Washington State Secures Commitments from Colton Richter, Jettson Gilliam for 2027 Class

Kirby Moore and the Washington State Cougars continue to build for the future of their football program on the recruiting trail, adding talent from across the West with the commitments of Colton Richter and Jettson Gillam.

Richter, an EDGE defender from Shadow Ridge High School in Nevada, chose Washington State over Boise State, Fresno State, and UNLV, among others. He is rated as a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. Standing at 6-3 and 235 pounds, Richter brings impressive size and versatility, offering the ability to not only drop into coverage but also rush the passer effectively.

For the Cougars, Richter's commitment represents more than just adding another talented player. It is another example of the program successfully reaching outside the state of Washington and landing a prospect from a state that sits in the heart of the recruiting pipeline for several conference rivals. As the coaching staff continues to reshape the roster, it will be interesting to see where the Cougars continue to target players and how they build the roster moving forward.

Adding to Washington State’s haul, Gillam also announced his commitment to join the Cougars. At 6-4 and 235 pounds, the tight end brings impressive size to the position. Currently rated as a zero-star prospect by 247Sports, Gillam chose Washington State over San Diego State, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington, and several other programs.

Gillam, who played at Mountain View High School in Bend, Oregon, earned recognition for his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball in high school. However, in Pullman, he will transition full time to offense. He is the second tight end in Washington State's 2027 class, joining Owen Yurosek from California.

As recruiting continues to evolve in college sports at large, it is interesting to see the types of players schools take early in the process. With the transfer portal becoming increasingly prominent, some programs are taking fewer high school players and may wait until later in the recruiting cycle to fill certain spots, but the Cougars appear to be taking a bit of a different approach with Moore in charge.

Richter and Gillam are the seventh and eighth members of Washington State's 2027 recruiting class as it continues to take shape. By taking commitments from players in Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada so far, Moore and his staff are emphasizing the importance of identifying and securing talent from across the West Coast.