> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Breaking Down Cougars’ LB, DB Transfers From South Dakota State - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/breaking-down-washington-state-cougars-linebacker-defensive-back-transfers-south-dakota-state/ - Published: 2025-08-10T05:49:36.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:36:48.000Z - Author: Jacob Stevenson - Tags: Analysis, Caleb Francl, Tucker Large, Cale Reeder, Anthony Palano, Keith Brown, Matt Durrance, Cougars, Jimmy Rogers \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1080"\] ![ One of the several transfers to follow Jimmy Rogers to Pullman, Caleb Francl will jump right into the starting lineup at cornerback for Washington State. Credit: Caleb Francl/Instagram ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/471610345_580098197985022_7521654321003022934_n-format-original.jpg) One of the several transfers to follow Jimmy Rogers to Pullman, Caleb Francl will jump right into the starting lineup at cornerback for Washington State. Credit: Caleb Francl/Instagram \[/caption\] With Jake Dickert and his staff departing for Wake Forest and coach Jimmy Rogers taking over in the Palouse, there was a mass exodus of players out of Pullman for the Washington State Cougars heading towards the 2025 season. After the first nine days of fall camp here are the former South Dakota State Jackrabbits that followed Jimmy Rodgers to Pullman to watch for the linebacking core and the secondary. ### Caleb Francl, LB Francl will be expected to be a major part of the Cougars’ defense in 2025\. He finished fourth place in voting for Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year and was all Missouri Valley Conference in 2024, earning FCS All American team recognition from some outlets. After suffering a neck injury in his last game at South Dakota State, Francl was a full participant in spring ball. Despite being a smaller linebacker at 6-1, 190 pounds, Francl has solid quickness to compensate and with his experience in Rogers’ system, he knows where he needs to be. Last year, he had 78 tackles along with 11 for loss. > Q3 | No room to run for the Bears ... Caleb Francl with the textbook tackle for a loss of 2 yards that leads to another three-and-out > > 📽️ » Mediacom22 | ESPN+[#GoJacks](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJacks?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)🐰🏈 [pic.twitter.com/qV9npZAPgZ](https://t.co/qV9npZAPgZ?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) [November 23, 2024](https://twitter.com/GoJacksFB/status/1860445883646480451?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Colby Humphrey, CB At 5-11 189 pounds, Humphrey was a Second Team All Missouri Valley selection last season. Originally playing four years at Northern Arizona, he played one year at South Dakota State before following Jimmy Rodgers and his staff to Pullman. Along with Jamorri Colson, Humphrey is expected to be one of the starting corners with the Cougars starting their season against Idaho on August 30\. Last year, Humphrey had 40 tackles along with one interception and five pass breakups. > 😮 [@colbyhump4](https://twitter.com/colbyhump4?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com), are you serious?!? > > 📺 » [@MidcoSports](https://twitter.com/MidcoSports?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) [#GoJacks](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJacks?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) 🐰🏈 [pic.twitter.com/GQLb223DH2](https://t.co/GQLb223DH2?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) [September 14, 2024](https://twitter.com/GoJacksFB/status/1835102863489744935?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Tucker Large, S Expected to be a key contributor for Washington State’s defense, Large is a fifth year free safety out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 2024, Large was named an FCS All American by several publications and was also named All Missouri Valley Conference in his last two seasons with the Jackrabbits. He has great instincts and excels as a man cover corner, which allowed him to produce three interceptions to go with 34 total tackles last season. > Tucker Large steps up to haul in the INT![@MidcoSports](https://twitter.com/MidcoSports?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) [#GoJacks](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJacks?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) 🐰🏈 [pic.twitter.com/dIc2N7YRBT](https://t.co/dIc2N7YRBT?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) [November 2, 2024](https://twitter.com/GoJacksFB/status/1852799755807760834?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Matt Durrance, S In a competition to be the starting strong safety for the Cougars, Durrance was one of South Dakota State’s top three safeties last year, but received more consistent playing time due to the injury of Cale Reeder. Seeing an uptick in snaps, he contributed 63 tackles along with three interceptions in coverage. Regardless if he wins the safety competition or not, Durrance should still see himself on the field in sub-packages on defense and special teams. ### Cale Reeder, S The sixth year safety missed spring ball and almost all of the 2024 season due to a torn ACL, but Reeder is now back healthy, entrenched in a competition with Durrance to be the Cougars’ starting strong safety. In his last healthy season, Reeder contributed 58 tackles for South Dakota State, which was fifth on the team, so he’s a capable playmaker who could have a shot to be an impact defender as long as he stays on the field. > Welcome to the Palouse, [@cale\_reeder](https://twitter.com/cale%5Freeder?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ‼️ [pic.twitter.com/RtzSUF3VSo](https://t.co/RtzSUF3VSo?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) [January 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/WSUCougarFB/status/1876409936923799810?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Anthony Palano, LB Palano is in a competition for the MIKE linebacker starting spot against returning starter Keith Brown. Even as a redshirt freshman, he has an advantage over a veteran in Brown due to playing in Rogers’ system last year with South Dakota State. At 6-1, 224 pounds, Palano has strong upside as a player who could start this year in his first season in Pullman and develop into a foundational piece for Washington State’s defense in future seasons.