Most Valuable Player: Zevi Eckhaus
In Week One when former head coach Jimmy Rogers decided to make Jaxon Potter QB1 for the Cougs, many were confused as Eckhaus threw for 300+ yards and multiple touchdowns in the bowl game to end the 2024 season. When Eckhaus was announced the starter in the Apple Cup Martin stadium was ecstatic with applauds and cheers. He embodied what a Coug is both on and off the field, and every game he was on X hyping up the WSU fanbase. WSU had a roller coaster of a season, but with Eckhaus under center the Cougs always had a chance. Against No. 6 Ole Miss he almost won with 200+ passing yards and two touchdowns.
Eckhaus finished the season with nearly 2,100 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns. While his stats are not crazy high, his impact goes beyond statistics. He was the most valuable Coug this season.
Rookie of the Year: Carter Pabst
WSU did not rely heavily on freshmen, but Pabst showed flashes of being a good deep threat option, finishing the season with nine catches for 168 yards and one touchdown. As the season went on he was used less and less but he was still an option for the passing game. Pabst entered the transfer portal but if his next team can find a way to use him regularly he can be a solid deep-threat.
Transfer of the Year: Kirby Vorhees
Although it took half the season to make Voorhees RB1 over Angel Johnson, he still averaged 4.2 yards per carry, with over 500 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the season. Vorhees added a rushing aspect to the offense Rogers wanted to establish all season. His breakout game came against Ole Miss where he had 10 rushes for 88 yards and a touchdown. The standout back entered the transfer portal but his next home (presumably in the Power 4) will be getting a hidden gem.
Disappointment of the year: Devin Ellison
After three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Apple Cup in Ellison’s debut, it looked like the transfer wide-out was going to be a problem for opposing teams. However, after the Colorado State game (one game after his debut) where he registered just eight snaps, Ellison had to step away from the Cougs. It appears from the outside looking in that it was due to his academics, which is not his first time he had to be away from a team he was on due to grades. Ellison struggled academically, but on the football field he showed flashes of being a difference maker. He embodies why it is student-athlete, not athlete-student.
Defensive player of the Year: Tucker Large
Coming from South Dakota State with Rogers, there was question of whether he would be able to compete at a former power football school. Going from Division-II to Division-I can be a difficult thing for players, but for Large it was not at all. He finished the season with 41 solo tackles, 30 assisted and six pass deflections. Three of his five top tackling performances were against ranked teams (Ole Miss, JMU and Virginia). The senior was everything from a leader, top tackler, top pass defender and leader for the defense. If a player could come back to play for Kirby Moore next year, Large would be one of the first players I would list due to his high production.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Tony Freeman
In 2024 Freeman’s stats were eight catches for 125 yards and zero touchdowns. In 2025 he had 54 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. That is not the only phase of his game he improved. In the return game he was a completely different player. In 2024 he had 12 returns for 81 yards while in 2025 he had 24 returns for 415 yards. Freeman set a record against Oregon State in the season finale in return yards with 169 punt return yards. Freeman is another player who has entered the transfer portal, but if he is able to be retained by the Cougs he can continue to polish his receiving game. Freeman has the potential to be a Tyler Lockett like player where he can return kick-offs and punts while also being a gadget/deep-threat weapon for a team.
Honorable Mention:
DPOY – Parker McKenna
Disappointment – Angel Johnson
