WSU true freshman WR Carter Pabst is paving a path for himself ... and his teammates

Sep. 10—Asked about 10 days out from the start of the season how many true freshmen he expected to play active roles on the Cougar football team, Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers did not hesitate.

"Five," the first-year WSU headman said.

And then, unprompted, he rattled off their names.

Cornerback Trillion Sorrell, safeties Damarius Russell and Kyle Peterson, linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen and wide receiver Carter Pabst.

While it was Peterson who came up with a fumble recovery in the Cougars' Week 1 win over Idaho, none of the five true freshmen have played quite as major a role just yet in WSU's young season as Pabst, a true freshman receiver from Wichita, Kan.

Pabst hauled in a 34-yard catch to set up WSU's first touchdown in its 36-13 win over San Diego State on Saturday at Gesa Field.

Through two games, it's the most yardage the Cougs have gained on a single play.

While he did not record another catch, he continued to show up in play after play as an outside blocker, putting his body on the line to extend plays on the edge.

"If I could take a lot of kids like Carter Pabst, I'd take most of them," Rogers said. "His frame, his physicality, his savviness. He's a great football player. He's not afraid of competition. You can ask the older guys, he didn't back down at all during fall camp and he's one of our most physical blockers on the perimeter."

WSU's versatile wide receiver corps has enabled first-time starting quarterback Jaxon Potter to kick off his on-field college football career in style.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Huntington Beach, Calif., has completed 70% of his passes for 465 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Potter dazzled in fall camp with his arm strength and situational awareness.

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An impressive fall camp is also how Pabst, who last year was catching passes in high school, played his way up the depth chart.

WSU's wide receiver room appeared — and largely remains — a wide-open competition for reps. Oregon State transfer Jeremiah Noga, senior Josh Meredith and junior college transfer Devin Ellison each figured to play major roles heading into the season.

However, a heel contusion for Ellison has kept him out of each of WSU's first two games of the year and provided a wider opportunity for guys like Pabst and junior Tony Freeman to make their marks.

Freeman racked up a team-leading seven catches for 64 yards versus Idaho and was a dependable target for Potter in two-minute situations.

His role in the offense did not slow down on Saturday, hauling in six more catches to raise his season yardage to 107.

Senior wide receivers Leyton Smithson and Leon Neal Jr. — two guys who have each spent their entire careers at WSU — have also found frequent reps and drawn praise for doing the right things whether they have the ball or not.

Neal recorded the first touchdown reception of his five-year Cougar career on Saturday, hauling in a perfectly located laser from Potter.

Meredith, who like Neal has been a Coug since 2021, said that he might have been more excited than Neal about the Seattle native's first career TD.

"Me and that boy have been through so many ups and downs to points where we just ... didn't want to be here anymore, and just to see it — wait and be patient — and come to fruition (was awesome)," Meredith said. "That whole sideline was buzzing. So, you know, it goes to show he's just a good guy."

With guys like Pabst and Neal finding their way onto the field, the Cougars have set an offensive standard.

"If I'm playing wide receiver and I'm only good when I catch the football, what good am I to the team even being on the field when I'm not catching the football?" Rogers said. "They got to run full speed and they got to block full speed, and that will put you on the field because you're giving something to the team that the other person is not giving. ... (Pabst is) doing that."

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.