Washington State Cougars will honor more than two dozen seniors during their regular-season finale against Oregon State on Saturday.,The Cougars need a win to secure bowl eligibility, a feat they have achieved in nine of the last 10 full seasons.PULLMAN – Ahead of their regular-season finale against Oregon State on Saturday, the Washington State Cougars are set to honor more than two dozen seniors. This game is crucial for the Cougars as a win would secure their bowl eligibility.
Among the seniors being honored is wide receiver Josh Meredith, who has had a career-best season, averaging a career-high in yards per reception and making significant plays, particularly on longer passes. Meredith is set to conclude his five-year career with the Cougars, having started in all 11 games this season and demonstrating consistent availability and performance.
Coach Jimmy Rogers highlighted the importance of the senior class, especially the 14 players in their first and only season with the Cougars. He noted their veteran experience and ability to help integrate new systems and players, emphasizing their work ethic and commitment to the team’s success. “We’re going to miss them, for sure,” Rogers stated. “There’s some great players in this class, and we need to make sure that we honor them the right way.”
The senior class includes key players who have been instrumental in the team’s performance this season, such as offensive linemen Christian Hilborn and Brock Dieu, quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, linebacker Parker McKenna, cornerbacks Jamorri Colson and Colby Humphrey, and the safety trio of Tucker Large, Cale Reeder, and Matt Durrance. Other notable seniors include transfer guard AJ Vaipulu, kick returner Leyton Smithson, defensive end Raam Stevenson, and linebacker Caleb Francl, an SDSU transfer.
Despite the pre-game senior honors, Washington State still needs to secure a victory against Oregon State. The Cougars lost to Oregon State earlier in the season with a score of 10-7, struggling offensively in the second half and turning the ball over. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus has thrown a significant number of interceptions in recent games, a trend the team needs to reverse.
However, Washington State has performed better offensively at home, averaging nearly 27 points per game in their last three home outings. The team is urged to focus on their individual roles and avoid overreaching, a point emphasized by coach Rogers. “It’s just staying consistent with how they go about it and not reach to do other things inside of just their job,” he advised.
The program aims to reach bowl eligibility, a goal met in nine of the last 10 full seasons.
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