No. 23 COUGARS OPEN 2019 HOSTING NEW MEXICO STATE
No. 23 Washington State opens the 2019 season hosting New Mexico State Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the middle of the 2003 season, ESPN's College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The first appearance came Oct. 4, 2003 in Austin, Texas and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol' Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set by dozens of friends and alumni. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason's "No White Flags." In addition to the flags that fly, there is a traveling flag signed by the holders after each episode. The traveling flag is retired after each season, the first is hanging in WSU's Alumni Center. The streak's 217th appearance was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon. The streak reached 225 after making an appearance in Orlando for the Miami-Florida game last Saturday.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State Football enters 2019 with 40 returning lettermen including seven starters on offense, five on defense and two on special teams. The Cougars are coming off a record-setting 2018 campaign, setting the WSU record with 11 wins capped by a victory over Iowa State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Cougars produced the nation's best passing attack (373.8 ypg) and the No. 42-ranked defense in the country (358.4 ypg) that led the Pac-12 Conference in sacks (36). Head coach Mike Leach enters his eighth season at Washington State.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU set a program record with 11 wins in 2018, WSU's fifth 10-win season in program history
•  WSU owns 26 Pac-12 wins since 2015, 2nd-most among all Pac-12 schools during that span (Stan & UW - 27)
•  WSU is the only Pac-12 team with four shutouts in the last six seasons (Stanford and Washington with 2)
•  WSU has beaten Oregon four straight years for the first time since 1981-84
•  WSU has beaten Stanford three straight years for the first time since 2001-03
•  WSU has produced an All-America offensive lineman in each of the last 4 seasons
•  WSU saw 31 players make their debuts and 14 make their first career start in 2018

INDIVIDUAL
•  Mike Leach owns 49 wins at WSU, 3rd-most in program history
•  Leach was named the 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
•  Under Leach, WSU has recorded 13 4th-quarter comebacks in his 7 seasons (Utah, at Stanford in 2018)

SERIES HISTORY, SEASON-OPENERS
WSU and NMSU will be meeting for the first time. The two programs share a couple connections as WSU offensive line coach Mason Miller worked in the same role with Hal Mumme at NMSU for four seasons (2005-08). Current Aggie quarterbacks coach Chase Holbrook spent the 2016 season with WSU in an offensive quality control position. WSU owns a 71-59-5 record in season-openers after posting a 41-19 victory at Wyoming last season. 

COUGARS IN THE RANKINGS
Washington State enters the 2019 season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, the second time in the last three seasons appearing in the preseason poll and just the fourth time since 1952. The Cougars finished the 2018 season ranked No. 10 in both the Associated Press Poll and Coaches Poll, WSU's highest ranking to finish a season since finishing the 2003 season ninth in the AP poll. The Cougars' No. 10 ranking was the highest by any Pac-12 Conference team, the first time that has happened in conference history.

AIR RAID
The Air Raid offense owns seven returning starters including four on the offensive line that protected the nation's top passing attack and blocked for 24 rushing touchdowns. Dynamic running back Max Borghi returns for his sophomore season after tying the WSU single-season freshman record with 12 total touchdowns while seven receivers with 20+ catches return led by Tay Martin and Easop Winston Jr. who each caught eight touchdowns. Senior Dezmon Patmon also returns after catching five touchdown and 61 passes for 816 yards a season ago.

SPEED D
The "Speed D" defense will feature a couple familiar faces under the guidance of second-year defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys. The Cougars will have to replace longtime starting MIKE linebacker Peyton Pelluer, All-Pac-12 second-team defensive end Logan Tago and two-time All-Pac-12 safety Jalen Thompson but returns two of their top three tacklers and eight players who recorded multiple sacks last season. A pair of starters in the secondary graduated and Jalen Thompson left early to the NFL but senior cornerback Marcus Strong returns after leading the team with three interceptions.

COUGAR SPECIAL TEAMS
Cougar special teams were among the best in the country in 2018, finishing fifth in the country in kickoff return led by redshirt-sophomore All-Pac-12 honorable mention kick returner Travell Harris who led the Pac-12 in return average and had six kickoff returns of 30+ yards last season including a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown against Eastern Washington. WSU also returns All-Pac-12 honorable mention punter Oscar Draguicevich III who finished last season tied for seventh in the country in net punting.

