Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley was named the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19.
WSU Athletics
The Nevada-Colorado State football game Friday night in Reno comes about nine months after the Wolf Pack’s roster began undergoing major upheaval.
That included losing more than 10 players to Colorado State itself, following the Rams’ hiring of former Nevada coach Jay Norvell.
Here’s a look at 11 players with remaining eligibility who are no longer with the Pack — enough for a football team — and how their 2022 seasons have gone so far:
At Washington State:
• LB Daiyan Henley: While most of the off-season attention went to the Wolf Pack’s personnel losses on the offensive side, Henley was arguably the team’s most important defection. He’s blossomed into the leader of the Cougars’ defense, recording 44 tackles (9.5 for loss).
• DB Jordan Lee: Got off to a solid start at WSU before missing three games due to injury.
At San Jose State:
• WR Elijah Cooks: The former Wolf Pack fan favorite is the Spartans’ leading receiver, with 20 receptions for 367 yards.
• WR Justin Lockhart: Like Cooks, Lockhart is enjoying a second life at SJSU. He has 12 catches for 219 yards.
At Utah State
• DL Daniel Grzesiak: He’s developed into a solid starter for the Aggies, although USU is off to a disappointing 1-4 start. Grzesiak has 15 tackles (three for loss) and a fumble recovery.
At East Carolina
• LB Jack Powers: He’s played in all five games for the Pirates, recording 10 tackles (two for loss).
At Colorado State
• WR Tory Horton: After flashing tons of potential while competing for playing time at Nevada, Horton has emerged as probably CSU’s best player. He has a team-high 23 receptions for 427 yards and five touchdowns (for a team that’s scored only six all season).
• QB Clay Millen: After doing the clipboard-and-baseball-hat routine last season at Nevada, Millen has been called upon to be CSU’s starter since Day One of the Norvell era. He’s completed for more than 73 percent of his attempts, but has also thrown four interceptions for the winless Rams.
• OL Jacob Gardner and Gray Davis: Both are starting along the CSU line … but that line is off to a brutal start. The Rams have given up 6.25 sacks per game, by far the most in the nation. Colorado State also has yet to rush for a touchdown.
• WR Melquan Stovall: His transfer to CSU seemingly got off to a good start, with 13 receptions for 106 yards through the first three games. But then he quit the team.
Wolf Pack football
Who: Colorado State (0-4) at Nevada (2-3, 0-1 MW)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mackay Stadium
Line: Nevada by 3; total of 44
Notable: CSU coach Jay Norvell led Nevada from 2017 to 2021. He was 33-26 overall, 23-17 in Mountain West games.
