We are hours away from the end of this transfer portal cycle, so it’s time to assess the players who will not be returning to Pullman next year. Jimmy Rodgers has currently landed commitments from 15 players, with many still undecided as the deadline approaches, which comes as no surprise. Overall, this feels very different from last year, when a mass exodus of 59 players forced a complete roster overhaul. Kirby and company must have done a heck of a job hitting the phones and convincing players to buy into what he wants to build on the Palouse.
The players lost to graduation (Tucker Large, Zevi Eckhaus, Caleb Francl, among others) are arguably the biggest losses from last year’s overachieving team, but here are the five most notable players to enter the transfer portal.
Transfers Out: 37 Players
Notables:
EDGE – Isaac Terrell:
By far the biggest loss in the portal, Terrell is following Jimmy Rodgers to Iowa State after a season in which he led the team in both sacks (7) and tackles for loss (9). Terrell is a great player, and his leadership and ferocious work on the defensive line will be thoroughly missed.
QB – Jaxson Potter:
Potter surprisingly won the starting job out of camp over eventual starter Zevi Eckhaus and turned in an impressive performance against a San Diego State defense that proved to be an elite unit over the course of the season. Potter is not a very mobile quarterback, and his fit in Kirby Moore’s system likely would have been clunky. He is transferring to the Sun Belt and joining an Old Dominion program that featured one of the most explosive offenses in the country last year. A step down in competition should benefit Potter.
WR – Carter Pabst:
Another player following Jimmy Rodgers, Pabst earned significant snaps as a true freshman—something few players accomplish. Widely regarded as the team’s best blocking receiver, Pabst’s impact went well beyond the stat sheet. His iconic moment came on a go-route touchdown against Toledo, beating a cornerback who hadn’t allowed a touchdown in two years. It will be fun to see how he develops in Ames.
WR – Devin Ellison:
Ellison was a major portal addition last season and arrived in Pullman with high expectations that never materialized. He finished the year with just three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. What will I remember most? Ellison failing to put his hands out to catch a perfectly thrown ball from Zevi in the fourth quarter against the Huskies, with the game still hanging in the balance.
CB – Kenny Worthy III:
Worthy appeared in all 12 games for the Cougs and served as a fringe starter, turning in a respectable season. His play drew the attention of the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he will suit up next year.