From New York to Washington state, the Holiday Bowl gives fans an enticing treat during a five-game bowl slate on Friday. However, the Washington State Cougars may look a whole lot different when they match up against the Syracuse Orange as opt-outs and the portal have wrecked this team.
Top Syracuse Players Not Playing in Holiday Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Orange won’t be in action in the Holiday Bowl.
- Braden Davis, QB (transfer portal)
- Joshua Miller, iOL (transfer portal)
- Noah Rosahac, iOL (transfer portal)
- Anwar Sparrow, LB (transfer portal)
- Kadin Bailey, LB (transfer portal)
- Jayden Bellamy, CB (transfer portal)
- Marcellus Barnes Jr., CB (transfer portal)
- Brady Denaburg, K (transfer portal)
Unlike the Cougars, the Orange are set to be nearly full strength. Barnes and Bellamy on defense have proven to be big-time contributors at times, but there is plenty of depth to make up for their losses on defense.
Importantly, Syracuse is set to be completely full strength as no starter has opted out nor entered the portal this offseason.
Top Washington State Players Not Playing in Holiday Bowl
Similarly, thanks to CFN’s Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, the Cougars expected to miss the game are easy to find:
- John Mateer, QB (transfer portal)
- Brady McKelheer, QB (transfer portal)
- Evans Chuba, QB (transfer portal)
- Wayshawn Parker, RB (transfer portal)
- Kris Hutson, WR (transfer portal)
- Tre Shackelford, WR (transfer portal)
- Chris Barnes, WR (transfer portal)
- Mahki Whitney, TE (transfer portal)
- Fa’alili Fa’amoe, OT (transfer portal)
- David Gusta, DL (transfer portal)
- Hyrum-Benjamin Moors, DL (transfer portal)
- Ansel Din-Mbuh, DL (transfer portal)
- Khalil Laufau, DL (transfer portal)
- Taariq Al-Uqdah, LB (transfer portal)
- Jamorri Colson, CB (transfer portal)
- Stephen Hall, CB (transfer portal)
- Ethan O’Connor, CB (transfer portal)
- King Williams, CB (transfer portal)
- Adrian Wilson, S (transfer portal)
- Jackson Lataimua, S (transfer portal)
- Aslan Fraser, S (transfer portal)
- Nick Haberer, P (transfer portal)
Unlike their opponent, the Cougars’ list of portal athletes is incredibly extensive. In fact, it’s likely more important here just to list off the players who contributed than any other way.
That’s a list that, obviously, begins with QB John Mateer. The do-everything dual-threat for Washington State will arguably be the biggest loss for any one team this entire bowl season. Mateer has committed to transfer to Oklahoma, following former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Next up on the list is Hutson at receiver. Hutson, the most targeted of the bunch, didn’t get the fame that Kyle Williams’ 13 touchdowns did, but he was a pivotal member of this receiving corps, freeing Williams up in multiple situations.
Parker and Shackelford were vital contributors, next in line for big-time targets in the receiving game while Fa’amoe started seven games at right tackle to end the season.
On defense, arguably the biggest loss is that of Gusta from their defensive front. The big man led the team in multiple categories and freed up the edge defenders due to his double-teams he required. Take into account that Din-Mbuh was his running mate on the starting rotation, and you’ve got an entirely new-look defensive interior for this game.
Laufau was also third on the team in snaps from the inside, meaning they’re running with their fourth, fifth, and sixth defensive tackles against Syracuse.
MORE: Track every player that entered the portal in CFN’s exclusive Transfer Portal Tracker
At linebacker, Al-Uqdah started every game and led the team with his 76 total tackles. At cornerback, Hall and O’Connor started all 12 games on the outside while Wilson and Lataimua were in the starting rotation at safety.
That means this team is without every starter up the middle of the field and at cornerback.
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