Washington State 2024 Position Preview: Defensive Backs

Jared Miller | Aug 10, 2024

Oct 27, 2022; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars defensive back Tanner Moku (32) celebrates after recovering a Utah Utes fumble in the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Utah won 21-17. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Several familiar faces return to the Cougars secondary this fall but the big names are gone.

Wazzu fans might need to scour their game programs to familiarize themselves with the Cougars defense this year... at least in the secondary. While a lot WSU's talent on the back end is returning from last season, there's not a ton combined experience among those players. Might that spell trouble for a unit that was pretty solid last fall? Familiarity with the defensive playbook is a nice asset to have, however, the Cougs didn't bring hardly any fresh blood in to help manage the losses of some big presences like Jaden Hicks and Sam Lockett III. Time will tell if that was the right play or not.

Regardless, let's meet the defensive backs in Pullman.

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Strong Safeties: Replacing the aforementioned Hicks will be arguably the most difficult task the WSU back end will have this year. Senior Tanner Moku (#32) looks to help the team do just that at SS in 2024 and comes back to the Cougars after appearing in eight games last fall behind Hicks. Right there with him will be redshirt sophomore Reece Sylvester (#28), who showed up in just three contests in 2023. Sylvester got in on seven stops last year but neither guys has a ton of experience under their belt right now.

Redshirt junior Jackson Lataimua (#2) will be the one that comes into this season with the most playing time from last year, appearing in all 12 games for the Cougars and logging 32 stops along with a pick and a fumble recovery. Don't be surprised if by the time the team really hits its stride, Lataimua is seeing a majority of the reps of this bunch.

Free Safeties: It'll be the youngster Adrian Wilson (#6) that might really make a splash in the free safeties group. A redshirt freshman, Wilson showed up in four games and authored six stops. Now with his redshirt in hand, though, he looks to see an increased role as he enters Year Two. Alongside him will be one of the few new faces in the secondary; Akron transfer Tyson Durant (#5). Durant is a redshirt senior who comes to Washington State having played four seasons with the Zips. He has five career interceptions and 98 stops in those four years and brings with him a much-needed veteran presence.

Finally, Junior Leyton Smithson (#10) will be waiting in the wings and, although he'll likely see more action on special teams, he can serve in the safety slot if needed.

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Cornerbacks: Kapena Gushiken (#4) is also back to play a major role after a productive 2023 season that saw him bat down five passes, intercept one more and make 36 tackles. Gushiken is now a senior and could end up being one of the biggest pieces to this Washington State secondary by the time the dust settles on this season.

Jamorri Colson (#29) and Stephan Hall (#1) will also help take charge of the corners. Both redshirt juniors, Colson and Hall combined for 28 tackles and a pick last year. They spent a good chunk of their time in the shadow of Cam Lampkin who is no longer around. Both Colson and Hall are now thrust into new leadership roles on the outside.

Behind them will be a pair of redshirt freshman in Ethan O'Connor (#24) and Warren Smith Jr. (#22) O'Connor has yet to appear in a game for the Cougars while Smith played in one last year, getting in on three stops.

The Reserves: Outside of the players already mentioned, the WSU roster has a handful more guys who will be looking to work their way into the first-team slots as the year progresses. They are, in no particular order: King Williams (#17), Joe Taylor (#40), Aslan Fraser (#37), Kenny Worthy III, Hunter Haines (#30), Jerrae Williams (#23), Kamani Jackson (#18), Cole Norah (#34), Tyson Weaver (#26), Ethan Torres (#16), Gage Jones (#33), Jaylon Edmond (#13) and Kayo Patu (#9). Nearly all of those players outside of Norah are underclassmen and several are newcomers to the program.