COUGARS HEAD TO No. 19 UTAH FOR SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN
Washington State (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) hits the road for a Saturday night matchup at No. 19 Utah (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) at 7 p.m. (PT) on FOX Sports 1.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU leads the all-time series with Utah 9-7 and have won the last four meetings including a 28-24 win in Pullman last season. The Cougars also own a 5-3 mark in Salt Lake City, having won the last two meetings (2014, 2017). In the 2017 meeting in Salt Lake City, Luke Falk became the Pac-12's all-time leader in passing TDs and Hercules Mata'afa recorded five TFL including three sacks in a 33-25 road victory.

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 streak reached 230  last Saturday after appearing in Athens, Ga. for the Notre Dame-Georgia game. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) 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. 

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State entered the week with a 3-1 record after dropping its Pac-12 Conference opener 67-63 to UCLA in Pullman last Saturday. The Cougars are receiving votes in the Associated Press Poll. The Air Raid leads the nation in the passing (499.5), is second in total offense (605.2) and fifth in scoring (52.8). The Cougar defense entered the week fifth in the country in takeaways (10) including a national-best seven fumble recoveries. Head coach Mike Leach is in his eighth season at Washington State.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU leads the country in passing (499.5), is 2nd in total offense (605.2) and 5th in scoring (52.8)
•  WSU has seen 19 players make their WSU debuts this season and 12 make their 1st career start
•  Since 2015, WSU owns 40 wins, 2nd-most among Pac-12 schools (UW 42, Stan & 41)
•  Since 2015, WSU owns 26 Pac-12 wins, 2nd-most among all Pac-12 schools (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 beaten Utah in four straight meetings for the first time in program history
•  WSU has produced an All-America offensive lineman in each of the last 4 seasons
•  WSU's roster features players from 19 states and from British Columbia, American Samoa and Australia

INDIVIDUAL
•  Mike Leach owns 52 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)
•  QB Anthony Gordon leads the country in passing TD (21), passing yards (1,894), passing yards/g (473.5)
•  Gordon set WSU and Pac-12 single-game records with 9 touchdown passes against UCLA
•  Gordon has won 2 of the first 4 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week Awards (Week 1, Week 3)
•  RB Max Borghi is tied for 9th in the country with 6 total TD, 4th in the Pac-12 with 122.5 all-purpose yards/g
•  WR Easop Winston Jr. leads the country with 8 TD receptions, is 3rd in the Pac-12 with 26 catches

COUGARS IN THE RANKINGS
Washington State dropped from the rankings this week after appearing at No. 19 in last week's Associated Press Poll. The Cougars started the season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, marking the second time in the last three seasons appearing in the preseason AP poll and just the fourth time since 1952. The Cougars finished 2018 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. 

WSU-UTAH CONNECTIONS
There are a couple connections between the Washington State and Utah programs.
- WSU head coach Mike Leach is 4-1 all-time against Utah
- Coach Leach graduated from BYU in 1983
- WSU's roster features 2 players from Utah, QB Cammon Cooper and CB William Overstreet, both from Lehi HS

AIR RAID
The Air Raid opened has put up big numbers in 2019
- Week 1 vs. New Mexico State, 6 passing TD to 5 different WR, 618 yards of total offense, Max Borghi 128 rushing yards 
- Week 2 vs. Northern Colorado, 4 players caught TD passes, 2 had rushing TDs, 594 yards in total offense
- Week 3 at Houston, 440 passing yards, 7.3 yards-per-play
- Week 4 vs. UCLA, 63 points, 720 yards of total offense, 570 passing yards, 9 passing TDs, 150 rushing yards
- Against UCLA, the 2 teams combined to set a Pac-12 single-game record with 130 points, WSU's 720 yards of total offense is 2nd-most in WSU single-game history, Anthony Gordon's 9 TD passes was a WSU/Pac-12 record
- WSU leads the country in passing (499.5), is 2nd in total offense (605.2) and 5th in scoring (52.8)
- WSU has seen Max Borghi post a pair of 100-yard rushing games (NMSU, UCLA)
- WSU has led the Pac-12 in passing in 6 of Mike Leach's 7 seasons, finishing 2nd to Cal (Jared Goff) in 2013 
- WSU has led the nation in passing three times under Mike Leach (2014, 2015, 2018)

MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Now in his 18th season as a head coach, Mike Leach owns a 136-84 career record including a 52-41 mark at WSU, now in his eighth season in Pullman. 
- Leach's 52 wins at WSU are 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

FRIENDLY CONFINES OF MARTIN STADIUM
WSU went 7-0 at home in 2017, 6-1 last season and own a 2-1 mark in 2019 to push their Martin Stadium record to 15-2 over the past three seasons. The Cougars saw their 13-game home winning streak snapped in the 2018 Apple Cup, ending the third-longest home winning streak in program history and at the time, was tied for the 5th-longest active home streak in the country. 

YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELD 
- 19 players made their WSU debuts in 2019; CB Derrick Langford, DB Daniel Isom, RB Deon McIntosh, FS Bryce Beekman, OL Hunter Mayginnes, LS Tyler Williams, DL Brennan Jackson, LB Travion Brown, DL Nicholas Sheetz, QB Gage Gubrud, DL Lamonte McDougle, WR Brandon Gray, DB Chad Davis Jr., DB Shahman Moore, OL Cade Beresford, LS Simon Samarzich, WR Mitchell Quinn, OL Seth Yost, WR Lucas Bacon, DL Cosmas Kwete
- 12 have made their first career start; CB Armani Marsh, END Karson Block, NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei, FS Bryce Beekman, SS Daniel Isom, QB Anthony Gordon, X Rodrick Fisher, Liam Ryan made his first career start at left tackle, Tyler Williams as the field goal longsnapper, Simon Samarzich as the longsnapper on punts, CB Derrick Langford, CB George Hicks III
- 10 freshman have made their collegiate debuts including 4 true freshman; LB Travion Brown, DL Cosmas Kwete, LS Simon Samarzich, DL Nicholas Sheetz
- In his 1st career start week 1 against New Mexico State, RS-Fr. WR Rodrick Fisher caught a 41-yard TD pass
- In the week 2 win over Northern Colorado, LB Travion Brown made 8 tackles
- In his collegiate debut at Houston, true freshman DL Cosmas Kwete made 3 tackles and recovered a fumble

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
The Cougar roster features a number of players who have family members who played professional sports. 
- QB John Bledsoe's dad, Drew Bledsoe played at WSU from 1990-92, was the No. 1 overall pick by the New England Patriots in the 1993 NFL Draft and played 14 seasons
- LB Travion Brown's great, great uncle is Jackie Robinson (dad's side)
- P Oscar Draguicevich III's dad, Oscar played professional soccer for 10 seasons including three for the San Jose Clash of the MLS
- WR Calvin Jackson Jr.'s dad Calvin Sr. played DB at Auburn, played 6 NFL seasons with Miami
- CB Derrick Langford's dad Derrick Sr. was a 52nd-round MLB draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1994
- NT Lamonte McDougle's dad, Stocker played OL at Oklahoma for offensive line coach Mike Leach and 7 NFL seasons, uncle Jerome McDougle played DL at Miami and 4 NFL seasons
- RB Deon McIntosh' brother RJ played DL at Miami and is with the Giants
- WR Dezmon Patmon uncle, DeWayne Patmon played LB at Michigan and 2 seasons for Giants
- DL Will Rodgers III's uncle is former NBA start Jason Richardson, played 13 NBA seasons
- S Tyrese Ross' dad, Dominique Ross played FB for Dallas Cowboys in late 1990's
- RUSH Ron Stone Jr.'s dad, Ron Sr. played OL in the NFL for 13 seasons, 3x Pro Bowler, 2x Super Bowl Winner
- CB Marcus Strong's brother, Victor played DE at Oregon State and in the NFL for 6 seasons
- QB Trey Tinsley's dad, Scott played QB at USC and for Philadelphia Eagles in late 1980's

GORDON SHINES IN STARTING DEBUT (Ratings Based On PFF College)
Not much was known about redshirt-senior quarterback Anthony Gordon outside of the program prior to his first career start in the opener against New Mexico State but the Pacifica, Calif. native put on a show in the win. Gordon started the game by completing his first 15 passes and led WSU to points on all nine of the drives he started including the first six that resulted in touchdowns. Gordon finished the night 29-of-35 for 420 yards and five touchdowns, tying Luke Falk (2014 at OSU) for the most touchdown passes in a Cougar starting debut. 

