Cougars Searching For Depth At Corners

Washington State’s starting cornerbacks are Chris Martin and LeJuan Gibbons. The second string: Chris Martin and LeJuan Gibbons. And the third string? You guessed it, Chris Martin and LeJuan Gibbons.

Oh sure, there have been other guys working out at the cornerback spot during spring ball. But none of them have challenged for a starting spot. And none of them look ready for a backup role.

“We are real thin at corner,” said WSU secondary coach Craig Bray.

Kate Moss is thin. What the Cougars are is emaciated. In fact, WSU is one injury away from head-scratching time.

“If one gets hurt then we are back to the drawing board,” said WSU coach Mike Price.

On that drawing board there might just be a picture of safety Lamont Thompson - a thinner, quicker Thompson.

“If somebody gets hurts, he will probably be the one to move out there,” said Gibbons.

“But he can’t be 220 and play corner,” Bray added. “I think 205 to 210 is a good weight for him. “That way he will be quick and sharp and crisp,” said Bray. “Then, he can be a cover safety or he can move to corner.”

The 6-foot-2 Thompson has played free safety his first two years and has led the Cougars in interceptions both seasons. He had six as a freshman and four last season. He has also been a solid tackler. Bray doesn’t expect that to change, even if Thompson drops the weight.

“Toughness isn’t weight,” Bray said. “You’re not any tougher whether you weigh 220 or 190.”

Another possible solution for the Cougars’ cornerback conundrum could be Virgil Williams. The 6-1, 178-pound redshirt freshman has been moved from safety to corner. But his inexperience has shown and that worries Bray.

“Virgil has got a chance,” Bray said. “He is rangy, has long arms and runs real good. “He just has to learn how to focus,” he continued. “He still hasn’t made the transition that you need to make mentally. He’s real young, and I’m on him all the time.”

Williams will spend the summer in Pullman working out with Gibbons.

Anthony Matthews is another candidate for a back-up spot. But 5-9, 180-pound sophomore had a back injury. His dedication and work habits have also left Bray nonplussed at times. He still has a chance to secure a back-up role, but of now, it looks more likely that Thompson would be moved out to corner.

The one wild card in the cornerback dilemma is Mory Banks. The 5-11, 185-pound Banks signed with the Cougars out of L.A. Southwest CC in the fall and could provide the Cougars much-needed depth.

But transferring in, picking up the system and adjusting to the speed of Division I is not an easy thing to do. Still, Martin, who transferred from San Francisco CC last season, was able to accomplish the task last year.

Trio of tackles

Tomasi Kongaika didn’t expect to be in this position. After all, Joey Hollenbeck played last season. Ing Aleaga would have played had it not been for his partial-qualifier status. And Kongaika, he didn’t have a scholarship for goodness sakes.

But after a redshirt season and three weeks of spring ball, the 300-pound walk-on is pushing Aleaga (6-2, 297) and Hollenbeck (6-4, 265) for one of the two starting defensive tackle/noseguard positions. Senior Rob Meier will start at the other tackle spot.

“Tomasi’s been amazing,” said defensive line coach Mike Walker. “The thing I like about Tomasi is he is short, they can’t get to him. He has got that low gravity and a quick first step.

“He’s coming into his own right now,” he continued. “Tomasi is playing the best right now.”

“I thought maybe in the fall, but I didn’t think I would be in the mix this early,” said Kongaika, who is generously listed at 6-1.