Jack Stevens
Wazzu keeps Jack Stevens in one place: 3 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Trey Leckner is healing up fast and might finally see the field”, “Moore puts it plain after Cougs let early lead slip in Pullman”, and “Max Dean's migraines make Cougs' punting a game-time call”. Trey Leckner is getting closer. Kirby Moore sat down at the podium Saturday night and didn't waste words. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every Jack Stevens story on Wazzu, newest first.
Trey Leckner is healing up fast and might finally see the field
Trey Leckner is getting closer. That's the best news the Cougar offense has heard in weeks. The tight end from Snohomish has been out since summer with a foot injury. The early word was midseason. Now Kirby Moore says he's game-to-game after this weekend. That's a faster timeline than anyone expected. Moore said Leckner has been moving around in practice. That's not nothing. This matters because the passing game needs a jolt. The Cougs are 1-2 against FBS teams, and the offense has been stuck in neutral. Leckner caught 24 passes for three touchdowns last year. He's the best pass-catching tight end on the roster. Caden Pinnick and Matt Miller could use a reliable target over the middle. Jack Pedersen has been filling in, and he's fine. He's not Leckner. The Cougs host Arizona this Saturday, a night game under the lights. Leckner won't play. But if he's back soon, that changes the math. Read our piece on DJ Warner's Arizona roots for more on that matchup. Also worth watching: cornerback Jalil Tucker is a game-time decision. The secondary looked better against Duquesne when they moved Jamarey Smith to corner. And kicker Jack Stevens is 1-for-5 on field goals. Moore is sticking with him. That's loyalty. We'll see if it pays off. For now, the take is simple: Leckner healing fast is the best thing that's happened to this offense all month. Go Cougs.
Moore puts it plain after Cougs let early lead slip in Pullman
Kirby Moore sat down at the podium Saturday night and didn't waste words. "This should hurt," he said. He was right. The Cougs took an early two-score lead against Arizona, then watched it disappear in the second half, losing 34-24. That's now 1-3 in Moore's debut season, and the problems are starting to stack up. Caden Pinnick played OK on short throws, 85% completion inside 9 yards, but he's up to five turnovers, and they keep coming when he tries to do too much. The running backs are averaging 3.38 yards per carry against FBS teams, which isn't going to scare anyone. Special teams gave up a 39-yard punt return and another missed field goal, even if that one wasn't the kicker's fault. And for the second straight week, the coaching staff botched an end-of-half situation, letting 40 seconds burn off the clock before calling a timeout. That's the kind of stuff that loses games you should win. There were bright spots. Linus Zunk finally got his first sack and is grading out well. Punter Max Dean is 14th in the country. But the Cougs need more than that. Next week Fresno State comes to town. That's the start of Pac-12 play, and it's where we start to find out what this team really is. If you want a deeper look at that matchup, check out our piece on Moore facing his old team as a new era begins. For now, this one should hurt. It did. Go Cougs.
Max Dean's migraines make Cougs' punting a game-time call
Max Dean's migraines are making Saturday a game-time call, and for a Coug punter averaging 45 yards a boot, 18th in the country, that's a problem Washington State doesn't need. Dean emerged from the locker room around 3:15 p.m. for warmups, which is a good sign, but if he can't go, kicker Jack Stevens takes over punting duties. Stevens has never punted in college. Not once. High school was the last time. He's also 1-for-5 on field goals this season, including a missed extra point. So, yeah, that's not ideal. Dean has been a bright spot in a season that already saw the Cougs let a 14-point lead dissolve against Arizona, a game we covered in "Cougs jump Arizona early, then watch a 14-point lead dissolve." His 14 punts for 627 yards, five inside the 20, and a long of 52 are the kind of quiet consistency that wins close games. Coach Kirby Moore said it best: Dean's work in the punt game is getting overshadowed. He's right. If Dean can't go, the Cougs lose more than a leg. He also holds kicks, and that job is suddenly up for grabs too. Against a Wildcats team that just flipped the script on them, special teams can't be a question mark. Go Cougs.