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Washington State Football: 5 storylines to follow during 2018 spring ball

By Justin Dottavio

AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 31: Head coach Mike Leach of the Washington State Cougars talks to the referees after a penalty call during the second half of play on August 31, 2013 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. Auburn defeated Washington State 31-24. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 31: Head coach Mike Leach of the Washington State Cougars talks to the referees after a penalty call during the second half of play on August 31, 2013 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. Auburn defeated Washington State 31-24. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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3. Which freshmen will play right away?

Three junior college transfers are expected to play right away for the Washington State Cougars. That trio consists of defensive tackle Jonathan Lolohea from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, linebacker Kendrick Catis from Highland Community College and guard Keenan Forbes from Coffeyville Community College.

In Leach’s book, “Swing Your Sword”, he says that he doesn’t like to bring in a lot of junior college transfers unless they have high-quality character. It’s safe to assume that those three will play right away.

Freshmen expected to play right away will depend on who wins the quarterback battle. Cammon Cooper chose to early enroll and arrive in Pullman in January. This gives him a leg up on the average freshman who arrives in July. Cooper is a 6-foot-4, 202-pound passer from Utah. Leach has started a true freshman before, back when Luke Falk took over the Cougs’ starting quarterback job.

Running back Max Borghi could get immediate playing time as well. Borghi, from Colorado, is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound all-purpose back, per 247Sports. He’s a three-star recruit and early enrollee. With Cougs’ starting running back Jamal Morrow graduating, Borghi will compete with former backup James Williams who only averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 2017.

Rodrick Fisher, a wide receiver from Spokane, Wash., has a clear shot at making an immediate impact for the Cougs. With the dismissal of Tavares Martin Jr. and the release of Isaiah Johnson-Mack, Washington State’s two leading receivers in 2017, there’s an open door for a pass-catcher. Fisher is a four-star recruit joining Cooper as the only two blue chippers of the 2018 class.

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