Sep. 16—Just 10 snaps into his senior year, Washington State wide receiver Tony Freeman's season came to a premature, crushing end.
Freeman, Wazzu's anticipated top target, tore his ACL during the first quarter of the Cougars' season opener at Washington on Sept. 6, first-year coach Kirby Moore said in a Monday news conference.
Moore said that Freeman's surgery date was undecided as of Monday and that there is a chance his on-field Cougar career could continue.
"We're all going to be there to support Tony through this," Moore said. "Do think he has the potential to come back with the new five-for-five rule for another season here at Washington State."
Thanks to the NCAA's recent amendment to its eligibility rules, all student-athletes receive five years of collegiate sports eligibility, replacing the redshirt system. This is Freeman's third season at the NCAA Division I level following one year of junior college at San Mateo (Calif.).
The 5-foot-8, 174-pound speedster was WSU's second-leading receiver with 54 receptions for 590 yards and three touchdowns last season. He also turned in a sixth-best-in-the-country 17.3 yards per punt return, totaling 415 yards on 24 returns with a long of 59.
Freeman's noncontact injury occurred early in WSU's 24-10 Apple Cup loss to the Huskies. He spent several minutes on the turf, tended to by trainers and the team doctor, before walking off the field and reemerging on the sideline in street clothes and on crutches.
The team did not publicly rule him out for the remainder of the season until an MRI and other medical treatment could be conducted. Freeman missed the Cougars' 34-7 loss at Kansas State on Saturday, in which the team did not score any offensive points for the first time since a 2010 blowout loss to Arizona State during the Paul Wulff era.
With Freeman out, WSU turns to its remaining wide receivers to make an impact, with their next test coming in the home opener against Duquesne (Pa.) of the Football Championship Subdivision at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Gesa Field.
Junior wide receiver Branden Ganashamoorthy spent every offensive snap on the field against Kansas State. It led to one catch for 11 yards to extend the Cougars' opening drive. It was WSU's first successful third-down conversion of the season after going 0-for-11 on third down at UW.
Daniel Blood and Darrius Clemons joined Ganashamoorthy in what proved to be a three-man rotation. Blood is leading the Cougs in receiving with seven catches for 71 yards, while Clemons has corralled six passes for 67 yards. Most of that came in the Apple Cup.
WSU sophomore Caden Pinnick became the first Cougar quarterback since Jeff Tuel in 2010 to pass for fewer than 100 yards in a single game.
Sophomore receiver Tank Hawkins, whose mold as a speedy, deep-ball threat resembles that of Freeman on paper, spent just one snap on the field — the first one.
Getting Hawkins and some of WSU's other pass-catchers involved is a priority, Moore said.
"Yeah, we have to. We have to create better rhythm on offense," Moore said. "We've got to get more guys involved, and yeah, we've got to create more explosive plays."
More injury updates
The Cougar defense, which conceded 487 total yards to Kansas State, was short-staffed Saturday, particularly at cornerback.
Senior corners Khamari Terrell and Jalil Tucker did not play at K-State. Terrell was dealing with a concussion he suffered during practice last week, while Tucker was on the mend following a collision with a UW receiver while breaking up a deep pass in the Apple Cup.
Both are expected to play Saturday, Moore said.
Defensive ends Mike Hughes and Malachi Wrice will miss some time, too. Hughes is dealing with a leg injury and will be out "a couple weeks," Moore said, while Wrice is week-to-week.
Jaylen Thomas earns weekly award
Following the first two interceptions of sophomore safety Jaylen Thomas' career — the second of which he returned 50 yards to the end zone for a pick-6 — Thomas was named the Pac-12's defensive player of the week.
Thomas' first pick came on fourth-and-8 at the WSU 31-yard line and gave the Cougs the ball at midfield.
His second interception and ensuing touchdown supercharged Wazzu, making a 17-0 game a 10-point contest heading into halftime.
"I love Jaylen Thomas, just working with him on a daily basis," Moore said. "He's a student of the game. He works his tail off. He's up on the fifth floor (of the Cougar Football Complex) multiple hours outside of the players' hours meeting with (safeties) coach (Greg) Burns, talking with (defensive coordinator Trent) Bray, and I think that's shown up on the field."
Footlong nachos among offerings at WSU football games
WSU announced expanded dining options for its home opener, including footlong nachos, a walking taco in a Doritos nacho cheese chip bag and at least 11 different alcohol offerings. Those drink options include Corona, Coors Light, Blue Moon and unspecified Deschutes-branded products, according to 247sports.com .
With the state of Washington's alcohol pilot program in Year 2 of operation after being introduced during last season's September Apple Cup, alcohol will be banned from a larger portion of the stadium, in and around the student section.
Alcohol will not be allowed in section 21-32 on the north concourse.
Cougar soccer, volleyball return home
The WSU women's soccer team's first and only home match of the month is today. On the heels of two straight ties on the road at Hawaii (0-0, Sept. 6) and Cal State Fullerton (1-1, Sunday), first-year coach Chris Citowicki's squad returns to the friendly confines of the Lower Soccer Field to play Seattle U.
Following today's 6 p.m. match versus Seattle U, WSU gets a built-in break before kicking off Pac-12 play against Oregon State at 6 p.m. Oct. 1.
Fresh off weekend trips to familiar legacy Pac-12 territory, the WSU volleyball team is back home, hosting Long Beach State at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bohler Gym with a second meeting between the two schools set for Friday.
The Cougs dropped a pair of four-setters earlier in the month to No. 25 Oregon on Sept. 6 and Washington on Sunday, but started coach Korey Schroeder's third year 4-0 and now sit at 5-3 overall.
Pac-12 play begins Sept. 24 at Fresno State.
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com , or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.