WELCOME BACK
OFFENSE
Tay Martin (WR, Jr.), 69 rec, 8 TD, 685 yards, 100 career catches, 14 career TD
Fred Mauigoa (C, Sr.), 2x Rimington Award Watch List, 26 straight starts, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM 
Abraham Lucas (RT, RS-So.), 2018 Freshman All-American, All-Pac-12 2nd Team, started all 13 games
Max Borghi (RB, So.), 2019 Doak Walker Award Watch List, 12 Total TD, 53 rec, 740 all-purpose yards
Dezmon Patmon (WR, Sr.), 2019 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, 61 rec, 816 yards, 5 TD 

DEFENSE
Will Rodgers III (DL, Jr.), 13 GP, 8 starts, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 4 sacks
Jahad Woods (LB, RS-Jr.), 23 straight starts, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, 82 tackles, 4 forced fumbles
Marcus Strong (CB, Sr.), 31 GP, 13 career starts, 3 INT, 41 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 PBU

ANOTHER NEW FACE BEHIND CENTER
The Cougars will see a new face lead the Air Raid in 2019 after Gardner Minshew II transferred in last summer and led WSU to 11 wins, earning 2018 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Below is a list of quarterbacks who entered preseason camp competing for the starting position (listed by year).

Gage Gubrud (Gr.), EWU grad transfer, 9,984 pass yds, 87 TD, 2x Walter Payton Award winner (top FCS offensive player)
Anthony Gordon (RS-Sr.), 4th season at WSU, 3 games played in 2018, 3-for-5 (17 yards)
Trey Tinsley (RS-Sr.), 4th season at WSU, FG holder in 2017-18, 4 games played at QB (7-of-9 (63 yards, 1 TD)
John Bledsoe (RS-So.), Redshirted 2017, did not appear in a game in 2018
Cammon Cooper (RS-Fr.), 2018 4-star signee, Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, Redshirted 2018
Gunner Cruz (Fr.), 2019 HS All-American QB, 3-star, enrolled in January, No. 14 passing QB prospect

MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Now in his 18th season as a head coach, Mike Leach owns a 133-83 career record including a 49-40 mark at WSU, now in his eighth season in Pullman. 
- Leach's 49 wins at WSU, 3rd-most in school history, O.E. Hollingberry (93, 1926-42), Mike Price (83, 1989-2002) 
- Leach is the 1st Cougar head coach in school history to lead WSU to four straight bowl games
- Leach is tied with Mike Price for the most bowl appearances with 5
- Leach was the 2nd Cougar Head Coach to be named National Coach of the Year (2018 AFCA), Mike Price in 1997
- Leach has been named a George Munger Coach of the Year semifinalist (2016, 2017, 2018) 
- Leach was the 2015 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
- WSU has led the Pac-12 in passing in 6 of Leach's 7 seasons, only finishing 2nd behind Cal (Jared Goff) in 2013 
- WSU has led the nation in passing three times under Leach (2014, 2015, 2018)

FRIENDLY CONFINES OF MARTIN STADIUM
Washington State saw its 13-game home winning streak snapped in the 2018 Apple Cup, ending the Cougars third-longest home winning streak in program history and at the time, was tied for the 5th-longest active home streak in the country. WSU went 6-1 at home in 2018 after going a program-best 7-0 in 2017.

FOUR FORMER WALK-ONS EARN SCHOLARSHIPS
This past summer, the Cougars awarded scholarships to four former walk-ons. (stats prior to 2019) 
Karson Block (RS-Sr., DL), Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 12 GP, 11 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack
Oscar Draguicevich III (RS-Jr., P), All-Pac-12 HM, 2nd in Pac-12 with WSU record 45.7 avg
Clay Markoff (RS-Jr., RB), Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 16 GP, special teams
Armani Marsh (RS-So., CB), 5 career games played, competing for starting CB spot

FOUR COUGS EARN BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Four current Cougars entered the 2019 season already owning their bachelor's degree.
WR Brandon Arcodando (management information systems)
QB Gage Gubrud (business)
OL Robert Valencia (social sciences)
WR Easop Winston Jr. (sociology)

BORGHI NAMED TO DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST
Running back Max Borghi was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. Borghi was one of nine Pac-12 Conference running backs named to the watch list for the award given to the nation's top collegiate running back. Jamal Morrow was named to the same watch list prior to the 2017 season. As a true freshman last season, Borghi was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honorable mention after tying for fifth in the league with 12 total touchdowns, tied for the most total touchdowns by a freshman in WSU single-season history. The Arvada, Colo. native tallied 740 all-purpose yards, rushed for eight touchdowns, averaged 5.1 yards-per-carry and caught 53 passes for four touchdowns.

