Kensok comes up big

PULLMAN – Ryan Kensok can remember his first play against UCLA vividly. It was pounded into his memory. It came on the Cougars’ first kickoff.

“I remember last year, I went down there and just got the (crud) knocked out of me,” Washington State’s senior defensive back said. “That just woke me up. I wasn’t going to get touched again. Actually, I made a couple tackles.

“But, (it’s my) second week on the kickoff team and I just get laid out.”

When the Bruins visit Pullman today, Kensok, a 2003 Gonzaga Prep graduate, will be running down the field on the kickoff team again. He’ll also be on the punt and punt-return teams.

Not too bad for a walk-on-turned-scholarship defensive back who is listed at 5-foot-8 and 158 pounds.

“Everyone has a dream, obviously, and I fulfilled it,” Kensok said of playing for Washington State, “maybe not to the highest aspect, but … look at me. Size isn’t everything.”

Kensok walked on at WSU in 2004 and played one game. The next season he was on the punt-return team and appeared in nine games. Last year, he lettered.

This season he’s the No. 1 cornerback off the bench, has played in every game and has 20 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.

“Division I football coming out of little G-Prep, what more could you ask for?” Kensok asked. “Obviously, I’m going to miss it. I wish I had a bigger role on the team, but I guess where I’m at right now … being a part of this team, that’s what I’m going to really miss.”

Today he has an opportunity few others get – a chance to run out in front of 40,000 screaming fans and make a play or two.