Cougars LB Keith Brown Sidelined For 2025 Due to Injury
Washington State Cougars projected starting linebacker Keith Brown will be out for the year with an undisclosed injury, as first reported by The Spokesman-Review. Brown, a redshirt senior, is expected to get a medical redshirt and return for another season.
That likely means redshirt freshman Anthony Palano, a transfer from South Dakota State who has been competing with Brown for the starting linebacker job, will be the prime candidate for the role.
Palano redshirted at South Dakota State last year, appearing in six games and making four tackles. The coaching staff has been impressed with Palano’s development and steady play in practice. He should be the guy at the MIKE linebacker spot this season.
Palano is familiar with coach Jimmy Rogers as well as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jesse Bobbit, and has experience playing in the system. That will give him a leg up compared to other linebackers competing for the job. A first-year coach being able to bring 16 players from South Dakota State should help smooth the transition.
WSU Linebacker Keith Brown shared a post-op photo on his Instagram about an hour ago. #Wazzu #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/vMisJRYn1S— Dylan Haugh (@Dylanhaugh) August 15, 2025
Palano is now expected to be a starting linebacker alongside veterans Parker McKenna and Caleb Francl. McKenna, who is a returning Cougar, started his career at Portland State and was a rotation linebacker last year for the Crimson and Grey. He was an All-Big Sky honorable mention his last year at Portland State.
Francl, who followed Rogers and his staff to Pullman, was an all-league player during his time at South Dakota State. He finished fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year running and was also named an FCS All-American according to some outlets.
