Tank Hawkins
Wazzu keeps Tank Hawkins in one place: 3 stories so far. The section currently leads with “At SDSU, Cougs need Eshelman and Moore to find the gear they lost”, “Clemons and Bernard day-to-day after Boise loss, SDSU ahead”, and “Boise State week hits a snag as Tripp and Clemons hobble in”. Kirby Moore came back to something simple this week. Two starters are day-to-day, and that's about the best news the Cougs got this week. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every Tank Hawkins story on Wazzu, newest first.
At SDSU, Cougs need Eshelman and Moore to find the gear they lost
Kirby Moore came back to something simple this week. After the Boise State loss, after the questions piled up, he said what he knew: Owen Eshelman battled his tail off. That's the kind of thing you want to hear about a young quarterback who threw a pick-six in his second start. But here's the thing, against San Diego State this Saturday, Eshelman might not have to be a hero. He just has to be clean. SDSU's defense is bad. Like, historically bad. They're giving up 36 points and 462 yards a game. They rank near the bottom of the country in nearly every defensive category. If the Cougs can't get right against this group, you have to wonder if they can get right at all. The problem is the offensive line. They're not blocking for the run, and they're not protecting the passer. That's why the tailbacks, Vorhees, Woods, Pulalasi, are averaging just 15 carries for 48 yards against FBS teams. You can't win that way. The Aztecs are terrible against the run, so maybe this is the week the line finds a lane. Moore is only playing three receivers, too. Ganashamoorthy is third in the country in snaps. Blood is 21st. They trust those guys. Everyone else is still learning the assignments. That's fine if it works, but it's a thin rotation for a road game.
Clemons and Bernard day-to-day after Boise loss, SDSU ahead
Two starters are day-to-day, and that's about the best news the Cougs got this week. Darrius Clemons (ankle) and Jeremiah Bernard (shoulder) will both try to practice ahead of San Diego State, but after a 31-10 loss to Boise State where WSU missed 16 tackles and ran the ball 10 times for 20 yards, "day-to-day" feels like a coin flip. Kirby Moore is talking about exploring changes on the offensive line, which let Boise State's Dylan Riley run for 33 and 72 yards in the fourth quarter alone. That's the kind of fourth quarter that ends a game and a hope of bowl eligibility. The math is ugly: 1-7 overall, 0-4 in Pac-12 play, and the program's streak of bowl eligibility in nine of the last 10 full seasons is almost certainly over unless they win out *and* hit a 930 Academic Progress Rate. That's a lot of ifs. What stings is how thin the roster is. Branden Ganashamoorthy, Daniel Blood, and Tank Hawkins played every offensive snap against Boise. No rotation. No relief. Moore wants "deliberate practice" and fewer assignment errors, but at some point, guys just need a break. The Cougs have four players with 500-plus snaps this season, one of only two Pac-12 teams that can say that. That's not a badge of honor; it's a warning light. For a deeper look at how this team is holding up, read our piece on the kratom study. Different kind of pain, same Pullman fight. Go Cougs.
Boise State week hits a snag as Tripp and Clemons hobble in
Ashton Tripp is day-to-day with an ankle. Darrius Clemons is on crutches. And Boise State rolls into town this weekend ranked 21st in the country. That's not ideal. The offense was starting to look like something. Owen Eshelman put up 289 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon State, and the run game finally had some teeth. But now the left tackle who's held that spot since 2023 might not be available, and Clemons, 20 catches, 218 yards, seven starts, is getting his ankle evaluated. Kirby Moore said depth at receiver is thin already after Tony Freeman's ACL in the Apple Cup. So if Clemons is out, you're looking at Daniel Blood, Tank Hawkins, and Branden Ganashamoorthy to carry the load. Ganashamoorthy just posted career highs last weekend, so maybe that's something. On the other side, the defense might actually get some help. Malachi Wrice and Michael Hughes are expected to play full speed. Hughes got 30 snaps back against Oregon State after missing five games. Wrice hasn't played since Week 2. If those two can spell McLain and Zunk, that's a real boost. Moore also put to rest any talk about NIL deciding playing time. Said the best players play. That came up after the decision to bench Caden Pinnick for Eshelman. Moore said Eshelman had turnover issues in camp but kept preparing like a starter. He's grown. We saw it Saturday.