Camp Preview: New Faces to Know on Washington State's Defense

With just under a month until Washington State opens the 2026 season, there are plenty of new faces on the Cougars’ defense.

Washington State enters the season with a new coaching staff led by head coach Kirby Moore and defensive coordinator Trent Bray. The Cougars also saw significant turnover on defense during the offseason, with several players entering the transfer portal and a number of veterans exhausting their eligibility.

That leaves Bray with the challenge of putting together a new-look defense in a short amount of time without much personnel that was in Pullman last season. While Washington State still has returning pieces such as linebacker Keith Brown, much of the defense will feature players who were not on the field for the Cougars last season.

Washington State brought in several experienced transfers to help fill those holes. Four players in particular could have a major impact on the Cougars’ defense this season.