Washington State Football 2024 Position Preview: Linebackers/Defensive Line

Jared Miller | Aug 18, 2024

Nov 19, 2021; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars linebacker Kyle Thornton (52) celebrates against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

With their leading tackler back, Washington State is going to be stout over the middle.

Linebackers: The Cougars will bring back arguably their best defensive player with senior Kyle Thornton (#52) and that will be a huge boost the linebacking corps. Thornton posted a team-high 87 tackles last year (4.5 for loss) and comes into this fall with 142 career stops. He's the unquestioned leader of the defense. Redshirt sophomore Taariq Al-Uqdah (#0) will be there right alongside Thornton but will play more to the middle. Al-Uqdah authored 40 tackles and snagged an interception a season ago.

Behind Thornton and Al-Uqdah are a pair of junior transfers in Kieth Brown (#21) and Parker McKenna (#46). Brown comes in from Louisville and formerly Oregon. While he saw most of his action with the Ducks, Brown did appear in two games for the Cardinals last fall. McKenna, meanwhile, moves up from Portland State (Washington State's Week 1 opponent). With the Vikings, McKenna was responsible for 190 tackles (15 for loss), two sacks, five PBUs, two forced fumbles and an interception over three seasons. Also in the mix in the linebackers room this year will be sophomore Hudson Cedarland (#27) and Auburn transfer Wesley Steiner (#54).

A handful of freshman sit behind this group. They are Frank Cusano (#25), Dajon Doss (#31), Jack Ellison (#42) and Gavin Fugate (#56).

Ends: The fresh face on the defensive line might also be the one that makes the most impact in 2024. Edge rusher Syrus Webster (#3) came over from Utah Tech this offseason and is expected to see first-team reps sooner rather than later. While with the FCS' Trailblazers a season ago, Webster was phenomenal, registering three games with at least ten stops and picking up 12.5 tackles for loss along with seven sacks. He will be joined on the other end by a returning fellow senior Nusi Malani (#15). Malani appeared in all 12 games last year and picked up 2.5 sacks along with 14 stops.

Senior Quinn Roff (#20) and junior Raam Stevenson (#45) should also see a fair amount of snaps on the edges as the reserves to Webster and Malani. Roff played in six games last year while Stevenson got into 11. The duo teamed up for 24 tackles and a sack. Expect sophomore Isaac Terrell (#88) and Andrew Edson (#96) to get some chances as well.

Freshmen Ben Beatty (#51), Malachi Wrice (#81), Camden DeGraw-Tryall (#85), Michael Hughes (#90) and Jack Janikowski (#93) will round out the edge-rushers' roster.

RELATED: Washington State DE Quinn Roff Healthy and Optimistic Ahead of 2024 Campaign

Interior Linemen: It's the youngest position on the entire Washington State roster with not a senior present. David Gusta (#60) and Khalil Laufau (#44) will take charge in the middle of the line for the Cougs. Gusta, a junior, is the oldest player in this entire position group for WSU. He is fresh off a season that saw him make 30 tackles and get in on 0.5 sacks. He got snaps in 11 games last year but shapes up to be a tried and true starter in 2024. Laufau is only a sophomore but has impressed throughout spring and fall camps. He made 12 stops last fall. Fellow sophomore Ansel Din-Mbuh (#92) will also be in the mix to see significant time.

There is a crop of youngsters that will supply the depth up front. All are either sophomores or freshman. They are as follows: Rashad McKenzie (#19), Hyrum-Benjamin Moors (#55), Aden Mata (#97), Bryson Lamb (#99), Jackson Cowgill (#58), Titus Miller (#94) and Jack Procter (#96). It is not expected that any of these guys will get a ton of field time this fall but could make showings pending injuries.