Earlier today, at his Signing Day Press Conference, coach Kirby Moore announced the signing of two new freshmen: Lance McGee and Oliver Bender.
They are signing financial aid agreements, and both plan to attend WSU before the 2026 season.
Lance McGee:
McGee is a 6-foot, 207-pound running back and linebacker from Washington. He originally attended A.C. Davis High School in Yakima, Washington. In his junior season, he recorded 115 tackles and six sacks. On the ground, he ran for 868 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
He transferred to Sumner High School for his senior season and went on to be named the Washington State 4A player of the year by MaxPreps and the Washington State Football Coaches Association. Overall, he rushed for 2,489 yards and 42 touchdowns on 251 carries.
He led Sumner to a state championship. In the Spartans’ last two games, he recorded back-to-back games with 300 or more rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns.
In the state championship game against No. 2-seeded Lake Stevens, he ran the ball 46 times for 368 yards and six touchdowns. The Spartans went on to win 41-35 in overtime.
As a three-star recruit, he originally committed to Oregon State. However, he flipped his commitment to WSU on Jan. 11.
“You talk about starting in state. 4A state player of the year … running back, linebacker … [he] did it at a high level and in a lot of big games,” Moore said.
When asked about what position McGee would play, Moore kept his options open.
“That is a good problem … You look at what Lance did at Davis from a linebacker standpoint, and then watching the film and evaluating the things that he did at the running back position … we want to make sure he’s having an impact on the game,” Moore said.
Moore even said there is a chance McGee plays both positions at WSU.
McGee joins six other running backs and nine other linebackers on WSU’s 2026 football roster.
Oliver Bender:
Bender is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver out of Nolensville, Tenn. According to 247 Sports, Bender is a 3-star recruit.
As a senior at Nolensville High School, he logged 47 receptions for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 19.3 yards per reception. He earned 5A All-Region 5 First Team honors for his senior-year performance.
“[He is a] big, long, lengthy receiver, who we’re excited about adding to the roster,” Moore said at the beginning of the press conference.
Bender joins nine other wide receivers on WSU’s 2026 football roster. He is tied with transfer Jordan Dees as the tallest wideout on the roster. This could help the Cougars stretch the ball vertically down the field, especially after losing Joshua Meredith.
“We want to get longer … and add some length to the receiver room,” Moore said.
