The exit Wide receiver Joey Hobert was one of the most surprising developments of the Washington State football season, but his position as offensive coordinator at his new school this season isn’t surprising. Hobert landed at Utah Tech, formerly Dixie State, where the offensive coordinator was former WSU associate offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzman.
Hobert caught 15 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown last year for the Cougars and played a key role on special teams. Both Calvin Jackson Jr. and Journeyman Harris heading into NFL training camps were thought to be in line for an increased role at WSU in 2022.
Hobert entered the portal in early February and tweeted a brief offer from Utah Tech. The Trail Blazers went 1-10 last year in the school’s second year as an FCS school.
Stutzman was WSU’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterback in 2020 and part of last season until he was let go for failing to comply with a mandate for state employees to get a Covid vaccine.
Hobert joins another Coug from last year’s team — quarterback Victor Gabalis — at Utah Tech. Gabalis entered the transfer portal in April following the Cougars’ spring practice session. He was 17 of 36 for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns in three games — including a second-half start in the Sun Bowl — against WSU last season.
Here is a list of the rest of the WSU players who have landed:
- Quarterback Jayden De Laura – Arizona
- Center Brian Greene – Michigan State
- Cade Beresford – Boise State
- Jack Beresford – Boise State
- Offensive lineman Sam Carrell – Texas Tech (on foot)
- Offensive lineman Sr. Riley – Idaho State
- EDGE Carter Carlson – Idaho
- Kicker Lucas Dunker Jr. – Tulane
- Kicker Andrew Boyle – Oregon
- EDGE Marquise Freeman – Chattanooga
- EDGE Willie Taylor III – Eastern Kentucky
- Cornerback Alphonse Oywak – Eastern Washington
- Wide receiver Billy Pospisil III – Colorado School of Mines
- Peni Naulu running back – Northern Iowa
- Quarterback Cammon Cooper – Hawaii
- Wide receiver Marshawn Buchanan – Tarleton State
- Safety Halid Djibril – Tarleton State
- Offensive lineman James McNorton – San Jose State
- Offensive lineman Dylan Mayginnes – Montana
- Wide receiver Zion Lucia – San Diego
- Defensive back Zane Thornton – Eastern Washington
- Wide receiver Carter Camana – Fullerton College
- Linebacker Micah Lopez – New Mexico Military Institute
- Security Arna Bontemps – Cerritos College
Several Cougars of note entered the portal last season but didn’t land anywhere according to our study: defensive tackle Nick Sheetz, long snapper Tyler Williams and defensive tackle Xavier Young. Wide receiver Mitchell Quinn is also on that list, but he only entered the portal last week.
Additionally, a number of short-term walk-ons at WSU have entered the portal this season but never quite made it this far. They include linebackers Giovanni Iovino and Daniel Harrison, cornerbacks Jacob Scobies, Jamel Blenman and Deonte Hayes, safety Jadon Hall, linebacker Okoye Mangrum and defensive tackle JP Leahy.
