WSU Transfer Portal Class of 2026: Grading Every Addition

Under Kirby Moore and his staff, Washington State attacked the 2025-26 transfer portal with purpose. The Cougs entered the cycle with clear needs — defensive line, offensive line, secondary depth — and largely addressed them. Whether those additions translate to wins in 2026 is the question. Here's how we grade the portal class, position by position.

Defensive Line: A–

This is where the staff did their best work. The additions along the defensive front give Trent Bray legitimate tools to build his scheme around. Paul Hutson III fills the need at nose tackle — he's a space-eater who frees up the edge rushers. Linus Zunk at defensive end is the headliner of this class; he has the pass rush get-off and motor that could make him a double-digit sack guy in the right system.

The only thing keeping this from a full A is the depth behind the starters. There's a steep drop-off after the first two contributors at each spot. If WSU loses anybody on the defensive front to injury, the unit's effectiveness drops significantly.

Offensive Line: B

The portal additions on the offensive line were necessary — WSU had holes to fill — and the staff brought in players who check the size and experience boxes. The grade is a B because we've seen enough portal offensive line projects not pan out to know that chemistry and cohesion take time to develop. These are the right additions. Whether they become a functional unit by Week 1 is what fall camp will tell us.

Wide Receivers: B+

The receiving corps was already one of the better units on the roster, and the portal additions gave Matt Miller more to work with. The value here isn't about replacing what was there — it's about adding depth and versatility. When Daniel Blood inevitably draws the attention of a corner and safety, WSU needs options. The portal class provides them.

Linebacker: B–

Nylan Brown wasn't a portal addition, but the players brought in around him round out what could be a solid unit. The minus comes from questions about whether the additions fit Bray's system precisely enough. These are athletic players. Whether they're disciplined players — the kind Bray's scheme demands — will be answered in fall camp.

Secondary: C+

This is where Connor and Dylan disagreed most on the podcast. The secondary additions addressed real needs. But the unit as a whole still has more questions than answers. You could see an argument for this group overperforming and earning a B by midseason — or underperforming and dragging the defense down. The talent range on this depth chart is wide.

Overall Portal Class Grade: B+

This is one of the stronger portal classes WSU has assembled in recent memory. The staff identified needs, prioritized the right positions, and brought in players who — on paper — fit the scheme. The defensive line class alone pushes the overall grade above a B. The uncertainty at secondary and offensive line cohesion are the only things preventing a higher mark.

If these additions perform at even 80% of their ceiling, WSU is a legitimate eight-win team in 2026. That's exactly where the program needs to be.