No Division I football program wanted B.J. Salmonson coming out of high school, except for Washington State. As the 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman put it "no one else gave me a chance."
Coming from Nooksack Valley High School, a small high school in Everson, Wash., Salmonson had always been bigger than his opponents, which allowed him to dominate the lower levels of high school.
So it was a big adjustment when he participated in his first WSU practice, citing he "never saw speed like this at all" where he was from. At Washington State, every game and every practice he is facing guys bigger and faster than him.
However, that has never stopped Salmonson from competing.
According to Washington State offensive line coach Clay McGuire, Salmonson has never missed a day of practice or sat out a single drill during his four going on five years at WSU.
"He's never made an excuse for anything," McGuire recalls, who has been with Salmonson since he stepped on campus. "He has been very consistent, improved each year, and shown great toughness."
Salmonson was a part of head coach Mike Leach's first recruiting class here at Washington State. The Cougars had gone 3-9 in Leach's first season and it was apparent to Salmonson this would be a rebuilding job.
"Nobody really had any confidence here," he remembers from those first few months in the spring of 2013.
Oh, what a difference a few years make.
Since that first season the Cougars have developed into a more mature program, one that has reached a bowl game three times in those four years, and Salmonson has played a role in the Cougars' growth.
After redshirting the 2013 season, Salmonson has spent the past three seasons playing special teams and serving as a versatile, backup offensive lineman. Last season he played in all 13 games, which included his first career start on the offensive line, Oct. 29 at Oregon State, a game the Cougars rallied to win for a sixth-straight victory.
Salmonson remembers being ready for his first start as he knew it would happen sometime last season.
"It was a great feeling to start that first game," he said. "At the same time, I felt very comfortable stepping in. As an offensive line we are a close-knit group and though we started slow, we played well in the second half and got the W."
Coming into this spring, Salmonson has been battling for the starting right guard spot after three-year starter Eduardo Middleton graduated. He understands that he is a smaller guy for an offensive lineman, but believes the competition is going well.
"I've just got to get down my technique and show them that I deserve to be out here, be consistent every play," he said.
An offensive lineman in a Mike Leach-led offense needs to be versatile and a good athlete that can move. It is essential for the extensive screen game that the Cougars use under Leach.
"He's a tough kid, and a good athlete who over five years he developed and made himself a guy that can play at this level," said McGuire.
The chip on Salmonson's shoulder coming from a small school has been a driving force to show he belongs at this level. As he sees it, his role is to "be a technician and fly around and be fast and just hit people."
The 2017 offensive line is a veteran unit, having played together for a minimum of three years. The chemistry they have built is the reason Salmonson thinks they will take another step forward this upcoming season.
After years as a backup, Salmonson is getting his chance to start, something no other school offered him.
Coming from Nooksack Valley High School, a small high school in Everson, Wash., Salmonson had always been bigger than his opponents, which allowed him to dominate the lower levels of high school.
So it was a big adjustment when he participated in his first WSU practice, citing he "never saw speed like this at all" where he was from. At Washington State, every game and every practice he is facing guys bigger and faster than him.
However, that has never stopped Salmonson from competing.
According to Washington State offensive line coach Clay McGuire, Salmonson has never missed a day of practice or sat out a single drill during his four going on five years at WSU.
"He's never made an excuse for anything," McGuire recalls, who has been with Salmonson since he stepped on campus. "He has been very consistent, improved each year, and shown great toughness."
Salmonson was a part of head coach Mike Leach's first recruiting class here at Washington State. The Cougars had gone 3-9 in Leach's first season and it was apparent to Salmonson this would be a rebuilding job.
"Nobody really had any confidence here," he remembers from those first few months in the spring of 2013.
Oh, what a difference a few years make.
Since that first season the Cougars have developed into a more mature program, one that has reached a bowl game three times in those four years, and Salmonson has played a role in the Cougars' growth.
After redshirting the 2013 season, Salmonson has spent the past three seasons playing special teams and serving as a versatile, backup offensive lineman. Last season he played in all 13 games, which included his first career start on the offensive line, Oct. 29 at Oregon State, a game the Cougars rallied to win for a sixth-straight victory.
Salmonson remembers being ready for his first start as he knew it would happen sometime last season.
"It was a great feeling to start that first game," he said. "At the same time, I felt very comfortable stepping in. As an offensive line we are a close-knit group and though we started slow, we played well in the second half and got the W."
Coming into this spring, Salmonson has been battling for the starting right guard spot after three-year starter Eduardo Middleton graduated. He understands that he is a smaller guy for an offensive lineman, but believes the competition is going well.
"I've just got to get down my technique and show them that I deserve to be out here, be consistent every play," he said.
An offensive lineman in a Mike Leach-led offense needs to be versatile and a good athlete that can move. It is essential for the extensive screen game that the Cougars use under Leach.
"He's a tough kid, and a good athlete who over five years he developed and made himself a guy that can play at this level," said McGuire.
The chip on Salmonson's shoulder coming from a small school has been a driving force to show he belongs at this level. As he sees it, his role is to "be a technician and fly around and be fast and just hit people."
The 2017 offensive line is a veteran unit, having played together for a minimum of three years. The chemistry they have built is the reason Salmonson thinks they will take another step forward this upcoming season.
After years as a backup, Salmonson is getting his chance to start, something no other school offered him.