Well, Saturday did not go the way we had hoped—and hopefully that proves to be the understatement of the season. What’s crazy is that, hidden in a 42–3 halftime deficit, the total yardage difference was just eight. But five turnovers and poorly timed penalties will bury you fast. I tried digging through the stats to make sense of it, but with a game like that, all you can really do is flush it and move on to the next week.
The most interesting storyline heading into this Apple Cup is undoubtedly who will be QB1 this week and moving forward. I’ve been saying Zevi should have at least been getting a few possessions in these early games. His Holiday Bowl performance alone, paired with being a fifth-year senior, makes him a steady option to control the offense. Potter has shown flashes in the first three games, but his inexperience has been costly. Delay-of-game penalties after kickoffs and high throws across the middle are mistakes you can’t afford at the Division I level.
Quarterbacks in the Mix
Jaxon Potter (6’5”, 205 lbs) – Redshirt Sophomore
Our QB1 coming into the season, which surprised me after Zevi’s big showing against Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl—thanks in large part to Kyle Williams being unguardable. Before this year, Potter’s stats were just 2/2 for 26 yards. He’s a true pocket passer with the physical tools to make every throw, but his field vision and inexperience have shown up too often for this team to overcome.
Zevi Eckhaus (6’0”, 209 lbs) – Redshirt Senior
The backup quarterback and heir apparent to help Jimmy Rodgers make the FBS jump. After three years starting at Bryant (FCS), he transferred to Pullman. Highlights at Bryant include being named Conference Offensive Player of the Year, ranking third nationally in yards per game, and totaling 75 passing touchdowns against 25 interceptions (per WSUCougars.com). In his biggest WSU sample—the Holiday Bowl—he threw for 363 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions against Syracuse.
Julian Dugger (6’3”, 208 lbs) – Redshirt Freshman
Probably the best athlete on the roster, Dugger’s speed jumps off the page (11.72 in the 100m dash) and he was a multi-sport star in high school. After a redshirt season at Virginia, he transferred to WSU. His athleticism is elite, but at this point he’s still too raw for anything beyond designed run packages.
Looking ahead, Jimmy Rodgers wants to establish a physical run game with a play-action QB who takes care of the ball. That’s the long-term vision, but the offensive line isn’t built for it yet—and that’s okay in Year 1. For now, Zevi’s willingness to take shots and create big plays might be what this team needs most.
I’d like to see Zevi start against UW. In a big-game atmosphere with a sold-out crowd, there’s nothing more important than experience and composure. Yes, he’ll take risks and might throw a pick, but he’ll also give our playmakers chances downfield.
Potter has had some good moments and could benefit from watching and resetting after his early reps. As for Dugger, I’d like to see him sprinkled in—maybe in some trick plays or special packages—but right now, when he touches the ball, defenses know it’s a run. That predictability makes it tough to use him effectively.