Jesse Bobbit’s defense is finally coming together. Since WSU hired the South Dakota State defensive coordinator as the team’s new DC, the Cougs have landed nine new defenders from SDSU accoring to 247 Sports.
Highlighting the newcomers is senior safety Tucker Large, who was a major contributor to the Jackrabbits’ defense last season and will likely be the primary replacement for ex-Coug safety Ethan O’Connor who transferred to Miami. Large had had three interceptions last season as well as 34 tackles and 7 passes defended. Large’s breakout came in his sophomore season, where he earned first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors at his primary position and second-team as a return man. Large had nine pass breakups, 13 passes defended and four interceptions with the Jackrabbits in 2023. He also earner MVFC All-Newcomer team recognition in 2022 as he appeared in 15 games as both a safety and a linebacker.
Large can serve as a solid presence in the Cougs’ secondary, likely being the anchor in Bobbit’s new defense.
The team also received a commitment from senior Matthew Durrance. After redshirting in his first season, Durrance has been a solid rotation piece at safety for SDSU, appearing in all 15 games in 2023 and 2024 while totaling 63 tackles and three interceptions. He came up big in the 2023 FCS quarterfinal game against Villanova where he blocked a punt and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. The Cougs also added safeties Cale Reeder and Trey Ridley, with Reeder starting 14 out of 15 games in 2023.
For the defensive line, the Cougs added senior Max Baloun and freshman recruit Fernando Lecuona. Baloun played in all 15 games in 2023 and 2024, recording 18 total tackles and two sacks last season. Baloun has one more season of eligibility left and Lecuona is one of several flipped recruits who are following new WSU head coach Jimmy Rogers to the Palouse.
The Cougs also added a trio of linebackers with senior Caleb Francl and redshirt freshmen Carsten Reynolds and Anthony Palano. Francl played every game in 2024 while recording a career-high 18 tackles and one forced fumble. Reynolds is returning to his home state after not appearing in his first season at SDSU. Reynolds played both quarterback and safety in high school, but was recruited as a three-star linebacker. Palano also committed to SDSU in 2023 but received no playing time in this last season.
Senior Colby Humphrey is the lone cornerback transferring from SDSU and is a former graduate transfer from Northern Arizona where he played 24 games over four seasons.
