Washington State standout linebacker Peyton Pelluer reportedly out for season with foot fracture

PULLMAN – Washington State middle linebacker Peyton Pelluer won’t play another snap this season after fracturing his foot during the first half of the Cougars’ game against Oregon State, the Lewiston Tribune first reported.

Pelluer’s father Scott told the Tribune his son would undergo surgery within two weeks before facing five to six months of rehabilitation. Scott Pelluer also confirmed the season-ending injury to The Seattle Times.

Pelluer, a senior who’s started in 34 consecutive games for the Cougars, left for the locker room early in the second quarter of Saturday’s Pac-12 opener and never returned to the field.

WSU coach Mike Leach generally doesn’t address injuries and told reporters, “we haven’t lost anybody,” during Monday’s press conference. Leach later said, “we’re 100 percent healthy” and when asked if Pelluer would suit up for the Cougars this week, the coach said “you bet.”

Pelluer ackowledged that he’d played his final game for WSU in a Twitter exchange with Rush linebacker Frankie Luvu Monday afternoon. Luvu posted a photo of the two and wrote, “Keep my brother in your prayers!” Pelluer responded by saying, “Thank you brother. Blessed to play my last snaps with you!!”

Other teammates, both current and former, wrote heartfelt messages to Pelluer on social media throughout the day.

The Sammamish, Washington, native has been the general of WSU’s defense the last few years – any team’s middle linebacker often is – and was named All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention last season after starting in all 13 games and ranking fourth in the league with 93 tackles. He was third on the team with 7 1/2 tackles-for-loss.

The news about Pelluer comes six days after he was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for his interception return for a touchdown and 14 tackles in a 47-44 triple-overtime win over Boise State.

Former walk-on Nate DeRider filled in for Pelluer at the middle linebacker spot immediately after WSU’s starter left the field. DeRider, a fifth-year senior, was put on scholarship during fall camp this August. He hasn’t made a start for the Cougars.

Isaac Dotson, like Pelluer, is a savvy veteran who has plenty of football under his belt though he doesn’t have nearly as much experience playing linebacker. Dotson has started all three games at weakside linebacker this season and has registered 22 tackles for the Cougars.

Redshirt freshmen Jahad Woods and Justus Rogers have both been in the rotation at inside linebacker this season. Woods had the first sack of his career against Montana State and has rolled up eight tackles in threee games this season playing behind Pelluer and Dotson.

“I’d say Jahad, especially as a freshman, is definitely ahead of schedule,” Leach said Monday.

The Cougars may also call up Fa’vae Fa’vae, who’s been a star of the team’s Thursday Night Football scrimmages according to outside linebackers coach Roy Manning.

Pelluer’s loss is still an immeasurable one. The fifth-year senior will finish his career at WSU with 254 career tackles and 24 1/2 for loss. Pelluer hasn’t missed a game since his redshirt freshman season in 2014, appearing in 41.

“He’s always been an intelligent football player, a smart football player and that type of thing,” Leach said. “I think any level of experience is helpful, but the other thing, they have to all start somewhere.”

Pelluer was also WSU’s defensive representative at Pac-12 Media Days, joining running back Jamal Morrow and Leach in Los Angeles this summer.