Washington State has not appeared in any of the 29 releases of the College Football Playoff Rankings over the past five seasons.
And while the Cougars were one of two teams left standing when the music stopped in the conference realignment game of musical chairs, there is still optimism in Pullman that the 2024 team can recapture the glory of the not-too-distant past.
Only five seasons have passed since the 2018 Wazzu squad led by Mike Leach achieved the only 11-win campaign in program history as they earned their first top-10 ranking in the final AP Poll since 2003.
Here are the top returning players Jake Dickert will rely upon to usher in a new era of Washington State football.
Washington State Cougars Top 10 Returning Players In 2024
10) Nick Haberer, P
Now a senior, Nick Haberer has played in 38 games for the Cougars dating back to the 2021 season. He has routinely flipped the field and put his defense in an advantageous position during much of that time.
Of his 158 attempts, 82 have been fair caught, and 50 have landed inside the 20-yard line. Perhaps Haberer’s most impressive feat is the fact that he’s only allowed seven touchbacks in his entire career.
9) Tre Shackelford, WR
A second-team all-conference selection last season at Austin Peay, Tre Shackelford caught 52 passes for 799 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Governors to an appearance in the FCS playoffs. His 15.4 yards per completion is an impressive mark that would have led all of the Cougars wideouts who caught at least five passes in 2023.
8) Zevi Eckhaus, QB
Zevi Eckhaus was a star at Bryant last season who threw for 2,907 yards and 28 touchdowns en route to earning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year honors.
With his collegiate reps, mobility, and arm strength, Eckhaus will likely start as he tries to replace Cam Ward — now at Miami — who accounted for over 7,000 yards of offense for the Cougars in the past two seasons.
7) Tyson Durant, DB
At 5’10” with inside-out versatility, Tyson Durant will start immediately in the secondary for the Cougars. While most of his experience at Akron came at cornerback, he is a ballhawk who logged five interceptions and 14 pass breakups.
Durant’s size will always limit him against bigger wide receivers downfield, but he works to keep himself in position to make a play on the ball, and he improved each season with the Zips.
6) Kapena Gushiken, CB
The 2023 season was Gushiken’s first in Pullman, as he spent his first two collegiate seasons in the JUCO circuit. He operated out of the slot for the Cougs, breaking up five passes and making his lone interception count as he took it 88 yards for a touchdown.
Gushiken has to clean up his tackling and ability against the run, but he’s already a stalwart in coverage.
5) David Gusta, DT
David Gusta thrived in his first season as a starter, particularly as a run defender. He wasn’t able to make much of an impact as a pass rusher, but he didn’t miss a tackle all season and plugged up gaps at the line of scrimmage. Another year to work his pass-rush moves and develop his raw power could spell disaster for opposing offenses.
4) Kris Hutson, WR
After back-to-back 400-yard campaigns, Kris Hutson fell down the depth chart at Oregon, which paved the way for a transfer to Washington State. He gets a much-needed fresh start with the Cougars and should be featured heavily on offense.
Hutson can operate in the slot or outside and as an underneath threat capable of accumulating yards after the catch or a downfield vertical weapon.
3) Taariq Al-Uqdah, LB
Following a redshirt season, Al-Uqdah served as a backup in 2023 before he was thrust into a starting role for the final five games. His 6’0″ and 232-pound frame offers him maneuverability that other players at his position simply do not possess.
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Al-Uqdah flashed his coverage chops with a pick and a pass breakup last season as well. While still developing as a run defender, Al-Uqdah was solid enough there and will only mature with more reps.
2) Syrus Webster, EDGE
Utah Tech will miss Syrus Webster’s utter dominance off the edge, as he racked up 161 tackles, 27.5 TFLs, a school-record 14.5 sacks, and seven forced fumbles over the past years.
Webster has grown into his body over that time, and although the jump from the FCS to the FBS isn’t small, he has the experience and physical tools to hit the ground running.
1) Kyle Williams, WR
Kyle Williams has had a very productive college career since first seeing game action at UNLV in 2020. He has never had fewer than 400 yards and two TDs in a single season.
He broke out after transferring to WSU last year, generating 842 yards and six scores on 61 receptions. His strong hands keep passes from hitting the ground, and he comes down with contested targets more often than not.
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