SAN BRUNO – Washington State defensive back Jaylen Thomas was named the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Thomas, a redshirt-sophomore transfer from San Jose State, picked off two passes and returned the second 50 yards for a touchdown at Kansas State last Saturday. Thomas’ first interception came on a KSU fourth-down pass attempt early in the second quarter and the second saw Thomas race 50 yards to score as time expired to end the first half.
It was the first two-interception game by a Coug since Sam Lockett III picked off two passes at Arizona in 2022 and the first interception return for a touchdown since 2024 (Buddah Al-Uqdah at Oregon State). The two interceptions were the first of Thomas’ career.