- Gordon leads the country in passing TD (21), passing yards (1,894), passing yards/g (473.5)
- Gordon is 9th in the country in completion pct (74.9)
- Gordon is rated the 3rd-best QB in the country, trailing LSU's Joe Burrow and Ohio State's Justin Fields
- Gordon is tied for the national lead with 7 passing TD when making throws 20+ yards downfield
- Of Gordon's 21 passing TD, 10 have gone for 20+ yards
- Gordon is the 1st QB in program history to start a season with four 400-yard games
- Gordon's 15 straight completions to start week 1 was 2nd-longest in WSU history (Luke Falk, 21, Arizona, 2016)
- Gordon's 9 passing TD against UCLA was a WSU and Pac-12 Conference single-game record
- Gordon's 570 yards against UCLA was 3rd-most in WSU and Pac-12 single-game history
- Against UCLA, Gordon completed 6 of 9 pass attempts of 20+ yards for 175 yards, 3 TDs, and a 149.3 ProFootballFocus passer rating, tied for the best rating among FBS QBs with more than 5 deep attempts
- Following week 1 win over New Mexico State (420 yards, 5 pass TD), Gordon was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week, 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week
- Following week 3 win at Houston (440 yards, 3 pass TD), Gordon was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week, 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week
- Following week 4 against UCLA (570 yards, 9 pass TD), Gordon was named 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week

GORDON PICKED UP SECOND PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Quarterback Anthony Gordon was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week after the road win at Houston. In his first career road start, Gordon went 36-of-48 for 440 yards and three touchdown passes in the 31-24 victory at Houston. Gordon erased a seven-point halftime deficit by throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns to help WSU start 3-0 for the third straight season. 

GORDON, RYAN EARNED WEEK ONE PAC-12 WEEKLY ACCOLADES
Washington State earned a pair of Pac-12 Conference weekly accolades following the week one win over New  Mexico State as quarterback Anthony Gordon was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week and left tackle Liam Ryan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week. It was the first career weekly award for each. In his first career start, Gordon went 29-of-35 for 420 yards with five touchdown passes, completed his first 15 passes and led the Cougars to points on all nine of the drives he started including touchdowns on the first six drives. In his first career start at left tackle, Ryan picked up the Pac-12's first Offensive Lineman of the Week Award after anchoring a line that blocked for six touchdown passes, allowed just one sack on 49 pass attempts and produced WSU's first 100-yard rusher since 2016. 

IT'S A CITY SITUATION
Since 2015, the Cougars have seen six players from San Francisco City College take the field and the 2019 roster holds four players from the school; QB Anthony Gordon, WR Easop Winston Jr., OL Robert Valencia, CB Derrick Langford. Past Cougars who played at SFCC, DB Shalom Luani (2015-16) and S/KR Rob Taylor (2016-17)
- In their only season played together at SFCC in 2015, Winston Jr. tallied 62 receptions for 986 yards and 12 touchdowns while Gordon threw for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns, leading SFCC to a 2015 California JUCO title
- In 2019, Gordon has connected with Winston Jr. for 26 receptions for 348 yards and 8 TD
- In the week 2 win over Northern Colorado, Gordon connected on all 6 of his targets at Winston Jr. for 6-113-2 TD
- In week 4 against UCLA, Gordon threw 4 TD to Winston Jr., tying the WSU record for receiving TD
- Gordon has connected with Winston Jr. for a TD pass in all 4 games in 2019

COUGAR WIDE RECEIVER NOTES (Ratings Based On PFF College)
- Easop Winston Jr. leads the country in TD catches (8), 3rd in receptions (26), 5th in rec yards (348)
- Winston Jr. owns the nation's best WR rating when getting thrown at, has 5th-best overall WR grade in Pac-12
- Winston Jr. caught a career-high 10 catches for 114 yards and 4 TD against UCLA, 4th career 100-yard game
- Winston Jr.'s 4 TD catches against UCLA tied WSU single-game record (Gabe Marks, 2015, at Arizona)
- Winston Jr. leads the team with 7 catches of 20+ catches including 3 that went for TD
- Winston Jr. had 113 rec yards and 2 TD week 2 against Northern Colorado, his 3rd career 100-yard game 
- Brandon Arconado is 4th in the Pac-12 with 25 receptions, 4th with 348 receiving yards
- Arconado was targeted by Anthony Gordon 10 times at Houston, finished with 9 catches for 117 yards
- Arconado made a career-high 9 catches and tallied 117 yards at Houston, his 2nd 100-yard game
- Arconado set then-career-highs with 8 rec, 127 yards, 1 TD vs. Northern Colorado, his 1st career 100-yard game
- Dezmon Patmon notched 103 rec yards against NMSU in week 1, his 4th career 100-yard game
- Consecutive games with a catch: Patmon (24), Martin (23), Winston Jr. (17), Max Borghi (17)
- WSU owns 3 of the top 8 rated slot receivers in the country, Travell Harris (4), Arconado (7), Renard Bell (8)
- WSU owns 3 of the top 6 Pac-12 receivers with the most yards-after-the-catch
Travell Harris, 3rd, 166; Tay Martin, 5th, 137; Winston Jr., 5th, 137
- WSU opened 2019 with 10 different receivers catching a pass against New Mexico State, 5 caught TDs
- 9 players caught a pass against Northern Colorado, at Houston, UCLA

