The student voice of Washington State University since 1895

The Daily Evergreen
The student voice of Washington State University since 1895

The Daily Evergreen
The student voice of Washington State University since 1895

The Daily Evergreen
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Transfer portal officially open, 10 Cougs have entered

10 Cougs have hit the portal on day one
LUKE WESTFALL, Evergreen sports co-editor
December 9, 2024
COLE QUINN
WSU head coach Jake Dickert tracks a punt by Nick Haberer during practice, Aug. 17, in Martin Stadium.

The NCAA transfer portal opened officially at midnight Eastern time Dec. 9. Multiple Cougs had already announced they would enter the portal and now officially are, while multiple others entered Monday morning.

Five of the 10 Cougs in the portal announced for the first time Monday morning they would be entering the portal, three of which were starters.

Two of WSU’s main three rotation defensive tackles hit the portal in sophomores Ansel Din-Mbuh and Khalil Laufau.

Din-Mbuh led the Cougs in sacks in 2024 with six, including a breakout three-sack game vs San Diego State. Laufau also had a breakout season registering four sacks.

The two combined for 10 sacks, nearly half of the Cougars 21 team sacks in 2024. Now the Cougs lose the bulk of their interior defensive pass rush, and will need to find new ways to generate more. Redshirt junior defensive tackle David Gusta, the Cougs best run stopping DT, is still on the team as of now.

Additionally, WSU senior punter Nick Haberer announced he has entered the transfer portal after missing eight games in 2024 due to a back injury. He was an All-American in 2021.

The other players to announce their entrance into the portal Monday morning were cornerback King Williams and former walk-ons safety Aslan Fraser and quarterback Brady McKelheer.

All three saw no playing time in 2024, with McKelheer being the fifth QB on the Cougars depth chart.

With the graduating class, the Cougs have now lost their starting running back, wide receiver, two top tight ends left tackle, two top edge rushers, two of three top DTs, linebacker, two of three top cornerbacks, strong safety, kicker and punter. Not to mention offensive and defensive coordinator.

The biggest domino is QB John Mateer, but regardless of his decision, the Cougs will look very different in not just in their bowl game vs Syracuse Dec. 27, but in 2025.

Currently, the following Cougs are in the portal.

QB Brady McKelheer

RB Wayshawn Parker

WR Bebe Hills

DT Khalil Laufau

DT Ansel Din-Mbuh

CB Ethan O’Connor

CB Warren Smith

CB King Williams

S Aslan Fraser

P Nick Haberer

 

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About the Contributors
LUKE WESTFALL, Evergreen sports co-editor
Luke Westfall is a junior in Broadcast News from Custer, WA. He is an avid fanatic of the many sports at many levels who spends all his available time indulging in them. Luke began working at the Evergreen in Spring 2022.
COLE QUINN
COLE QUINN, Evergreen Sports Photographer
Cole Quinn is a photographer and columnist for the Daily Evergreen. Cole primarily shoots sports for the Daily Evergreen and writes album reviews in his spare time. Cole is a junior broadcast production major and sports communication minor from Snoqualmie, Washington. Cole started working for the Evergreen in the fall of 2020 as a photographer. Cole was the Photo Editor during his sophomore year and Deputy Photo Editor for the fall 2022 semester.