HCA: Jalen Thompson continues to impress and earns Speed D player of the week

Jalen Thompson has had a solid impact in the secondary for Washington State so far this season and enforced that this past weekend when he hauled in two interceptions against Nevada. After a stellar few weeks in the secondary, Thompson finally earned the Speed D belt as he was named the team’s defensive player of the week in the 45-7 victory.

The Sophomore safety leads the team in total tackles with 15 and finds himself just one total tackle behind the leader. After starting out the season with 7, 8, and 9 total tackles respectively, Thompson didn’t need to have the type of game he has been having this season and only tallied one tackle, but for good reason. There was no need for the high tackle numbers as both Nevada quarterbacks combined to go 14-of-30 for 105 yards and averaged 3.5 yards per pass while their ground game averaged 1.9 yards on 24 carries.

The Cougars also released the Bone Award and the special forces player of the game on twitter on Monday afternoon.

Andre Dillard won the “Bone Award” which is given to the teams top lineman each week. This is Dillard’s first time this season receiving the recognition. The combination of the 6’5”, 306 lb Dillard and All-American Cody O’Connell who stands at 6’9”, 368 lb is a perfect wall to run behind and has allowed running backs to rush for over 400 yards on 80 carries this season.

Things got switched up a little bit for the special forces player of the game this week as the entire kickoff team received the award. The Cougars spent a lot of time on kickoff as they put up 45 points on the Wolfpack. Kicking the ball off 8 times, the Cougars held Nevada returners to less than 20 yards per return including Jack Crane’s kick in the second quarter that pinned Nevada at the 6 yard line.

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Football:

WSUCougars.com | Washington State University Athletics
No. 16 Washington State (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) closes out its season-opening five-game homestand against No. 5 USC (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) Friday at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

USC Injury Report and Practice Notes: Deontay Burnett sits (9/25)
Star receiver Deontay Burnett was held out with a shoulder injury as the Trojans prep for WSU. Here's the USC injury report and practice notes for Sept. 25.

First look: USC at Washington State | The Spokesman-Review
What is it? No. 5 USC (4-0, 2-0) visits No. 16 Washington State (4-0, 1-0) at Martin Stadium in the last of five consecutive home games for the Cougars. Where is it? Martin Stadium in Pullman.

No. 5 USC, No. 16 Washington State in Friday showdown
No. 16 Washington State started the season with four victories, all at home, but those games were merely appetizers leading up to the main course: a Pac-12 showdown against No. 5 USC on Friday night.

Mel Kiper, Todd McShay name their favorite college football players to watch
Mata'afa plays defensive tackle and defensive end; he can play on his feet, he can play on the edge -- he's the Cougars' best defender since Deone Bucannon.

Leach on USC quarterback Sam Darnold: ‘Mature’ but not yet ready for NFL stage | The Spokesman-Review
A redshirt sophomore, Sam Darnold has already done the minimum amount of work required by the NCAA to leave school and declare for the NFL Draft following this football season. Some pundits are projecting that USC’s signal-caller will be starting on Sundays this time next year.

Sam Darnold’s interception total growing as he gets ‘impatient’ – Orange County Register
Late in the second quarter of USC’s 30-20 victory over Cal on Saturday, Darnold slung a pass toward receiver Deontay Burnett who was just shy of the end zone. Burnett had outrun Golden Bears cornerback Josh Drayden, by a couple yards, but as the pass hung in the air, Drayden recovered and jumped in front of Burnett to pick it off. The tight window closed.

USC coaches sleeping in offices in preparation for Washington State
Preparing for Washington State has proven to be no easy feat, and the USC coaches are taking no chances, sleeping in the office to savor every minute.

Rugby:

WSU rugby team strives for financial freedom – The Daily Evergreen
Beyond the rolling hills that lay behind Bailey-Brayton Field, the WSU rugby team labors away. Three times a week, on the South Fairway Playfield, a group of student-athletes hit the pitch to play the game they love. There are no scholarships for the rugby team. No charter flights, no cheerleaders and no training tables. Needless...

Volleyball:

WSUCougars.com | Washington State University Athletics
The Washington State University volleyball team takes its 12-2 overall record and 1-1 Pac-12 record (ranked 33rd in the Sept. 25 AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll) to Los Angeles for a pair of afternoon matches.

Golf:

WSUCougars.com | Washington State University Athletics
The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course is a par 71 with a total of 6,088 yards. Teams will tee off with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday morning.

Golf:

WSUCougars.com | Washington State University Athletics
Looking to give back to the community that has supported them as student-athletes, the Washington State women's basketball team will be collecting food Wednesday, Sept. 27 as part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Day of Service.

Rowing:

WSUCougars.com | Washington State University Athletics
Former Washington State University rower, Ieva Adomaviciute, won her heat to advance to the A/B semifinals, while her fellow WSU alums, Nicole Hare and Lisa Roman advanced to the Repechage in their respective event, Monday, at the 2017 World Rowing Championships.