The Cougar offense continues to take hits. WSU wide receiver Tre Shackelford entered the transfer portal with a “do not contact” tag per On3 Sports.
The move comes after Shackelford entered the transfer portal after the season ended before deciding to return to WSU on Dec. 29. His return was key for a depleted wide receiver room, making his second-time departure that much tougher to swallow.
Shackelford received first-team reps in WSU’s spring Crimson vs. Gray showcase and was in line to receive a significant target share in 2025. The former Austin Peay transfer recorded 10 receptions for 144 yards but has 72 catches for 1,027 yards in his career. Aside from senior Josh Meredith, Shackelford was the only other receiver on the roster with in-game Division I experience.
With Shackelford’s portal entry, the Cougs are left with Meredith, juniors Tony Freeman and Devin Ellison and senior Leon Neal Jr. as the team’s next best options. Freeman, who had 125 receiving yards last season, is the only Coug besides Meredith who caught a pass in 2024. Ellison, a JUCO transfer, could receive more targets after showing out at Monterey Peninsula College.
Neal could be an under-the-radar option after an excellent performance at the spring game that included catching a touchdown from starting quarterback Zevi Eckhaus. Neal has been with the team for four years and has appeared almost exclusively on special teams since entering the program as a walk-on and redshirting in 2021.
Regardless of the options, Shackelford’s decision forces Meredith to the No. 1 spot with virtually no experience behind him. Head coach Jimmy Rogers and the Cougs will now have to look elsewhere to shore up the position.