PATMON NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Senior wide receiver Dezmon Patmon was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. Patmon was one of six Pac-12 Conference wide receivers named to the watch list for the award given to the season's most outstanding FBS receiver in college football. The last Cougar wideout named to the same preseason watch list was Gabe Marks prior to the 2016 season. Patmon had a breakout season as a junior in 2018, catching 61 passes for a team-high 816 yards, good for eighth in the Pac-12 Conference, and also caught five touchdown passes. The San Diego native averaged a team-best 13.4 yards-per-catch, recorded three 100-yard games (Utah, at Stanford, at Colorado) and tied for the team lead with 11 receptions of 20+yards. In the Alamo Bowl win over Iowa State, Patmon caught six passes for 76 yards including a nine-yard touchdown catch. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the season's outstanding FBS receiver in college football. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. 

MAUIGOA NAMED TO RIMINGTON TROPHY, POLYNESIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LISTS
This past summer, senior center Frederick Mauigoa was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List by the Rimington Trophy Committee and to the Polynesian College Player of the Year Watch List by The Polynesian Hall of Fame. Mauigoa is one of 80 centers in the country named to the Rimington Trophy watch list for the award given to the season's most outstanding center in Division I college football. Mauigoa received the same preseason recognition prior to the 2018 season. Mauigoa was one of 62 players named to the watch list for the award presented to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Iliili, American Samoa native received the same recognition prior to last season and former Cougar All-American defensive lineman Hercules Mata'afa won the award in 2017. Mauigoa earned All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention last season after starting all 13 games at center and blocked for the nation's top passing offense. The Cougar offensive line blocked for 24 rushing touchdowns, allowed the eighth-fewest sacks in the country and was one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's best offensive line. The American Samoa native has started 25 straight games at center for the Cougars. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football.

LUCAS NAMED TO OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST
Redshirt-sophomore right tackle Abraham Lucas was named to the 2019 Outland Trophy Watch List by the Football Writers Association of America prior to the season. Lucas was one of 12 players from the Pac-12 Conference named to the award watch list given to the top interior lineman in college football. Former Cougar left guard Cody O'Connell earned the same honor prior to the 2017 season. As a redshirt-freshman last season, Lucas started all 13 games at right tackle and earned Freshman All-America honors from the USA Today and The Athletic and also garnered All-Pac-12 second-team accolades. The Everett, Wash. native was rated the No. 14 offensive tackle in the country and second-best pass-blocking tackle in 2018 by ProFootballFocus.com.

HARRIS NAMED TO PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST
Redshirt-sophomore wide receiver and kick returner Travell Harris was named to the 2019 Paul Hornung Award Watch List by the Louisville Sports Commission prior to the season. Harris was one of 44 players named to the award watch list given to the most versatile player in major college football. Former running back Jamal Morrow was last named to the same watch list prior to the 2017 season. As a redshirt-freshman last season, Harris earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a kick returner after leading the conference in kick return average (27.6), good for sixth-best in the country. The Tampa, Fla. native recorded six kick returns of 30+ yards in 2018 and picked up Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Washington. As a receiver, Harris caught 27 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown and also earned Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention after posting a 3.29 cumulative GPA last fall.

DRAGUICEVICH NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST
Redshirt-junior punter Oscar Draguicevich III was named to the Ray Guy Award by The Augusta Sports Council prior to the season. For the second straight season, Draguicevich III was one of four punters from the Pac-12 Conference named to the award watch list given to the nation's top collegiate punter. In his first season with the Cougars, Draguicevich III was named All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention after finishing second in the league with a 45.7 punting average, a WSU single-season record and good for seventh-best in the country. The Hutto, Texas native recorded 13 punts of 50+ yards and put 15 punts inside the 20 including a pair inside the 20 in the Alamo Bowl win over Iowa State.

GUBRUD NAMED TO UNITAS GOLDEN ARM AWARD WATCH LIST
Graduate quarterback Gage Gubrud was named to the 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation prior to the season. Gubrud was one of 49 quarterbacks named to the watch list for the award presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback. Former Cougar quarterbacks Gardner Minshew II won the award last season and Luke Falk was a finalist for the award in 2016. Gubrud arrived at WSU as a graduate transfer this past spring after a record-setting four years at Eastern Washington. The McMinnville, Ore. native set three career, 11 season and seven single-game school records at EWU, posted a 21-7 record as a starter and threw for 9,984 yards and 86 touchdowns and won the 2016 FCS Player of the Year Award.

