Mike Leach has 42 wins with Washington State and I expect to see #43 this Saturday. He is only 3 wins away from catching Jim Walden, which would make Leach the coach with the 3rd most wins with the Cougs. Let’s see how WAZZU did last week and preview their game against Oregon State.
James Williams– RB
Rushing: 5 Carries, 13 Yards, 2.6 YPR, 0TD
Receiving: 3 Receptions, 44 Yards, 14.7 YPC, 0TD
Williams played his role in this game. That role was to help when he is called upon. Utah is pretty good on the defensive side of the ball and they certainly showed that in Pullman. Holding Williams to under 60 yards total is an accomplishment for any defense.
He seemed to play a bigger role blocking for the quarterback, which proved to be helpful. Utah was able to get pressure at times, so he was very helpful biding time for Gardner Minshew as he stepped up in the pocket. It is, however; inexcusable that the team ended with a net of 0 rushing yards.
Game Day Grade: D+
Current Draft Stock: 6th-7thRound
Preview Against Oregon State University
Williams will march closer to the record books as he is 17 receptions away from being a Top-10 leader in receptions for the Cougs. I expect him to have around 10 receptions in this one getting him that much closer. Williams also needs 3 touchdowns to move into the Top-10 for most career touchdowns as well. I expect him to score twice in this game, forcing him to wait 1 more week to try and get into the top of the record books.
Davontavean Martin– WR
Receiving: 5 Receptions, 30 Yards, 6 YPC, 1TD
Martin bounced back some against Utah in comparison to his abysmal performance against USC. Scoring 1 touchdown and averaging 6 yards per catch, really helped the Cougars push through on Homecoming night!
He has had better performances, but I feel that he continues to learn. While he is a younger player, it is vital for him to learn how each corner plays differently and has a different skill set. I think he needs to watch more film and develop a better game plan using his own skill sets to overcome this each week. With Oregon, Stanford, and especially Washington left on the schedule, Martin needs to come prepared to fight for every catch and yard.
Game Day Grade: C+
Current Draft Stock: 5thRound
Andre Dillard- OL
Pass Attempts: 54 with 0 Sacks allowed
Tackles: 1
Utah was able to get pressure, which was expected. They do a good job with their front 7 defensively. Dillard gave them all he could and continues to impress. He kind of reminds me of the Cowboy’s 2nd Round pick Conner Williams from the University of Texas.
Very athletic and he knows how to use his size to his advantage. I think Dillard needs to keep working hard and impressing the scouts. I think we will be hearing his name called sooner rather than later in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Way to also mix things up and show he can make a tackle!
Game Day Grade: A
Draft Stock: 3rd-4thRound
Preview Against Oregon State University
Dillard played all 13 games last year and looks to do the same this year. He really is a difference maker at left tackle. I look for him to continue his athletic dominance and improve his draft stock. According to the Washington State University Athletic Communications department, he is the 5th best OT in the country and is the top-rated pass and screen blocking OT in the country. That’s high praise.
Nnamdi Oguayo– EDGE
Did Not Play: Injury
Oguyao might have a nagging injury which has led to his slump this season.
Game Day Grade: N/A
Draft Stock: 7thRound
Preview Against Oregon State University
Oguyao seems to be day-to-day. You do not want to rush a player back from injury.
Jalen Thompson – S
Tackles: 7
Pass Deflections: 1
Only allowing 118-yards through the air, the Cougar secondary is playing like it has something to prove. Thompson, a leader on the defense, continues to play like an NFL caliber safety. One key part of the safety position many forget about is tackling. When you are the last line of defense, you need to be able to make tackles to avoid scores.
Thompson’s ability to tackle is very helpful, especially in close games like this one. There were not a lot of mistakes made turnover wise, by Utah, so you need to have a lot of mental toughness. Two teams I think should take a long look at drafting him are the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks.
Game Day Grade: A
Draft Stock: 3rd-4thRound
Preview Against Oregon State University
Thompson will continue his ways not allowing the deep ball and racking up tackles as needed. I look forward to seeing where Thompson plays on Sundays. Games like this can help pad stats, but I think he is the type of player to use a game like this to improve mechanics and work on skills in the film room.
Let me know what you think about these prospects and my predictions in the comments!