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. The group just missed making it three straight seasons last year, combining for 974 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards and 28 total TD.

COUGAR RUNNING BACK NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Max Borghi is tied for 2nd in the Pac-12 with 6 total TD, 8th-most in the country
- Borghi's 4 rushing TD are tied for 2nd-most in the Pac-12, is 4th in the Pac-12 averaging 81.2 yards/g
- Borghi is 4th in the Pac-12 averaging 122.5 all-purpose yards/g, had a career-high 203 last week against UCLA
- Borghi owns 5 runs of 15+ yards, tied for the most in the Pac-12, tied for Pac-12 lead with 2 100-yard games
- Borghi's 3 plays of 50+ yards are tied for most in Pac-12
- Borghi's 13 receptions are tied for 7th-most catches by a RB in the country, leads all Pac-12 RB
- Borghi recorded his 1st career 100-yard game (128 yards vs. NMSU), the 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar running back since Gerard Wicks rushed for 128 against Cal in 2016
- Borghi followed with 3 total TD (2 rush, 1 rec) in week 2 win over Northern Colorado, 1st career 3-TD game
- Borghi's 54-yard carry against UNC week 2 is the 2nd-longest run by a Pac-12 RB in 2019
- Borghi recorded his 2nd career 100-yard game with 123 rushing yards against UCLA, also had 65-yard TD catch
- Borghi's 65-yard TD catch and run against UCLA is WSU's longest play from scrimmage in 2019
- Borghi's 53 catches last season were the 2nd-most in the country by a RB, trailing James Williams' 83
- Deon McIntosh's 32-yard TD run against Northern Colorado was his 1st WSU TD after he rushed for 5 TD at Notre Dame in 2017
- McIntosh started along side Borghi last week against UCLA, recording his 1st career WSU start

ANOTHER NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
Last year's Cougar offensive line featured three new faces and emerged as one of the best in groups in the country. The 2019 group returned four starters but had to replace 2019 NFL 1st-round pick and All-American left tackle Andre Dillard. Senior center Fred Mauigoa has started 30 straight games and was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List the past two seasons. Redshirt-junior Josh Watson returned after starting the first 12 games of last season at right guard, only missing the Alamo Bowl, while redshirt-sophomore Abraham Lucas returned 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 moved to left tackle while sixth-year senior Robert Valencia returned and  has started the first three games 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 PFF College)
- LT Liam Ryan is tied as the best screen-blocking OT in the country
- LG Robert Valencia is tied for the 2nd-best screen-blocking OG in the country, tops among Pac-12 OG
- Fred Mauigoa (C) has started 30 straight games, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, 2x Rimington Trophy Watch List
- RG Josh Watson owns the 2nd-best OG guard in the Pac-12 over the last 3 games, only allowed 2 QB hurries
- RT Abraham Lucas is rated the 2nd-best pass-blocking OT in the Pac-12, 5th-best overall OT in the country
- WSU returned 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 in 2018 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

SPEED D
The "Speed D" defense opened 2019 with familiar numbers and entered the week play fifth in the country with 10 takeways and tied for the national lead with seven fumble recoveries. Last season, WSU led the Pac-12 in sack s(38), was second in the league in takeaways (23), third in rush defense (141.5) and 5th in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (23.3), the 9th-best mark in WSU single-season history.

