Live Washington State transfer tracker: Which Cougars are coming and going in the portal
The NCAA transfer portal winter cycle officially opened on Dec. 9 and will run through Dec. 28.
Washington State has already had a number of players enter their names. We’ll keep tabs on all the comings and goings throughout the month. Also worth noting is that in early December, former WSU coach Jake Dickert said he expected around 15-20 players to hit the portal.
“It’s walk-ons that are unsure of their position,” Dickert said. “It’s guys in our roster that need opportunities to go play. There’s also guys that have played for us that have been offered large sums of money.”
WSU hired Dickert’s replacement, former South Dakota State head coach Jimmy Rogers, on Dec. 28. Several players who have entered the portal since have cited the coaching change.
Outgoing (33)
• Kamani Jackson | Freshman | Defensive back
• Gage Jones | Freshman | Defensive back
• Jaylon Edmond | Freshman | Defensive back
• AJ Hasson | Freshman | Offensive line
• Leon Neal Jr. | Redshirt junior | Wide receiver
• Frank Cusano | Freshman | Linebacker
• Kapena Gushiken | Senior | Defensive back*
• Carlos Hernandez | Sophomore | Wide receiver
• Chris Barnes | Freshman | Wide receiver
• Isaiah Cobbs | Freshman | Wide receiver
• Evans Chuba | Freshman | Quarterback
• David Gusta | Redshirt junior | Defensive tackle
• Stephen Hall | Redshirt junior | Cornerback
• Buddah Al-Uqdah | Redshirt sophomore | Linebacker
• Fa’alili Fa’amoe | Redshirt junior | Offensive tackle
• John Mateer | Redshirt sophomore | Quarterback
• Adrian Wilson | Redshirt freshman | Safety
• Kris Hutson | Senior | Wide receiver
• Jackson Lataimua | Redshirt junior | Safety
• Ethan O’Connor | Redshirt freshman | Defensive back
• Brandon Hills | Redshirt freshman | Wide receiver
• Ansel Din-Mbuh | Sophomore | Defensive line
• Nick Haberer | Senior | Punter
• Mahki Whitney | Redshirt freshman | Tight end (walk-on)
• Khalil Laufau | Sophomore | Defensive tackle
• Wayshawn Parker | Freshman | Running back
• Warren Smith Jr. | Redshirt freshman | Defensive back
• Hyrum-Benjamin Moors | Freshman | Defensive tackle
• King Williams | Redshirt sophomore | Defensive back (walk-on)
• Brady McKelheer | Sophomore | Quarterback (walk-on)
• Tai Fa’avae | Sophomore | Linebacker
• Landon Roaten | Redshirt sophomore | Offensive line
• Luke Roaten | Redshirt sophomore | Offensive line
Incoming (0)
The Cougars had signed one player, Division II transfer tight end Will Huggins, but he announced earlier this month he is re-entering the transfer portal. He was released from his NLI because of the Cougars’ coaching change.
Departures
Kamani Jackson, Dec. 30
A three-star prospect out of the California Bay Area, Jackson figured to feature prominently into the team’s long-term plans. Before departing for Wake Forest, Dickert said he planned for Jackson to enjoy a healthy dose of snaps in the Holiday Bowl — but in his true freshman season, Jackson never saw the field.
Jackson turned down offers from UNLV, Utah State, San Jose State, Nevada, San Diego State and FCS Portland State to become a Cougar.
Gage Jones, Dec. 30
Jones was a three-star class of 2022 prospect out of Boise-area Eagle High before going on a two-year church mission, set to return and suit up for FCS Idaho State in 2024. But while he was gone, ISU experienced a coaching change, and Jones flipped to WSU.
A two-time all-state selection and the Idaho 5A Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, Jones led the Mustangs to a state semifinal appearance as a senior and a quarterfinal appearance as a junior.
Carlos Hernandez, Dec. 29
A sophomore this year, Hernandez tallied 31 receptions for 397 yards and five touchdowns, including one score in the Holiday Bowl. He missed the first five games with an injury he suffered in fall camp, but he returned and became the same impact player he was last year, as a true freshman.
