SPOKANE — Washington State football coach Paul Wulff welcomes 41 returning lettermen as spring drills begin Thursday following one of the worst seasons in program history.
Washington State (2-11) will be a better team this year, Wulff predicted. Last season, the Cougars were among the nation’s worst in both offense and defense.
“I definitely think we’ll be much improved,” Wulff said.
Quarterbacks Kevin Lopina, J.T. Levenseller and Dan Wagner are fully cleared to practice. Marshall Lobbestael is still recovering from knee surgery. He can throw in individual drills, but is not yet cleared for team sessions, the coach said.
While it may be difficult to settle on a starter after spring drills, “it would be nice to see someone perform at a high, high level,” Wulff said.
The Cougars will practice through April 25, with scrimmages on April 11, 18 and 25.
Wulff, in his second season leading his alma mater, said last season did not shake his confidence that he can improve this team.
“There are certain fundamental things that work,” he said. “They work everywhere, they have worked forever and they will work for a long time.”
The Cougars did not fully buy into some of those approaches last year, but he expects that a second year under his system will pay quicker dividends.
The Cougars beat archrival Washington for their only Pacific-10 win, and lower division Portland State for their only other victory.
There are eight returning starters on offense: linemen Kenny Alfred, B.J. Guerra, Micah Hannam and Andrew Roxas; receivers Jeshua Anderson and Kevin Norrell; Lopina and running back Dwight Tardy.
Also back are receiver Daniel Blackledge and Jared Karstetter and running back Logwone Mitz.
There are six returning starters on defense, including linebacker Louis Bland; safeties Xavier Hicks, Chima Nwachukwu, and Tyree Toomer; defensive back Romeo Pellum, who is suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules, and defensive tackle Toby Turpin.
In addition, Andy Mattingly is expected to move from the defensive line back to linebacker.
Punter Reid Forrest and kickers Nico Grasu and Patrick Rooney are also back.
Wulff complained repeatedly last year that the players he found in the program were too small and too weak to win in the Pac-10, and stressed that they needed to spend more time in the weight room.
He said that has happened.
“The workouts have gone very well,” Wulff said. “Our players will be stronger this year.”
That should prevent some of the injuries that devastated last year’s team, he said.
But the Cougars are banged up heading into spring ball, after numerous offseason surgeries.
Alfred will not participate in spring drills as he recovers from hip surgery. Also limited by surgery is Hannam (shoulder), Brian Danaher (shoulder) and Tyson Pencer (shoulder). Running backs Chris Ivory (hamstring) and Chantz Staden (knee) are also slowed.
On the defense, lineman Jessy Sanchez (shoulder) and linebackers Myron Beck (back) and Hallston Higgins (shoulder) are still recovering from earlier surgeries and not at full strength.
Wulff remains committed to running a no-huddle offense.
“We believe that the no-huddle offense is best for what we want to do, but after injuries last year and our youth, we had to get away from it,” he said. “It will be back this spring and will be key in our offensive development.”
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