COUGAR WIDE RECEIVER NOTES (Ratings Based On PFF College)
- Washington State had at least nine players catch a pass in 12 of 13 games
- WSU had 8 different receivers lead the team in receiving
- WSU had 7 players record 30+ receptions, most by any team in the country
- 10 different receivers recorded 10-plus receptions and 9 receivers recorded 20-plus receptions in 2018
- WSU led the country in passing in 2014 (477.7), 2015 (389.5) and 2018 (373.8)
- 4 different receivers recorded 100-yard games in 2018, Tay Martin (EWU, at Oregon State, Arizona), Dezmon Patmon (Utah, at Stanford, at Colorado), Easop Winston Jr. (at USC, Utah) and Jamire Calvin (at Stanford)
- Tay Martin was 5th in Pac-12 in receptions (69) and tied for 5th TD catches (8)
- Easop Winston Jr. was tied for 5th in Pac-12 in TD catches (8), caught 2 game-winners (Utah, Cal)
- Winston Jr.'s 89-yard TD catch against Utah tied for 8th-longest TD catch in the country this season, tied for the longest in the Pac-12 in 2018 and longest by a Coug since Vince Mayle's 90-yarder against California in 2014
- Dezmon Patmon was 8th in Pac-12 in receiving yards (816), led team with 41 catches for 1st downs
- Martin led the team with 11 3rd-down catches that resulted in a 1st down, Jamire Calvin was 2nd with 10
- Calvin caught 3 passes for 102 yards at Stanford, his 1st career 100-yard game

ALL-PURPOSE, ALL THE TIME
The Cougar running backs serve all-purpose roles for the Air Raid. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Cougar backs combined to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving and last season, the group just missed on making it three straight seasons, combining for 974 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards and 28 total TD.

COUGAR RUNNING BACK NOTES (Ratings based on 2018 PFF College)
- Max Borghi was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honorable mention, 12 total TD, 740 all-purpose yards 
- WSU rushed for 24 TD in 2018 after rushing for 8 TD last season
- WSU running backs combined to lead all Pac-12 running backs groups with 145 receptions, 2nd with 28 total TD
- Max Borghi tied for 5th in the Pac-12 with 12 total TD, 2nd in the country in catches by a RB (53)
- Borghi had an impressive collegiate debut at Wyoming, scoring 2 TD, one receiving and one rushing
- In his return to his home state (at Colorado), Borghi had a 28-yard TD catch

NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
The 2018 Cougar offensive line featured three new faces and emerged as one of the best in groups in the country. The 2019 group returns four starters but will have to replace 2019 NFL 1st-round pick and All-American left tackle Andre Dillard. Senior center Fred Mauigoa has started 26 straight games and has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the second straight season. Redshirt-junior Josh Watson returns after starting the first 12 games of last season at right guard, only missing the Alamo Bowl, while redshirt-sophomore Abraham Lucas  returns at right tackle after earning Freshman All-America honors last season. Redshirt-junior Liam Ryan started all 13 games at left guard last season and has moved to left tackle while sixth-year senior Robert Valencia returns and is expected to start at left guard after starting the Alamo Bowl at right guard where he earned the WSU "Bone Award" given to the team's offensive lineman of the game.

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES (Ratings based on 2018 PFF College)
- WSU returns 65 starts to its 2019 offensive line, the most starts returning since starting 2016 with 69 starts
- WSU produced the nation's best passing attack in 2018, rated the 2nd-best pass-blocking line in the country
- WSU allowed just 13 sacks this season on 677 pass attempts, fewest sacks allowed in the Pac-12 and tied for 8th-fewest allowed in the country, allowed one sack for every 52 pass attempts
- WSU blocked for 24 rushing TD and saw Cougar running backs average 4.6 yards-per-carry
- Abraham Lucas (RT) was named a Freshman All-American by USA Today, The Athletic, All-Pac-12 2nd Team
- Lucas was rated the 14th-best OT in the country, 2nd-best pass-blocking OT in the country, did not allow a sack
- Liam Ryan (LG) was rated the 6th-best pass-blocking OG in the country, 2nd-best screen-blocking OG
- Fred Mauigoa (C) started 25 straight games, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, Rimington Trophy Watch List