Hernandez made hay with his reliability, dropping only three balls all season, becoming a consistent threat on the outside.
Jaylon Edmond, Dec. 29
Edmond redshirted this year, his true freshman campaign, appearing in two total games. He was set to see some snaps in Friday’s Holiday Bowl, at least according to Dickert, but he never saw the field.
Coaches were high on Edmond, a 3-star prospect who turned down offers from Boise State, UNLV, Hawaii, Utah State, Nevada, San Diego State and Portland State to become a Cougar.
Kapena Gushiken, Dec. 29
A senior, Gushiken was set to exhaust his eligibility this year — but thanks to a new ruling last week, players who started their careers at a JUCO and would have been out of eligibility this year have now been granted an extra year of eligibility.
Gushiken will be spending that season elsewhere, he announced on social media. He cited the new ruling and the coaching staff changes at WSU.
This year, Gushiken totaled 52 tackles, starting 11 of 13 games at the nickelback spot. He grabbed two interceptions as well, but he also allowed 52 receptions, fourth most nationally.
AJ Hasson, Dec. 28
As a true freshman this season, the injury bug hit Hasson, who never saw the field. He might not have anyway because of WSU’s depth on the offensive line, but he figured to get into the rotation in the years to come, as coaches spoke highly of him.
Hasson turned down offers from FBS teams Colorado State, San Jose State and Air Force, plus FCS clubs like Sacramento State, UC Davis and Ivy Leaguers Pennsylvania, Dartmouth and Columbia.
Leon Neal Jr., Dec. 28
Neal made the play of his WSU career in the Holiday Bowl, blocking a punt deep in Syracuse territory, which allowed receiver Josh Meredith to recover it for a touchdown.
But otherwise, Neal didnt get much playing time during his time as a Cougar, finding his niche on special teams. He appeared in all 13 games this season in that capacity, plus five last year.
Frank Cusano, Dec. 28
Cusano, who redshirted this year in his freshman campaign, figured to be a part of the Cougs’ long-term plans. He totaled two tackles in two games, including playing six snaps in the Holiday Bowl.
In the spring, he turned heads with his athleticism and playmaking, forcing Dickert to think about putting him on the travel squad. With his size and ranginess, Cusano’s future was bright at WSU.
QB John Mateer, Dec. 16
In his first season as WSU’s starting quarterback, Mateer led the country with 44 total touchdowns and guiding WSU to an eight-win season, the program’s first since 2018. He completed 224 of 347 passes (65%) for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, leading WSU to wins over rival Washington, Texas Tech and a comeback road victory over San Diego State. He also helped the Cougs hang on for a double-overtime win over San Jose State in September.
Mateer held an NIL offer from WSU in the $1M range, coach Jake Dickert said, but Mateer turned it down.
A native of Dallas-area Little Elm, Mateer backed up former WSU QB Cam Ward for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Mateer’s true freshman and redshirt freshman years, respectively. Last offseason — when Ward entered the portal and decamped for Miami, where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist — Mateer figured to be the next Cougar quarterback to ascend and take the reins.
CB Stephen Hall, Dec. 18
Hall started all 12 games for WSU this season, totaling 41 tackles and three pass break-ups. One of the Cougs’ highest-usage defenders based on total snaps, Hall provided a steady hand in coverage all season. He permitted 42 catches on 65 targets, according to Pro Football Focus data, which comes out to 65%.
Hall spent three years at Northwest Mississippi College before transferring to Washington State in January 2023.
DT David Gusta, Dec. 19
Perhaps the WSU defender who made the biggest individual impact on games, Gusta wrecked offensive lines all season. Among defensive linemen with 500-plus snaps this season, Gusta ranked No. 5 nationally with a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 84.5, underscoring how crucial his role was all season.
A 12-game starter this season, Gusta only recorded one sack, but that belies his true influence on defense, which freed up teammates to generate quarterback pressures and their own sacks. Listed at six-foot-three and 302 pounds, Gusta totaled 28 QB pressures, including 22 hurries.
