CU Buffs opponent preview: Washington State aims for another winning season

About a decade ago, the late Mike Leach began a masterful job of taking Washington State from the depths of the Pac-12 to contender status.
Leach, who died in December after a heart attack, hasn’t coached on the Palouse in four years, but the Cougars have been able to maintain status as a competitive team.
Entering his second full season and third overall as head coach, Jake Dickert once again aims to keep the Cougars in the hunt in the Pac-12.
This summer, BuffZone will preview each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2023 season and in this installment, we look at Washington State, which will host the Buffaloes on Nov. 17.
Leach, who coached at Mississippi State from 2020-22, was one of the most colorful coaches in college football. He was replaced at Wazzu by Nick Rolovich, a big personality whose refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccination ultimately led to his dismissal midway through the 2021 season.
Dickert is more low-key than his predecessors, but his style has worked thus far at Wazzu. He’s gone 10-9 since taking over for Rolovich, including 10-7 in the regular season.
“You’re not getting the four-star recruits, you’re certainly not getting the five-star recruits (at WSU),” said Jamey Vinnick, beat writer for CougFan.com. “You’ve got to find those three stars or even those walk-ons to buy into the culture and have the chip on their shoulder and the work ethic and I think Dickert really embodies that. … He understands the grind. He understands what it takes to get to this level and I think it comes out in his coaching and in his message to his players.”
For Washington State to reach a third consecutive bowl game, they’ll lean on Dickert again, as well as quarterback Cameron Ward.
Two years ago, Ward was an FCS All-American after throwing for 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns for Incarnate Word.
Last year at Washington State, his numbers were solid, but not eye-popping: 3,231 yards, 23 touchdowns.
“There was a bigger jump (from FCS to Power 5) than I think most expected,” Vinnick said. “I think there was the hope that he would be able to replicate what he did at Incarnate Word. Maybe that was too optimistic at the time, but there were some definite learning curves.”
Ward did get better as the year went along, particularly in cutting down his turnovers. He threw seven interceptions in the first five games, but only two in the last eight.
Much of Ward’s development was impacted by the fact that the Cougars didn’t have a good offensive line and the receivers were inconsistent.
“He just didn’t have the protection, he didn’t have the weapons around him that you that you need to be successful,” Vinnick said.
With four starters back up front and a revamped receiving corps, Vinnick said that could improve.
Defensively, the Cougars allowed just 22.9 points per game last year, lowest for the program since 2003. Only five starters return, though, and the Cougars have holes to fill in the middle of the defense. They’ve also got a new coordinator in Jeff Schmedding.
“If (the defense) is gonna be good and if it’s gonna be as good as last year, it’s got to be different,” Vinnick said. “Last year they relied so heavily on Daiyan Henley (now with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers) at linebacker and his playmaking abilities. … They don’t have the star talent at linebacker. I do think they have more depth.”
There might be more of a committee approach to getting production, but talented edge rushers Brennan Jackson and Ron Stone Jr. are back, as well as three starters in the secondary.
Overall, it appears to be a typical Washington State team of recent years: not elite, but good enough to post a winning record and get into a bowl game.
“You’re probably looking at a six, seven-win season,” Vinnick said.
Washington State Cougars
Head coach: Jake Dickert, 3rd season (10-9)
2022 season: 7-6, 4-5 Pac-12
Series with CU: Cougars lead 7-6
The Game
Who: Colorado Buffaloes at Washington State Cougars
When: Friday, Nov. 17, 8:30 p.m. MT (FS1)
Where: Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash.
5 Guys to Watch
• DE Brennan Jackson: Second-team All-Pac-12 performer last year, he had 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, three pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. He has 11.5 sacks and 22 TFLs in his career, with most of that production coming in the last two seasons.
• CB Chau Smith-Wade: In his first year as a starter in 2022, he had 43 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He also had three forced fumbles.
• DE Ron Stone: After earning first-team All-Pac-12 in 2021, his production slipped last year, but he still earned second-team honors. In his career, he has produced 142 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He had four TFLs and two sacks a year ago.
• QB Cameron Ward: After transferring from Incarnate Word last year, Ward completed 64.4% of his passes for 3,231 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for five touchdowns.
• RB Nakia Watson: A sixth-year senior, he led WSU with 769 yards and nine touchdowns last year, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. The former Wisconsin Badger has rushed for 1,405 yards and 14 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
Good to know
• Cameron Ward was sacked more than any other quarterback in the Pac-12 last year, as the Cougars gave up a conference-high 46 sacks. Nationally, only two teams (Akron and Colorado State) gave up more sacks.
• Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was hired in January after two years at Western Kentucky. He was promoted to WKU’s co-OC and quarterbacks coach roles last year after being a quality control coach in 2021.
• Defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding, a Spokane native, joined the staff in January after two seasons at Auburn, including as coordinator in 2022. He was the DC at Boise State from 2019-20. Prior to Boise State, he spent 15 years on the staff at his alma mater, Eastern Washington, including the last four as coordinator.
• Although WSU lost its top four receivers from last year, it returns its top two rushers. In addition to Watson, Jaylen Jenkins returns after rushing for 396 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
• Kicker Dean Janikowski was first-team All-Pac-12 in 2021. For his career, he is 25-of-31 on field goals and 79-of-82 on extra points. Nick Haberer, meanwhile, has averaged 42.6 yards the last two seasons on punts.
• After nine consecutive seasons without a bowl appearance (2004-2012), the Cougars have played in eight bowl games in the last 10 seasons.
• Martin Stadium provided a nice home field advantage for the Cougars under former head coach Mike Leach. From 2015-19, the Cougars were 27-6 on the Palouse. In the last three years, however, they are 8-7, including 4-3 last year.
Portal movement
Since last season, the Cougars have lost 35 players to the transfer portal, but most of them were backups. There were a few significant losses, however, including leading receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (to Oklahoma State) and third-leading receiver Donovan Ollie (Cincinnati). That duo combined for 94 catches last year. Top offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston also left for USC. Defensively, linebackers Francisco Mauigoa (Miami) and Travion Brown (Arizona State) were big losses, as they combined for 109 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last year. The Cougars added nine players. Receivers Isaiah Hamilton (San Jose State), Josh Kelly (Fresno State) and Kyle Williams (UNLV) are all expected to play significant roles, while guard Christy Nkanu (Southern Utah) is penciled in as a starter. On defense, linebackers Ahmad McCullough (Maryland) and Devin Richardson (Texas) are slated to start. Defensive lineman Na’im Rodman (Colorado), linebacker Davon Hicks (USF) and cornerback Dominic Tatum (Utah State) could all be key players, as well.