WSU enters post-Harrison era with confidence in Woolridge

PULLMAN – Let’s get one thing straight: DeMaundray Woolridge is not expected to fill Jerome Harrison’s shoes this year.

Or is he?

“You never know that,” countered Washington State University running backs coach Kelly Skipper. “Jerome was a special player. He was one of those guys that every 20 years comes around. But I thought it was going to be hard to replace Jonathan Smith, what he did. Boom, there’s always guys coming out. Especially when they see someone doing it the right way.”

Woolridge, a true sophomore, certainly has that edge after backing up Harrison last year as the senior ran 1,900 yards into the WSU record books.

While Skipper, Woolridge and head coach Bill Doba are all quick to point out that Woolridge and Harrison are not out of the same mold, they all don’t seem shy to suggest that the sophomore can carry the load.

As a true freshman Woolridge impressed in relief, running for 312 yards on 52 carries.

“He knows what he’s doing, and he’s in control right now,” Skipper said. “He was able to get in some games and also watch a guy in front of him that was a pretty good football player. I think he learned a lot and I think it was good for him to play as a true freshman.”

The 5-foot-8, 223-pound back from Keller, Texas, is far from a finished product. In high school, playing in a spread offense, he never carried the ball more than 10 times in a game – unusual for a star tailback at that level.

“I had 230 that game, though,” Woolridge said of his busiest night on the high school gridiron.

Last season he had 15 carries at Nevada and 18 against Grambling State.

“I know I’ll probably be a little winded after 15, 20 carries,” he said. “But I feel I can push through because I’ve got people like Alex Brink and Bobby Byrd on my side that will help me get through it.”

Before J.T. Deiderichs failed to qualify academically this fall, it was thought he might challenge for Woolridge’s job coming out of junior college. In spring practices, Woolridge ran with the top offense, but there seemed to be some doubt if that would still be the case in the fall.

But Skipper denies that, saying he’s always had complete confidence that the sophomore can do the job, both this season and beyond, for WSU.

“There was no question mark with me,” Skipper said. “Naw, he can play.”

Now that the job is his, Woolridge said he’ll try to incorporate some of Harrison’s best advice – “Be patient. Let it come to you.” – into his game, since some of the moves are simply not his style.

“Jerome’s got those shakes. I don’t do that,” he said. “If you don’t have the feet to do it, then don’t try it.”

Notes

WSU’s non-conference home game against Idaho on Sept. 9 has been changed from 4 p.m. to 12:45, the school announced. … Puyallup offensive lineman Chris Bush told Cougfan.com and Cougzone.com that he plans to enroll at WSU in the coming days after failing to meet academic standards at Vanderbilt, where he had signed a letter of intent. … Freshman linebacker Andy Mattingly of Mead has impressed coaches, although it’s uncertain if he’ll redshirt the season. … Tight end Bryan Baird said his football career is almost certainly finished because of an elbow injury that required off-season surgery. Baird said doctors have discovered a dead spot in the bone, and further activity would risk serious injury. The sophomore will likely pursue a medical non-counter, allowing him to finish his degree under scholarship, while not counting toward the team’s 85-scholarship limit. Baird played in one game for WSU, last year’s Apple Cup win. … Ropati Pitoitua was back in practice after driving to Seattle and back. Pitoitua officially became a U.S. citizen.