October 12, 2026
October 12, 2026 at Wazzu is a file of 2 stories. The newest of them: “Cougs trading Palouse grit for pro grass: here's who made the leap” and “From Pullman to the pros: tracking Cougs hoops on the big stage”. Fourteen Cougs signed NFL contracts this spring. David Riley played his last game for Washington State in March. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every October 12, 2026 story on Wazzu, newest first.
Cougs trading Palouse grit for pro grass: here's who made the leap
Fourteen Cougs signed NFL contracts this spring. That is not a typo. Fourteen guys who spent their Saturdays pulling through the wind in Pullman are now punching a clock on pro grass. Some names you know. Some you are about to learn. The pipeline from the Palouse to the league has been running steady for years, but this batch feels different. These are not just special teams hopefuls or practice squad projects. These are dudes who earned real looks. The kind of depth that tells you the program is doing more than just filling a roster. We have been tracking them all spring. If you want the full breakdown of who landed where and what it means, check out "Former Cougs balling out across the NFL in Week 4 action." That piece fills in the gaps on the guys already making noise. This one is about the new class, the ones trading Moscow Mule cold for Florida humidity and Denver altitude. Some of these signings come with obvious storylines. Others are quiet, the kind of quiet that gets loud once pads pop in training camp. That is the part we are watching. The grit these guys built on the Palouse does not wash off in a new locker room. It shows up on special teams. It shows up in the fourth quarter. Pullman sends them out ready. Now they have to prove it. Go Cougs.
From Pullman to the pros: tracking Cougs hoops on the big stage
David Riley played his last game for Washington State in March. By October he was on an NBA floor, running the floor for the Cleveland Cavaliers. That jump, from Pullman to the pros, does not happen for every Coug who can fill it up. But it is happening more than you think. We track Cougs hoops on the big stage because the talent coming out of that program is real. The Palouse grit does not wash off when you leave. It shows up in the way these guys defend, the way they rebound, the way they stay ready even when their name does not get called on draft night. Some of these names you know. Some you will learn. And if you want to catch up on who made the leap this year, go read "Cougs trading Palouse grit for pro grass: here's who made the leap." It lays out the names, the teams, the grind. This is not a listicle. It is a running check-in. Where are they now? How are they playing? Who is earning minutes and who is earning a second look? We will keep an eye on it so you do not have to. Pullman sends them out. The pros put them to work. Go Cougs.