Meet The Cougars
When the Cougars have the ball
Left tackle
Rob Rainville 79
6-foot-5
305 pounds
Junior
Lewiston
… Replaced All-American Scott Sanderson. Brought cohesion to offensive line.
75 - Jon Ottenbreit
6-6, 285, So.
Cheney
Left guard
Jason McEndoo 66
6-foot-5
293 pounds
Senior
Cosmopolis, Wash.
… Versatile, he’s also long-snapper. Considered the best pro prospect on line.
72 - Mickey Long
6-4, 303, Jr.
Corona Del Mar, Calif.
Center
Lee Harrison 62
6-foot-2
266 pounds
Senior
Bend, Ore.
… Former walk-on helped by experienced linemates. Probably most unassuming player on the team.
55 - Mark Nason
6-3, 253, Sr.
East Wenatchee
Right guard
Cory Withrow 71
6-foot-4
273 pounds
Senior
Spokane
… Another former walk-on, has excellent mobility, making him an effective downfield blocker.
77 - Mike Sage
6-2, 319, Jr.
Las Vegas
Right tackle
Ryan McShane 76
6-foot-6
305 pounds
Senior
Lafayette, Calif.
… Practical joker and comedian. Kept Pac-10’s top defenders from Ryan Leaf.
70 - Reed Raymond
6-9, 304, Fr.
Moses Lake
Tight end
Love Jefferson 20
6-foot-2
255 pounds
Junior
Garden Grove, Calif.
… Caught 14 passes for 177 yards and two TDs. Came to WSU after Pacific dropped its football program.
84 - Jon Kincaid
6-6, 246, Sr.
Colfax, Wash.
Split end
Chris Jackson 81
6-foot-2
200 pounds
Senior
Santa Ana, Calif.
… Didn’t play football in high school, preferring basketball. Led Cougars with 49 catches.
82 - Nian Taylor
6-1, 187, Jr.
Riverside, Calif. Split back
Kevin McKenzie 9
5-foot-11
183 pounds
Senior
Long Beach, Calif.
…McDenzie will be remembered by WSU fans for one-handed catch tath beat USC.
8 - Shawn Tims
5-11, 182, Sr.
Vallejo, Calif.
Flanker
Shawn McWashington 45
5-foot-11
186 pounds
Senior
Seattle
…Excellent blocker, he leveled USC’s safety on McKenzie’s game-winner.
94 - Troy Woody
6-3, 200, Jr.
Vancouver, Wash.
Running back
Michael Black 5
5-foot-11
208 pounds
Senior
Los Angeles
…Arguably best tailback in the Pac-10, Black only earned second-team all-conference honors.
1 - DeJuan Gilmore
5-8, 195, So.
Gardena, Calif.
Quarterback
Ryan Leaf 16
6-foot-6
238 pounds
Junior
Great Falls, Mont.
…Had best year of any WSU quarterback, passed for 3,637 yards and 33 TDs, both Pac-10 records.
13 - Steve Birnbaum
6-4, 209, So.
Chino Hills, Calif.
Place kicker
Rian Lindell 27
6-foot-3
231 pounds
Sophomore
Vancouver, Wash.
…Bigger than two of WSU’s starting linebackers. Made 8 of 8 field goals inside 40 yards.
12 - Jeff Banks
6-0, 179, Sr.
Upland, Calif.
When the Wolverines have the ball
Weak end
Dorian Boose 90
6-foot-6
282 pounds
Senior
Tacoma
…Led the Cougars with eight sacks and finished fifth on the team with 41 tackles. Also forced three fumbles.
87 - Rob Meier
6-5, 249, So.
West Vancouver, B.C.
Tackle
Gary Holmes 95
6-foot-7
316 pounds
Junior
Lacey, Wash.
…Had off-season back surgery. Best game vs. Oregon. Ended season with six tackles for loss.
93 - Delmar Morals
6-3, 257, Jr.
Las Vegas
Tackle
Leon Bender 91
6-foot-5
299 pounds
Senior
Santee, Calif.
… Finished fourth on the team with 48 tackles. Made third-team All-America. All-interview, first team.
96 - Taeao Salausa
6-4, 270, Jr.
Long Beach, Calif.
Strong end
Shane Doyle 46
6-foot-3
254 pounds
Senior
Spokane
…Has been steady if not spectacular, often going overlooked as Boose, Bender and Holmes get the attention.
99 - Jonathan Nance
6-4, 215, Jr.
Miami
Weak backer
Brandon Moore 22
6-foot-1
220 pounds
Senior
Carson, Calif.
…Led the team with 15 tackles for loss. Made 20 tackles in loss to Arizona State.
44- Grady Emmerson
6-0, 192, So.
Kennewick
Middle backer
Todd Nelson 43
6-foot-3
236 pounds
Senior
Renton, Wash.
…Former walk-on, considered team’s toughest player. Lacks the speed to blitz, did not have a sack this year.
51 - Austin Matson
6-2, 225, Fr.
Everett
Strong backer
Steve Gleason 34
5-foot-11
215 pounds
Sophomore
Spokane
…Led team with 91 tackles, including nine for loss. Batted .286 on WSU baseball team last season.
42 - Tom Wagner
6-1, 204, Jr.
Bellevue
Right cover
Dee Moronkola 6
5-foot-9
194 pounds
Junior
Richmond, Calif.
…Steady, excellent speed. Whistled for interference in end zone several times.
28 - J. Hunsaker
5-9, 184, Fr.
Pomona, Calif.
Left corner
Ray Jackson 2
6-foot-1
210 pounds
Senior
Santa Ana, Calif.
…Excellent athlete who played out of position at free safety for first eight games of season.
3 - LeJuan Gibbons
5-9, 178, So.
Long Beach, Calif.
Strong safety
Duane Stewart 25
6-foot-2
223 pounds
Senior
Ontario, Calif.
…Returns to lineup after missing final three games of the season with strained knee ligaments.
29 - Torry Hollimon
5-11, 199, So.
Everett
Free safety
Lamont Thompson 19
6-foot-5
183 pounds
Freshman
Richmond, Calif.
…Picked off five passes in final two games, including three against UW.
15 - Alex Tinsley
5-11, 192, Fr.
Gilroy, Calif.
Punter
Jeff Banks 12
6-foot
179 pounds
Senior
Upland, Calif.
…Averaged 43.8 yards on 50 punts this season, including a long 59 yards. No fake punts this year.
27 - Rian Lindell
6-3, 231, So.
Vancouver, Wash. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 25 Photos