SPEED D STRIKES AGAIN
WSU Speed D finished last season:
- 5th in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (23.3), 9th-best in WSU single-season history
- 1st in the Pac-12 in sacks (38), 25th in the country and tied for 9th-most in WSU single-season history
- 1st in the Pac-12 with 15 players who recorded a sack
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss (88), tied for 31st in the country and 10th-most in WSU single-season history
- tied for 2nd in the Pac-12 in takeaways (23), 28th in the country
- tied for 3rd in the Pac-12 in 3rd-down defense (36.0%), 36th in the country
- 3rd in the Pac-12 in rush defense (141.5), 38th in the country
- 4th in the Pac-12 in total defense (359.2), 42th in the country

COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER NOTES (Ratings based on 2018 PFF College)
- Jahad Woods (LB) earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, 2nd on the team in tackles (82), 2nd in Pac-12 with 4 FF
- Dominick Silvels (RUSH) tied for 10th in Pac-12 in sacks (4.5)
- Willie Taylor III (RUSH) was rated 3rd-best OLB pass rusher in the Pac-12, 4 sacks, 17 QB hurries
- Skyler Thomas (FS), 1st season as a starter, is 3rd on team in tackles (76), had 2 INT (CAL, UW)

NEW FACES MADE MARK FOR SPECIAL TEAMS
Cougar special teams saw new faces at punter, kicker and kick returner, and all produced big numbers in 2018.
- Punter Oscar Draguicevich III earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, produced 13 punts of 50+ yards and put 15 punts inside the 20 while averaging 45.7 yards per punt, tied for 7th in the country (The minimum to qualify for NCAA stats is 3.6 punts/g, Draguicevich III averaged 3.5 punts/g)
- Kick returner Travell Harris was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a kick returner, 6th in the country in kickoff return avg (27.6), had a 100-yard kickoff return for TD against Eastern Washington, PFF College credited Harris with a 102-yard kickoff return, the longest in the country in 2018, WSU's first kick return for a touchdown since 2016
- Harris also recorded a 38-yard kick return against Oregon, a 46-yarder against Cal, a 34-yarder against Arizona, a 47-yarder in the Apple Cup against Washington and a 45-yarder against Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl
- Kicker Blake Mazza made 10 field goals with a long of 50 at USC
- Mazza led Pac-12 kickers in extra points (60), most in WSU season history, and was 3rd in points (90)
- Mazza's 42-yard game-winning field goal at Stanford was WSU's first game-winning field in the final minute since Andrew Furney hit from 27 yards in overtime to beat Washington in 2012
- Kainoa Wilson blocked punt at Oregon State punt that was returned five yards for a touchdown by Tristan Brock, was the first blocked punt for WSU since 2015 at UCLA and the first  blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2003

WSU special teams finished 2018:
- 1st in the Pac-12 in net punting (40.9), 11th in the country
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in kickoff return (27.1), 5th in the country
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in kickoff coverage (20.3

COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Washington State University Head Football Coach Mike Leach announced last January that Roc Bellantoni and Dennis Slutak have been added to the Cougar football staff, with Bellantoni coaching linebackers and Slutak serving as the director of football operations. 

ROC BELLANTONI
Over his 26-year coaching career, Bellantoni has coached the defensive line and linebackers, served as defensive coordinator at three different stops, and reached the FCS playoffs six different times, to go with a bowl appearance in 2018 while with the University at Buffalo. He has mentored 16 players who played professionally, including three NFL Draft picks. Bellantoni recently completed his second season at Buffalo, where he served as defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator in 2018. Bellantoni arrived at Buffalo from Florida Atlantic where he spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator. He served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at FAU from 2014-16. Prior to FAU, he coached the defensive line and special teams at Villanova. The 2013 Villanova team finished the season ranked No. 6 in the NCAA SRS rankings. A graduate of Iona, Bellantoni gained his most coaching experience at Eastern Illinois. 

DENNIS SLUTAK
Slutak arrived in Pullman having spent the previous four seasons as the Director of Football Operations at UNLV. He also served as the Director of Football Operations at Bowling Green in 2013, where the Falcons went 10-4 and reached the Little Ceasars Bowl in his lone season. Prior to Bowling Green, Slutak spent three seasons at the University of Washington (2009-2011) as the Assistant AD for Football Operations and another four years at the University of Southern California (2005-2008) as the Director of Football Operations. Prior to taking over the football operations at USC, Slutak coached Special Teams for the Trojans in 2003 and 2004, winning two consecutive National Championships.  He's also previously coached at Ole Miss, North Carolina State and Lehigh University, where he won a Patriot League Championship in 1995. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he was a punter at Florida State University.