Roster tracking: A closer look at WSU's roster heading into fall camp

If I've learned anything about college football rosters, it's that they are outrageously large and are constantly changing. Players make headlines when they sign a letter of intent, but many are quickly forgotten when they become depth chart fodder on the giant rosters.

Some players stay four, five or even six years while others may last a year, or even a few weeks. Schools are limited to 85 scholarship players during the season, but adding walk-ons the rosters swell to over 100 players. With players coming and going and the sheer size of the roster, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. I've kept an unofficial scholarship tally in recent seasons, but decided to organize things a bit.

The table below shows eligibility and scholarship numbers by position. A few quick notes before we get to the chart. First, it's impossible to know the exact details of who's on scholarship, so consider this the most educated guess I can make. Second, this is done assuming all of the incoming freshman will redshirt in 2013. That obviously won't be the case so a few players from the 2017 column will move into 2016. Finally, try not to focus too much on positions as guys move around. Isaac Dotson is currently listed as a quarterback, but that could obviously change.

KEY: Bold = scholarship player, Italic = walk-on, *= used redshirt season

As you can see, WSU still has some wiggle run under the 85-scholarship maximum. They could give a walk-on or two a scholarship, but they are more likely to keep a few spots open to ensure they can take a maximum recruiting class again in 2014.

Numbers wise, the Cougars are in good shape at nearly every spot outside of quarterback. Having two non-freshman scholarship quarterbacks is not ideal. With healthy numbers at the other positions, it wouldn't surprise me if WSU took two quarterbacks -- including possibly a junior college player -- in the next recruiting cycle.

Special teams will also have to get addressed soon as there is currently one punter on the roster and very little in the pipeline at kicker or punter. The rest of the positions, for the most part, have a nice blend of experience and youth.

The members of the 2013 recruiting class have started to arrive on campus with the rest slated to arrive in August. There could still be some roster turnover before the start of fall camp, but I'll put together an updated breakdown when the fall camp roster is released.