four games of the season and totaling three tackles for loss, Baloun went down with a season-ending knee injury in the Sept. 20 Apple Cup. He's expected to obtain a medical redshirt, Rogers said earlier in the season, giving him a chance to play a seventh season. He played his first five at South Dakota State with Rogers.
Jesiah Cornwell, TE
New school: TBD
Cornwell, who started his career with two seasons of junior college ball, never got on the field at WSU.
Dec. 11
Carter Pabst, WR
New school: Iowa State
As a true freshman, Pabst played in nine games, totaling nine receptions for 168 yards and one touchdown, which came in a win over Toledo.
All told, Pabst played 203 snaps of offense, earning playing time with his reliable hands and solid blocking skills. A Kansas native, Pabst was once committed to North Dakota before flipping to South Dakota State, where former WSU coach Jimmy Rogers was coaching at the time. Pabst then flipped to the Cougars, following Rogers.
Cameron Weir, WR, walk-on
New school: TBD
As a true freshman walk-on, Weir never saw the field as a Cougar. He played his high school ball at Skyline High School, under former WSU linebacker Peyton Pelluer.
Dec. 10
Dalton Anderson, QB
New school: TBD
Anderson announced he's transferring in an Instagram post, leaving WSU after his first season in Pullman. A three-star prospect from Roosevelt High in Seattle, Anderson was once committed to Utah State before flipping to WSU. He also held offers from Montana and Boise State, the latter of which got him on a visit.
Anderson never saw the field as a Cougar.
Dec. 8
Anthony Palano, LB
New school: Boston College
A native of the Chicago area, Palano started each of his first seven games at middle linebacker, earning coaches' trust even as a redshirt freshman. On the season, he totaled 63 tackles (25) tolo, 0.5 sacks and broke up two passes. By the end of the season, he was losing snaps to true freshman Sullivan Schlimgen, who looked like the sharper tackler, especially in space.
At South Dakota State, Palano was recruited by Bobbit, who grew up just down the road from Palano's hometown. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Palano followed Rogers from WSU to SDSU in large part because of the connection he shares with Bobbit.
Palano is expected to play in the Idaho Potato Bowl, Bobbit said on Monday.
Palano's tackling issues may have cost him his starting spot — he missed 17 tackles in 11 games, per Pro Football Focus — but for WSU, his departure amounts to one of the bigger ones thus far.
Jovan Clark, LB
New school: Ball State
A class of 2025 signee from the Chicago area, Clark never saw the field at WSU. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Clark will look for a fresh start another institution.
Dec. 4
Jaxon Potter, QB
New school: TBD
In his third season at WSU, Potter won the starting QB job out of fall camp, emerging victorious from a competition with veteran Zevi Eckhaus and transfer Julian Dugger. But after Potter threw three interceptions in the first half of WSU's blowout loss to North Texas on Sept. 13, he was benched for Eckhaus, who took over the QB reins for the rest of the regular season.
A third-year sophomore from Huntington Beach, Califorina, Potter went 2-1 as a starter. All told, he completed 67 of 95 passes (71%) for 604 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. In his debut, Potter helped WSU sneak by nearby Idaho in a 13-10 victory. A week later, in the Cougars' blowout win over San Diego State, he connected on 28 of 42 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, torching an Aztec defense that went on to blossom as one of the best in the nation.
Potter has lots of great qualities as a quarterback, but mobility is not one of them. WSU's coaching staff under Rogers valued that trait in a big way, which was another reason they pivoted away from Potter after Week 3. Potter is a true pocket-passer, which he showed to good effect, but the Cougars' offense wasn't the same with a QB who didn't feel comfortable running the ball.
Kenny Worthy, CB
New school: TBD
Worthy played backup cornerback this season, his first playing meaningful snaps at WSU, and he acquitted himself well. A redshirt freshman from the Phoenix area, Worthy totaled 23 tackles (13 solo) and one pass breakup in all 12 games, logging 348 total snaps on defense. He allowed 15 receptions on 28 targets, which is a respectable rate.
Worthy looked to be carving out an even more prominent role in the years ahead, but he may be spending those at another school.
Devin Ellison, WR
New school: TBD
After playing only 19 snaps in two games at WSU, Ellison departed the team in mid-November, rendering this less newsworthy. He totaled three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, all of which came in WSU's loss to rival Washington in the Apple Cup on Sept. 20.
The Ellison saga will go down as one of the more fascinating in recent memory at WSU. Last winter, the former junior college star turned down recruiting finalists UCF and Boise State to commit to WSU, which was seen as a splash get for Rogers and the Cougs. He looked poised to thrive in Pullman.
Instead, he played in only two games, missing some because of injury and others because he was simply out of the rotation.
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