Gusta’s departure means the Cougars are now bidding farewell to both of their starting defensive linemen from this season, including their top three.
WR Chris Barnes, Dec. 24
Barnes took a redshirt year this fall, his true freshman season, but that didn’t stop him from showing his promising upside. He played two games, including a surprise start at running back against Texas Tech, and he used his speed to raise eyebrows during fall camp.
WR Isaiah Cobbs, Dec. 22
Cobbs, a 3-star prospect out of high school, took a redshirt season this year and never saw the field. A 5-foot-8, 149-pound wideout, Cobbs turned down offers from Memphis, Alabama State and Middle Tennesee State to become a Cougar.
QB Evans Chuba, Dec. 21
Chuba redshirted this season, his true freshman campaign, and never saw the field. Still, as a three-star prospect (247 Sports) out of Clearwater Academy International, coaches were always high on Chuba, figuring he would take over the reins at some point.
LB Buddah Al-Uqdah, Dec. 17
The departure of Al-Uqdah, a staple in WSU’s defense each of the last two seasons, amounts to a costly one for the Cougars. On top of leading the team with six takeaways this fall (three interceptions and three forced fumbles), Al-Uqdah also led the Cougs with 76 tackles, including 51 solo, adding two pass breakups.
The Los Angeles native Al-Uqdah, who started all 12 games this season, joined the starting linebacker corps midway through last year, totaling 17 starts in his WSU career. A tad undersized at 6 feet and 232 pounds, Al-Uqdah made up for it with his nose for the ball, coming up with several key takeaways for the Cougs, including a pick-six against Oregon State and a fourth-quarter interception that set up a road win over San Diego State.
OL Fa’alili Fa’amoe, Dec. 16
A three-year starter, Fa’amoe started 7 of 9 games this season after returning from a knee injury early in the year. He finished the season with a Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 72.2, well above average, and he allowed two sacks on 12 pressures.
Fa’amoe, a converted defensive tackle who switched to offensive line ahead of the 2022 season, was a staple on the Cougs’ offensive line the past several years. A 6-foot-5, 314-pound tackle, Fa’amoe did not allow any sacks in his final six outings of the season.
TE Will Huggins, Dec. 20
Huggins, the one transfer WSU had signed this offseason, announced Friday he is re-entering the transfer portal. A-foot-7 tight end, Huggins came from Division II Pitt State in Kansas, where he played the 2024 season. That year, he hauled in 22 passes for 395 yards and one touchdown.
That followed his four-year career at Kansas, where he appeared in 11 total games, his only statistics coming in a 2020 contest against Oklahoma, when he caught one pass for 20 yards. A native of the Kansas City suburbs, Huggins would have been the seventh TE on next season’s WSU roster.
On Friday, Huggins said he had received an offer from Oklahoma, which is where former WSU QB John Mateer, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and QBs coach John Kuceyeski have landed this offseason.
CB Ethan O’Connor, Dec. 7
After redshirting last season, O’Connor started all 12 games for WSU this season, totaling a team-best four interceptions to pair with 32 tackles (23 solo) and eight pass breakups. He also returned an interception for a touchdown, the winning score in WSU’s Oct. 12 win over Fresno State.
RB Wayshawn Parker, Dec. 5
For all intents and purposes WSU’s starting running back, Parker piled up 735 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 137 carries, good for an average rush of 5.4 yards.
Speedy and elusive, Parker unlocked the Cougars’ rushing attack in a way few running backs have recently, breaking free for long scoring runs like a 43-yarder against Texas Tech and a 75-yarder against Utah State.
Adrian Wilson, Dec. 13
In his first season of action at WSU, Wilson played in all 12 games this season, starting five of them. All told, Wilson made 48 tackles and recorded two pass breakups, using his athleticism and size to make an impact over the middle of the field. He did miss 14 tackles, though, and he earned a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 67.4, which is about average.
