Analysis: All Eyes on Caden Pinnick, Cougars’ Quarterback Room Entering Spring Ball
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UC Davis Aggies quarterback Caden Pinnick (12) passes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images [/caption]
Though the Washington State Cougars managed to reach a bowl game in the lone season under former coach Jimmy Rogers, they did so with uneven play from multiple quarterbacks, as Jaxon Potter opened the season before being benched in favor of Zevi Eckhaus.
Potter began the year as Wazzu’s starter under center, but a horrendous performance in a blowout loss to North Texas cost him the job, and Eckhaus took the reins from there. The senior signal caller provided a lift for the Cougars by throwing 15 touchdowns and rushing for eight scores, but he still battled turnover issues, throwing 12 interceptions in 11 games.
Under new head coach Kirby Moore, the Cougars bring a mix of proven production, returning experience, and intriguing young talent into 2026, but it remains to be seen who will start. As spring football approaches in Pullman, with Eckhaus graduating and Potter transferring, who has the edge in a Washington State quarterback room featuring an exiting newcomer and two returning signal callers?
Caden Pinnick
A transfer from UC Davis, Pinnick arrives in Pullman as the most accomplished quarterback on the Cougs’ roster. He was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year after an outstanding 2025 season in which he completed 240 of 345 passes for 3,206 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
A true dual-threat, Pinnick also added 437 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 125 carries for the Aggies. He elevated his play in the postseason, combining for 679 total yards and eight touchdowns across two FCS playoff games while adding another 125 yards on the ground, making himself a top target in the transfer portal as he elected to make the jump to the FBS division.
Based on his talent alone and the investment made by the program to land him in the portal, Pinnick is expected to be the quarterback to take the field when the Cougars season takes off against the Washington Huskies on September 5, but he will need to earn that opportunity starting in spring ball.
Julian Dugger
Dugger surprised many Cougars fans by returning to Pullman after entering the transfer portal, staying put to compete for a starting job once again. The former Pittsburgh transfer saw limited action at quarterback last season, but showcased his athleticism with those reps.
Though Dugger completed only two of his six passes for 39 yards and rarely dropped back to throw when he checked in, he was primarily used as a running threat, carrying the ball 22 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns. He filled a situational role, often utilized on designed quarterback runs and checking in for specific sub-packages.
If Dugger hopes to seriously contend for the starting job and push Pinnick, he’ll need to show significant growth as a passer in spring camp. His athletic ability gives him a unique dimension, but consistency through the air will be key and he can’t win the job alone due to his scrambling and running talents.
Owen Eshelman
The 6-3 Eshelman returns after redshirting his true freshman season and remains an interesting developmental prospect for the Cougars.
While he has yet to take a collegiate snap, Eshelman was highly productive in high school as a dual-threat quarterback, totaling 3,819 all-purpose yards and 48 touchdowns during his senior season. His ability to hurt opponents with his arm as well as his legs is something that Moore seems to like in his quarterbacks, so he could be a wild card to watch if he takes a big jump after redshirting his first year on campus.
With that said, Eshelman’s best bet may be to beat out Dugger for the backup role behind Pinnick, setting himself up to potentially see the field at some point, especially if Pinnick doesn’t meet high expectations.
