In Week 11 the Palouse products showed out. The stand-out Coug this week was Kyle Williams, who had a 72-yard touchdown. Abraham Lucas continued his play from last week dominating the Cardinals edge-rushers. While Jalen Thompson and Chau Smith-Wade had inconsistent games.
Kyle Williams
After not receiving meaningful snaps for half the season, Kyle Williams showed up when the Patriots needed him to. With Kayshon Boutte out for a few weeks Williams received early snaps against the Buccaneers. On first down to end the first quarter he caught a crossing route pass and took it all the way for a touchdown, his first of his NFL career. Williams hit a top speed of 21.78 miles-per-hour. Stefon Diggs was impressed by the rookies’s house-call.
“The kid’s blazin’. I was happy for him, that’s his first touchdown. Him having one in his first game where he’s in the game a lot — he handled it extremely well. I’m just super proud of him,” Diggs said.
Williams when speaking to the media shared his thought process coming into the week.
“We always say prepare as a starter and I took that to heart this week because I knew what was at stake. When you get an opportunity, you’re not promised another one. For me it was just making the most of it. I’m proud of myself,” Williams said.
Kyle Williams sprint into open space to score a TD against Northern Colorado, Sept. 16.
Daiyan Henley
The star linebacker has continued his momentum after last week’s game, against the Steelers Henley and the Chargers defense looked elite. Henley recorded five solo tackles and one assisted tackle. PFF graded Henley as the fourth highest Chargers defensive player with a 75.7 grade. Henley’s coverage on DK Metcalf forced Aaron Rodgers to loft a pass and resulted in an interception for P.J. Mickens. Post game Henley was asked about going against Rodgers.
“Man, we know Aaron Rodgers, he has this level of play that he wants everyone to see. We know that if we can try to raise the pressure up on him, just try to get them to go at each other instead of, you know, us. When you have a Hall of Famer over there trying to raise the bar for his teammates, raise the standards, we have to make sure it’s hard for him to do that,” Henley said.
WSU linebacker Daiyan Henley lunges for Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay during an NCAA football game, Nov. 12.
Jalen Thompson
Jaxson Smith-Njigba gave the entire Cardinals secondary hard fits in the first half. JSN scored a touchdown on Thompson on the Seahawks first drive. The entire Cardinals defense was not able to stop the explosive offense of the Seahawks but Thompson had one good play in the first half when he tracked down a wide-open Cooper Kupp at the three yard-line. Thompson was the best Cardinal defender however with five solo tackles, PFF graded Thompson a 65.8.
Then-sophomore safety Jalen Thompson heads onto the field before kickoff during a game against Oregon State University on Sept. 16, 2017.
Chau Smith-Wade
Normally it is not a good sign when a DB has the second most tackles on the team but with Smith-Wade he makes it a point to be physical and seek out contact. Smith-Wade finished with six solo tackles, in coverage Smith-Wade did struggle especially when guarding Pro-Bowler Chris Olave who put up over 100 receiving yards and one touchdown.
WSU defensive back Chau Smith-Wade runs downfield after intercepting a pas during an NCAA football game against Arizona State, Nov. 12.
Frankie Luvu
After facing a top three offense in the Seahawks last week the Commanders defense was hoping to show their toughness against another top offense in the Lions. They did not do so, losing 44-22. Luvu finished with three tackles, it was not his best game by any means but against the dynamic Lions offense it was hard for anybody to make plays on defense. Luvu has been getting scrutinized all season for his play but especially after this game when he is seen back pedaling from All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell. It has been a down year for the second team all-pro but Dan Quinn announced on Nov. 10, he will take over defensive playcalling duties. Last time Quinn called plays Luvu had his best season as an NFL player. Joe Whitt Jr. and Luvu never seemed to understand each other.
Senior and former linebacker Frankie Luvu, right, celebrates with then-redshirt senior linebacker Peyton Pelluer after Luvu sacked Boise State junior quarterback Brett Rypien during a game September 9 at Martin Stadium.
Abraham Lucas
PFF has ranked Lucas as the sixth best offensive-tackle in the NFL having only given up three sacks and one penalty all season. The Cardinals have no premier rusher but have sneakily had a good defense all season so it was no easy task for Lucas. All season the tackle tandem of Lucas and Charles Cross has let Sam Darnold look like an MVP candidate all season. The only knock on the Seahawks’ offensive line has been the inability to run the ball but against the Cardinals they went over 150 rushing yards in large part to Lucas’s blocking on the perimeter.
Washington State University lineman Abraham Lucas (72) warms up before a college football game at Martin Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Pullman, Wash.
This week was quieter for Pro Cougs, but the performances that stood out carried real weight. Kyle Williams’ breakout showed the importance of staying ready, while Daiyan Henley continued to prove he’s a rising defensive force. Jalen Thompson and Chau Smith-Wade were solid but inconsistent, each showing flashes of playmaking while also struggling in coverage at times. Abraham Lucas continued his dominant stretch anchoring Seattle’s offensive line. With Cam Ward, Jaylen Watson, and Jaden Hicks on bye weeks, the Coug presence in the NFL still felt strong.
