Many Ex-Washington State Cougars players in Transfer Portal not finding new homes
Ed Stein
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For several former Washington State Cougars who entered the portal, finding a new school is proving to be more difficult than learning the run and shoot.
If you enter the Transfer Portal and no one heard you, did you make a sound? Several former Washington State Cougars are asking themselves that question (or some version of it). Because as spring practice gets into full swing around the country, the ex-Cougs still haven’t moved on to another football program.
It’s understandable that when a new coach takes over a college program some of the players may no longer fit into the new way of doing things. Additionally, others are loyal to the former coach and don’t want to stick around while their team changes philosophies. So when Nick Rolovich took over as the WSU head coach after Mike Leach’s exodus to Mississippi State, there were bound to be defectors.
Musical Chairs
This year, the NCAA officially agreed to one free transfer for student-athletes without penalty of sitting out a year (it was rumored for a long time). It should have been easier not harder for players to land new opportunities. For Some it was.
Wide Receiver Tay Martin’s move to Oklahoma State last fall got plenty of attention. And while there have been some big transfers this spring such as defensive end Will Rodgers to Temple, safety Skyler Thomas to Liberty and kicker Blake Mazza to his hometown SMU, many of their former teammates haven’t been as fortunate.
Some are understandable such as Ayden Hector who was suspended in February and entered the portal a few weeks ago. While other players continuing availability is actually quite perplexing. For every Gunner Cruz (transfer to Arizona), there is more than one Jamire Calvin.
Aside from Hector and Calvin, there are some other prominent ex-Cougs still in the portal. Among them are:
- WR Roderick Fisher
- DL Lamonte McDougal
- LB Cosmas Kwete
- S Tyrese Ross
- RB Clay Markoff
One supporter of the new transfer rule is Rolovich. So far the Cougs have broken close to even in the portal. He told the media after Thursday’s practice:
“I think everyone around the country was kind of being told it was going to go through,” Rolovich said. “However, it had to get to this point, it had to get to this point. I think it’s a fair deal. I think it’s good – I don’t know if they talked about the dates of notification, but I think that’s a smart aspect of it.”
Related Story: Jayden de Laura’s path back to the Cougs
What do you think about the NCAA’s new transfer rules? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.