Cougars Transfer Portal: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and What’s the Impact for Wazzu Football?
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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]
With Kirby Moore taking over as the new Washington State d head coach following Jimmy Rogers’ departure to Iowa State, significant roster movement is expected before spring ball begins - and so it’s useful to have a way to keep track of it all.
The Wazzu football transfer tracker does just that, organizing both outgoing transfer entrants and incoming transfers from other schools. This tracker will be updated live as new information comes out.
Departing via Transfer Portal
A player who enters the transfer portal can choose to exit the portal and return to their school for the following season, but since the decision to enter comes with scholarship risks, there’s a good chance any given player who enters the portal will end up on another team.
Quarterback
Jaxon Potter
Potter started three games for the Cougars before Zevi Eckhaus took over. He announced his intention to enter the transfer portal before Jimmy Rogers took the Iowa State job.
Ajani Sheppard
A transfer from Rutgers, Sheppard did not see any game action and was part of the scout team.
Dalton Anderson
A true freshman who did not see any game action, Anderson will seek opportunities elsewhere.
Running Back
Travon Pankey
Pankey did not appear in a game last season and was able to redshirt before opting to hit the portal.
Dylan Paine
A veteran Coug who came to WSU as a walk-on and spent six years in Pullman, Paine missed the 2025 season with an injury and will look to spend his final year of eligibility elsewhere.
Receiver
Cameron Weir
Weir, a walk on to Pullman, did not see any game action.
Devin Ellison
A highly rated JUCO recruit, Ellison played in only two games, catching three passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Carter Pabst
As a true freshman, Pabst showed great potential, catching nine passes for 168 yards and one touchdown. But he will be taking his talents elsewhere.
Landon Wright
After redshirting in the 2024 season, Wright stayed on to play for Jimmy Rogers. He made seven catches for 121 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown against Ole Miss.
Mackenzie Alleyne
Known as a blocking receiver, the former walk-on received significant snaps during the 2025 season. He caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Tight End
Luke Leighton
Leighton played in 12 games, primarily on special teams for the Cougars.
Jesiah Cornwell
Cornwell did not make an appearance last season for Wazzu and will head elsewhere.
Offensive Line
Trevor Bendel
Appearing in three games as a true freshman, Bendel stands out as the only semi-experienced offensive lineman who decided to bolt Pullman.
Defensive Line
Bryson Lamb
A former walk-on, Lamb spent four years in Pullman. He started all 12 games he played in and recorded 25 tackles, but will now follow Rogers to Iowa State.
Jack Janikowski
Another Coug heading to Iowa State, Janikowski recorded 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss last season.
Mike Sandjo
A transfer from SMU who appeared in four games before injuries limited his season, Sandjo once again will be on the move.
Isaac Terrell
A massive potential loss for the Cougs, as Terrell was one of WSU’s best defensive players last season, totaling 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Malaki Ta’ase
A transfer from New Mexico State who appeared in all 13 games, Ta’ase finished with 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Max Baloun
Coming from South Dakota State with Rogers, Baloun played in the first four games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. He is expected to land at Iowa State.
Donovan Fitzmaurice
Fitzmaurice played in nine games as a true freshman, recording 10 tackles and one sack while showing significant promise.
Connor Sullivan
Sullivan appeared in three games as a true freshman to preserve his redshirt, giving him four years of eligibility remaining.
Titus Miller
As a redshirt freshman, Miller played in four games during the 2025 season.
Darrion Dalton
Starting eight out of 13 games played, Dalton recorded 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks after transferring from San Diego State.
Linebacker
Jovan Clark
As a true freshman, Clark did not log any snaps at Washington State.
Anthony Palono
A transfer from South Dakota State, Palono started the first seven games and recorded 63 tackles. He played in the bowl game and now has landed with Boston College.
Sullivan Schlimgen
A major loss for Washington State, Schlimgen started the final five games for Washington State as a freshman and recorded 49 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.
Secondary
Kenny Worthy
Worthy was part of the cornerback rotation all season and showed considerable potential in Rogers’ system. He entered the portal before Rogers announced his move to Iowa State.
Tyrone Cotton III
Cotton redshirted during the 2025 season and did not appear in any games.
Damarius Russell
Russell played in five games as a true freshman, recording two tackles.
Brody Miller
Appearing in five games, primarily on special teams, Miller recorded two tackles.
Trillion Sorrell
Another tough loss for the Cougs. Despite playing in just five games, Sorrell showed significant potential as a true freshman and was expected to climb the cornerback depth chart.
AJ Davis
Davis suited up for 10 games and made two tackles as a special teamer for Wazzu.
Duhron Goodman
Goodman played in nine games as a backup safety. The transfer from College of the Canyons recorded eight tackles last season.
Kicker/Punter
Adlai Lounsbury
Lounsbury redshirted last season and did not appear in a game.
Troy Petz
A transfer from Washington, Petz did not play in a game during the 2025 season.
Incoming Transfers
The transfer portal itself is a database of players with interest and approval to seek out college transfers. There are myriad football players in the transfer portal from all across the country, and some of them will end up choosing WSU as their destination.
Quarterback
Caden Pinnick
Receiver
Tank Hawkins
Formerly a coveted prospect who had offers from the likes of Alabama and Oregon among others, Hawkins didn’t see a ton of action with Florida in two seasons, catching 12 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. But he’s a speedster with legit 4.25 40-yard dash wheels who immediately will give the Cougs juice they didn’t have on the outside.
Daniel Blood
Tight End
Jack Peterson
Defensive Line
Linus Zunk
DJ Warner
Linebacker
Nylan Brown
Brown recorded 58 tackles over 22 games during his two seasons at Kent State. With Keith Brown as the only linebacker returning with significant experience, adding Nylan Brown was a key move for the middle of the Cougs’ defense.
Secondary
Jalil Tucker
A highly touted recruit, Tucker began his career at Oregon before spending two seasons at San Diego Mesa College. He transferred to Oregon State, where he started 10 games and recorded 25 tackles last season. Tucker follows defensive coordinator Trent Bray to Pullman and is expected to see significant playing time given his familiarity in the system.
Jaylen Thomas
As a redshirt freshman at San José State, Thomas started all 12 games and recorded 59 tackles. He is expected to be part of the cornerback rotation in 2026.
