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The help on the defensive front won’t be coming until 2019 for the Washington State Cougars but it’s welcome news nonetheless as the team announces West Virginia Mountaineers defensive tackle Lamonte McDougle will head to Pullman:
Offseason news doesn't get much better than this. Lamonte McDougle, a freshman All-American defensive tackle (per ESPN), is transferring to #WSU. McDougle had 23 tackles, 4 TFL and 2 sacks last season at #WVU. https://t.co/ahkRKAkyie
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) May 17, 2018
As Theo notes, this is a big get for Washington State up front as McDougle earned All-American honors in his freshman campaign. The best game the 5’11”, 295 pounder had was against the Kansas Jayhawks, where he racked up three tackles, including one sack and topped it off with a forced fumble.
McDougle didn’t use his redshirt year so he won’t be losing any eligibility to sit out a year when he trades one set of rolling hills for another.
Though McDougle will no doubt be a big help in 2019, Washington State is still teetering on the edge up front in 2018. For as thin as the team was last season, their situation might be even more precarious this year. Transfer Jonathan Lolohea will likely be the starter at nose tackle and behind him is where the “fun” begins. It’s Taylor Comfort, a redshirt senior from Sultan, Washington and former walk-on behind him with Nick Begg, a former tight end likely to get the nod at defensive tackle. Fingers and toes will need to remain crossed that this unit can at least somewhat hold it together until McDougle can take the field in 2019.