Kris Hutson, Dec. 11
A former Oregon transfer, Hutson totaled 683 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 54 catches this season, starting all 12 games. Speedy and reliable, Hutson recorded two 100-yard games at WSU, including 101 yards in a win over FCS Portland State and 126 in a loss to Boise State.
He used his speed to unlock the Cougars’ offense. With his average of 6.2 yards after the catch, he showed he could make defenders miss and simplify WSU’s offense when it was struggling.
Jackson Lataimua, Dec. 10
Lataimua started six of 12 games at safety this season, totaling 32 tackles (20 solo) and two pass breakups. His role fluctuated throughout the year — he started the first five games, then saw his snap counts diminish as he came off the bench for the next five, only to rejoin the starting lineup for the regular-season finale — and he missed one game with an injury.
“I’ve built relationships and created memories that will last a lifetime,” Lataimua wrote in an Instagram post. “This place is truly one of a kind and it’s been a pleasure serving y’all work from these wheat fields. Love you Coug nation.”
DT Ansel Din-Mbuh, Dec. 9
A breakout star on the Cougs’ defensive line this season, Din-Mbuh totaled six sacks on the season, including three alone in WSU’s win over San Diego State on Oct. 26. Din-Mbuh racked up 19 pressures, third-most on the team behind edge Syrus Webster and lineman David Gusta.
Din-Mbuh, a Texas native, also picked up 1 1/2 sacks in the Cougars’ regular-season finale loss to Wyoming on Nov. 30. He was one of the strongest players on this season’s WSU team.
WR Brandon Hills, Dec. 9
Coaches and teammates raved about Hill’s potential, but in two seasons at WSU, he played only one snap, in a win over FCS Portland State this season. Out of high school in Colorado Springs, he fielded one other offer, which came from FCS Northern Arizona.
CB Warren Smith, Dec. 6
The sophomore Smith played sparingly in his two years at WSU. Last fall, he took a redshirt season, playing in one game. This year, he played 67 snaps in seven games, including 32 snaps against FCS Portland State and 21 against Texas Tech. Smith turned down offers from Washington, Colorado, Arizona and UCLA to become a Cougar.
DT Khalil Laufau, Dec. 9
A true sophomore this season, Laufau played all 12 games, starting the final two of the regular season. All told, he piled up nine pressures and four sacks, providing valuable depth behind Gusta and Din-Mbuh on the Cougars’ defensive line. He also played nine games as a freshman.
P Nick Haberer, Dec. 9
A staple on WSU’s special teams units over the last several years, Haberer missed eight games this season with a back injury. He came back for WSU’s win over Utah State on Nov. 9, preserving his redshirt year and allowing him to play another season of college football. In four games this season, Haberer punted 14 times for 561 yards, an average punt of 40.1 yards.
An Australia native, Haberer started at punter in 2021, 2022 and 2023, picking up an All-Pac-12 honorable mention honor after the 2022 campaign.
OL Landon Roaten, Dec. 9
Roaten is a younger player that WSU coach Jake Dickert said on Sunday he was planning to give reps in the upcoming Holiday Bowl. Instead, Roaten is leaving the Cougars’ program with four games under his belt: One last year and three this year, totaling 34 snaps this season. He played clean-up snaps against FCS Portland State and Hawaii, and against Fresno State, he was used as a blocker for three snaps.
OL Luke Roaten, Dec. 9
Roaten appeared in one game in three years at WSU, checking in for four snaps in a win over FCS Northern Colorado last season. He’s the brother of Landon.
King Williams, Dec. 9 (walk-on)
A third-year sophomore, Williams never saw the field at Washington State.
QB Brady McKelheer, Dec. 9 (walk-on)
McKelheer entered the portal on Monday, but he left the team around the time of fall camp.
DT Hyrum-Benjamin Moors, Dec. 9
A Hawaii native, Moors took a redshirt season this season, an injuries prevented him from getting on the field.
LB Tai Fa’avae, Dec. 9
Fa’ave was dismissed from the team during fall camp and didn’t see any action at WSU.
TE Mahki Whitney, Dec. 9 (walk-on)
Whitney took a redshirt year last season. In two years at WSU, he never saw the field.