On Dec. 18, 2024, Jake Dickert left WSU, and with his departure, 47 scholarship players entered the transfer portal. Some went to Power schools and even to smaller FBS, FCS or Division II programs. When Jimmy Rogers was named the new head coach of Washington State football, there were questions—especially after he brought over 15 Division II players from South Dakota State University. Will those players be able to compete at the D-1 level?

Here is a breakdown of the best and worst transfers for the 2025 football season:

Best:

Tucker Large – The Cougar defense has had its ups and downs this season. Large, however, has been one of the most consistent defensive players, with 56 total tackles and three pass breakups. The only thing missing from Large’s play making is his ability to generate interceptions like he did in 2023 and 2024, when he had seven. Rogers has spoken highly of Large and how he embodies the foundation of what he is trying to build at WSU. In the two biggest games of the season—against Ole Miss and Virginia—Large was at his best, recording 15 tackles between the two games. In the new era of the transfer portal, landing players like Large will be important to sustain the Washington State football image in the NIL world.

Kirby Vorhees – When Rogers brought his second- and third-string running backs with him to WSU, most assumed Angel Johnson would have been the more effective back. However, Vorhees has turned into quite the player for the Cougs, with nearly 400 rushing yards and three touchdowns so far. His best game came against top-10 Ole Miss, when he had 10 rushes for 88 yards and one touchdown. Rogers has spoken highly of Vorhees and his running style:

“When you run behind your pads like that, you’re really physical,” Rogers said. “He’s really elusive. The kid cares just as much as anybody on this team. One of the first guys to do everything. He’s one of the last guys to leave, and he’s battle-tested, for sure. He’s a winner.” 

Carter Pabst – The explosive big-play wideout was committed to SDSU, but when Rogers moved to WSU, Pabst flipped his commitment. Pabst has seven catches for 157 yards and one touchdown for the Cougs this season. He has been a big-play target for Zevi Eckhaus and Jaxon Potter, averaging over 22 yards per reception. His best game came in Week 3 against North Texas, with three catches for 65 yards. Pabst is a good example of what WSU will need to do in the new college football world to compete—finding under-recruited gems like Pabst and pairing them with high-level coaching to compete in the CFP.

Worst:

Angel Johnson – When Johnson was at SDSU with Rogers, he averaged 7.1 yards per carry; this season, he’s averaged just 2.6. That is not the only area he’s struggled in—at SDSU, Johnson was a dual-threat back who posed danger both running and receiving. In 2024, he had 12 catches for 176 yards; so far this season, he has four catches for 36. Johnson has yet to rush for more than 33 yards in a game this year after posting 132 yards against Murray State in 2024. He has lost the starting RB job to Kirby Vorhees, who has flourished as a Coug.

Julian Dugger – Coming in with Zevi Eckhaus, Jaxon Potter and Ajani Sheppard, Dugger had an uphill battle to win the starting job but had a chance to do so with a strong spring. Before coming to the Palouse, Dugger was at Pitt, where he saw limited action. In 2024, he went 7-for-13 for 72 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. WSU seemed like a smart choice for Dugger, especially with Rogers’ run-heavy offense that favors dual-threat quarterbacks. However, with the rushing attack struggling, Dugger has not seen much action, and when he has, most plays have been designed QB runs or read-options. This season, he’s 0-for-3 passing, has been sacked four times and has 17 rush attempts for -5 yards and one touchdown. The QB3 spot seems to be where Dugger will remain until next year, when he could move to QB2 after Eckhaus’s eligibility expires.

Ademola Faleye – When fans saw the headline “6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end transferring to WSU,” many expected a Rob Gronkowski or Darnell Washington-type red zone threat. That has not been the case. Faleye has three catches for 13 yards and one touchdown for the Cougars. Throughout his career, his size has mostly translated to blocking ability rather than receiving production. His single-season high is five catches (2021), and his career-high in receiving yards for a game is 55 (2022). While Faleye has been solid as a blocker, injuries and strong play from backup Trey Leckner have limited his production.

The transfer portal completely reshaped WSU’s roster, and while players like Tucker Large, Kirby Vorhees and Carter Pabst have proven they can compete at the Power 4 level, others have struggled to find their footing. The mix of success and disappointment shows both the potential and the risk of relying heavily on transfers. As Jimmy Rogers continues to rebuild the program, the Cougars’ future will depend on finding the right mix of proven FBS talent, hidden Division II gems and skilled high school recruits.