In need of reinforcements protecting the airways, WSU added a new member to their defensive backfield Sunday in former Akron cornerback Tyson Durant. 

The 5 foot, 10 inch 175-pound corner from Copley, Ohio, spent four seasons with the Zips and transferred to Wazzu with one remaining year of eligibility remaining. In three seasons as a regular contributor, he recorded 94 tackles, five interceptions and 13 passes defended with a career-high seven in 2023.

The move comes in the wake of Cougar corners Chau Smith-Wade and Cam Lampkin declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft and reserve corner Javan Robinson transferring to Arizona State. WSU also lost starting safeties Jaden Hicks and Sam Lockett III to the Draft in April.

A former four-year letter winner in basketball and one-year winner in baseball and track in baseball, Durant has big shoes to fill as an incoming veteran. He pairs with outside corners Stephen Hall and Jamorri Colson and nickel corners Jackson Lataimua and Kapena Gushiken as the only secondary members with significant playing time in 2023.

Formally an unranked prospect from McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, Durant entered the transfer portal Dec. 5. 

WSU continues to reel in transfers from the portal to reshape the 2024 roster with Durant being the ninth transfer in the Cougs signing class and the seventh from a Division I program. Wazzu’s recruiting class is currently ranked No. 72 in the country overall with the No. 75 transfer class according to 247sports.com.