The atmosphere on campus took a noticeable shift this past week as football players could be heard whooping loudly from the Rogers Practice Fields. The excitement has been building ever since the first spring practice, and now Cougar fans can barely contain themselves. Well, wait no longer, because it's finally here. College football is back in Martin Stadium and nobody is itching to get back out on the field more than veteran wide receivers Robert Lewis, Kyle Sweet and running back Keith Harrington. 
Lewis, now a graduate student, was expecting to play his last season with the Cougars in 2017, when a devastating knee injury took him out for the entire season. 

"My entire life I've been playing football," Lewis said. "That's the first time I've ever missed a season or been hurt. It was definitely tough." 

When Lewis's injury left him benched for the season, he thought his college football career was over, especially when the NCAA originally denied his application for a sixth-year extension. His focus had switched towards Pro Day workouts, until chief of staff for football Dave Emerick told Lewis he still had a chance. 

NCAA rules have an interesting clause about player eligibility. According to the NCAA Division I Manual, players have a five-year period to complete their four years of participation. However, if within that five years, a player misses a season due to circumstances out of their control, they may be granted a sixth-year of eligibility. 

The combination of coaches redshirting Lewis his freshman year, and his injury not allowing him to play in a single game last season made him eligible for such an appeal. All that was left for him to do was to stay academically eligible, and submit another application to the NCAA, this time explaining his whole situation. 

"I'm just blessed to be out here another year," Lewis said. "I'm just looking forward to being out there on Saturdays again." 

Injuries plagued more than just Lewis's career in this trio of veterans. Redshirt-senior Harrington has dealt with injury problems ever since he came to Washington State. Harrington, who played in all 13 games his redshirt-freshman season, saw a large dip in his playing time as a redshirt-sophomore after re-agitating an old injury, only making two appearances. 

"I had a couple nicks and injuries from high school that I didn't take care of," Harrington said. "Now I'm just getting back to where I'm supposed to be." 

Harrington showed he was working hard to get his game back to where it should be during the 2017 season. He played in all 13 of the Cougars' games last season on special teams. He proved to the Palouse that he was back and better than ever by leading the team with 11 special teams tackles. 

"I had never really played special teams," Harrigton said. "I just missed football and I wanted to help this team whatever way they needed." 

Although he would have rather been in the backfield, Harrington saw special teams as an opportunity to get out onto the turf and compete again with his teammates. Now, going into his final season, he expects to finally be lining up next to his quarterback again. 

While Harrington and Lewis are eager to put their cleats on the turf after a long hiatus, senior Sweet is just focused on continuing to improve his craft. Sweet spent most of his offseason working on his route running, the teeth of all great wide receivers. 

"I take a lot of pride in route running," Sweet said. "I feel like that plays to my strengths, to be a crafty slot guy." 

Sweet's focus was on his release. Getting off the ball and exploding toward his defender. However, one of the bigger things he hopes to achieve this year is following in the footsteps of a list of great Cougar receivers before him that were not only great players, but great role models as well. 

"When I came in I had Gabe Marks and River Cracraft to look up to and set good example," Sweet said. "I definitely feel some sort of leadership responsibility and I just try to do the right thing." 

The 2018 season is going to be an important year for the Cougars, but even more important for these three players as this is their last opportunity to show the world what they've got. 
 
Fun Facts: 
Favorite Pro Team? 
Harrington: Tampa Bay Bucs 
Lewis: Miami Dolphins 
Sweet: Los Angeles Rams 
 
Movie? 
H: I Am Legend 
L: Bad Boys II 
S: Step Brothers 
 
Pregame meal? 
H: Spaghetti. 
L: Mashed potatoes, spaghetti, corn and steak 
S: Chicken, steak and mac and cheese 
 
Celebrity crush? 
H: Jhene Aiko. 
L: Jennifer Lopes 
S: Vanessa Hudgens 
 
Favorite game played in? 
H: I love the Rutgers game my freshman year. 
L: Sun Bowl vs Miami 
S: Boise State in Pullman 
 
Nickname? 
H: Rice. 
L: Rob Lew 
S: Cheeks