NEW MEXICO STATE - 3 takeaways, 7 pts, 317 yards of total offense, 3 sacks
NORTHERN COLORADO - 4 takeaways, 139 passing yards allowed, 9 tackles-for-loss
at Houston - 2 takeaways, 128 passing yards allowed, 2 sacks
UCLA - 1 takeaway, 4.1 yards-per-rush attempt allowed, 5 TFL

COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Nnamdi Oguayo (DE) is rated the 2nd-best Pac-12 DE and owns 2nd-best pass-rushing grade
- Oguayo leads WSU in pass rush productivity, tallied 9 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, 1 sack in 139 snaps
- LB Jahad Woods is tied for 4th in the Pac-12 with 36 tackles, made a career-high 12 tackles against UCLA
- Woods is rated the best Pac-12 LB on pass rush productivity, creating pressure on 28.1% of passing snaps
- Woods is rated 2nd-best inside Pac-12 LB on run stop % and 3rd-best Pac-12 LB when in coverage 
- In just 53 snaps played, freshman LB Travion Brown owns 14 tackles, owns 4th-best LB grade by All Pac-12 LB
- NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei owns the Pac-12's 2nd-best pass rush grade among all Pac-12 DT/NT
- DT Will Rodgers III is rated the 2nd-best pass-rushing DT/NT in the Pac-12, leads team with 2 sacks

COUGAR SPECIAL TEAMS 
- PK Blake Mazza has connected on all 5 field goal attempts, matched his career long of 50 vs. New Mexico State
- KR Travell Harris did not have a chance to return a kick until the Houston game and made the most of it, averaging 28.7 yards on 3 returns including a 37-yarder
- PR Easop Winston Jr. had a career-long 45-yard punt return against UCLA
- Last season, KR Travell Harris led the Pac-12 in return average and had six kickoff returns of 30+ yards
- Tyrese Ross and Travion Brown leads the team with 2 special teams tackles
- WSU has a pair of new longsnappers this season, RS-Fr. Tyler Williams (FG), Fr. Simon Samarzich (P)

NEW FACES MADE MARK FOR SPECIAL TEAMS IN 2018
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)
- Travell Harris was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a kick returner last season, good for 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

COUGAR WEEKLY TEAM AWARDS
Following a win, the Cougars name award winners for select groups:

BONE AWARD - given to the offensive lineman of the week
NMSU - LT Liam Ryan, graded out the best, 1 sack in 59 attempts, 6 passing TD, 100-yard rusher    
UNC - RT Abraham Lucas, graded out the best, did not allow a pressure in 41 pass blocking snaps    
at HOU - RG Josh Watson, graded out the best, 440 passing yards, 3 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
UCLA - None

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coaches as top defensive performer
NMSU - CB Marcus Strong, team-high 8 tackles and 1 INT    
UNC - LB Travion Brown, 8 tackles in just 26 snaps    
at HOU - FS Bryce Beekman, 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble
UCLA - None

MECHANIC AWARD - selected by coaches as player who was the best at doing their job
NMSU - WR Dezmon Patmon, 7 catches, 103 yards, 48-yard TD catch, played physical    
UNC - WR Brandon Arconado, set career-highs with 8 catches, 127 yards, 5-yard TD catch     
at HOU - FS Bryce Beekman, team-high 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble
UCLA - None

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coach Matt Brock as the top special teams contributor
NMSU - K Blake Mazza, connected on all 7 PAT, hit all 3 FG attempts (45, 50, 34), matched career long of 50 yards
UNC - KO Jack Crane, produced 3 touchbacks, 3 fair catches, held UNC to 14-yards per kickoff return    
at HOU - KO coverage, Tyrese Ross, 1 tackle, huge hit
UCLA - None

TOUGH GUY AWARD - selected by the coaching staff as player who gave great effort
NMSU - LB Travion Brown, freshman LB played fast all game, made 4 tackles in collegiate debut    
UNC - WR Travell Harris, 3 rec for 44 yards, 16-yard PR, 1 tackle on kickoff,  played every snap of special teams    
at HOU - DL Cosmas Kwete, in collegiate debut, made 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
UCLA - None

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)

COACHING STAFF CHANGES
WSU added Roc Bellantoni as the linebackers coach and Dennis Slutak 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. 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. 

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 Washington (2009-11), four years at USC (2005-08) and also coached Special Teams for the Trojans in 2003 and 2004, winning two consecutive National Championships. He also previously coached at Ole Miss, North Carolina State and Lehigh. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he was a punter at Florida State University.