PULLMAN — Washington State will be missing one of its starting defensive backs for a significant portion of the season.
Redshirt junior cornerback Jamorri Colson, expected to start, will be sidelined for “an extended period” due to an injury, as announced by coach Jake Dickert on Monday. Colson had already missed the last few practices of fall camp because of this injury, and it now appears it will keep him out longer.
For the season opener against FCS Portland State on Saturday, WSU will look to redshirt freshman Ethan O’Connor, who had an impressive fall camp. A native of Los Angeles, O’Connor made several notable plays, including multiple interceptions, making him a fitting replacement for Colson.
“Ethan O’Connor is ready. His performance throughout fall camp has shown that,” Dickert commented. “His ability to make plays is crucial, but being a freshman, he will make mistakes, and that’s part of the process. Stephen Hall, one of our captains, has been an outstanding leader for the group, guiding the young players.”
Colson made his debut for WSU last season, playing limited snaps against Colorado State and Arizona. He later stepped up due to injuries later in the season, recording 46 snaps against Stanford, 28 against Cal, 19 against Colorado, and starting in last season’s Apple Cup, where he allowed 4 receptions on 8 targets, according to Pro Football Focus.
Colson previously played for three seasons at Iowa Western Community College, where he was part of the NJCAA national championship team in 2022 and earned all-conference first-team honors that year. He redshirted in 2021.
Meanwhile, O’Connor is set to make his college debut in a real game situation. He was a highly recruited prospect coming out of high school, with offers from major programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Penn State. Originally committed to UCLA, he decommitted in May 2023 before joining WSU.
As the season kicks off at noon Saturday against Portland State, WSU’s starting cornerbacks will be O’Connor and Hall, who also performed well at the end of last season.
Fa’alili Fa’amoe Close to Returning from Injury
WSU’s anticipated starter at right tackle, redshirt junior Fa’alili Fa’amoe, is on the verge of returning from a knee injury that kept him out throughout spring and fall practices. Dickert reported that Fa’amoe has completed his rehab process, and the target for his return is the Sept. 14 Apple Cup.
However, if he does return for that game, Dickert indicated it would be “in some sort of limited capacity.” This means he will miss the home games against Portland State (Saturday) and Texas Tech (Sept. 7).
“I’m responsible for his future, and I remind him of that regularly,” Dickert noted. “This is a significant step in his recovery. Just seeing him back in his pads with the team is uplifting for me and will be for his teammates as well. He has worked incredibly hard and faced much adversity during his time here, and he’s prepared to make the most of this opportunity. We made the right call for him and the team by handling this carefully.”
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With Fa’amoe out, WSU has been using redshirt junior Christian Hilborn at right tackle, shifting him from his regular position at left guard. Redshirt sophomore Rod Tialavea has taken over at left guard. This results in the following offensive line setup: Left tackle Esa Pole, left guard Tialavea, center Devin Kylany, right guard Brock Dieu, and right tackle Hilborn, which is the lineup WSU is expected to start on Saturday.
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