Pac-12 Football: Each team’s most important newcomer for 2020
By Dante Pryor
When Nick Rolovich took over for Mike Leach at Washington State, he probably never expected to inherit a roster without a quarterback with any starting experience. That is exactly what happened. All three of their quarterbacks — starter Anthony Gordon and backups Gabe Gubrud and Trey Tinsley — have graduated.
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The Cougars bring in two quarterbacks this season, New Mexico transfer Will Heckman and Hawai’i-native Jayden de Laura. The latter de Laura was recruited and offered by Hawai’i while Rolovich was still head coach there.
It is serendipity that de Laura comes to Washington State when Rolovich gets hired. He gives his first-year head coach a young quarterback who can make every throw in the book which he will need in the run-and-shoot.
de Laura has some wiggle to him as a runner as well. One of the keys to Rolovich’s offense is ball placement. de Laura puts the ball on the money when he needs to. He gets the ball out quickly and he has the arm to push the ball down the field.
The Honolulu native has to compete with five other quarterbacks on the roster, but he will have every opportunity to start. He upgrades the quarterback room. He along with Cammon Cooper are the two highest-rated quarterbacks in the program.
He’ll have to compete, but de Laura will have every opportunity to start this season