Kirby Vorhees Came Back With a Chip on His Shoulder, and WSU's Offense Is Better For It

Kirby Vorhees almost left Washington State. In mid-December, the running back entered the portal, looked ready to find a new home. But Kirby Moore wasn't about to let that happen without a fight. Moore got to work keeping Vorhees in Pullman, and based on what we saw Saturday at the first full-contact scrimmage of spring ball, that decision is already paying off.

A Chip That Shows Up in Everything

The 5-11, 207-pound back came into spring ball with something to prove, and Moore has noticed it across the board. "I think his mindset," Moore said. "I think he's got a chip on his shoulder in terms of just something to prove. And that shows up in the workout."

Vorhees isn't just running hard either. He's working in every angle. "He might be the strongest guy on the team in terms of squat, dang near him and Jirah Leaupepetele," Moore explained. "And then in terms of running, just finishing forward in the meeting room, there's no detail too small for him."

That's the kind of standard that spreads. "I think he sets a really great standard for our guys," Moore said. "It rubs off on other guys, and just excited to continue to work with them this offseason."

How Moore Kept Him in the Fold

Getting Vorhees to stay wasn't automatic. After entering the portal, he headed back to Florida and got dinged up. The dialogue could have ended there. Instead, Moore leaned on technology and film work to convince him that staying was the right call.

"We had some dialogue here in Pullman," Moore said. "And then understandably with his situation, he got a little nicked up there. He went back to Florida. Fortunately, there's really good technology and there's everything from FaceTime to Zoom and talking about offense and what we did running the football at Missouri, Cody Schrader highlights."

Last season, Vorhees carried the load as Wazzu's top running back. He ran 138 times for 576 yards, averaging 4.2 per carry with five touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 125 yards. By midseason, he was fully entrenched as the lead back. That kind of production, combined with a coach who actually fights to keep you, apparently matters.

Spring Ball Momentum Building

Saturday's scrimmage was the first full-contact test of spring, with the Crimson and Gray Game just two weeks away. Vorhees got the chance to initiate contact and showed exactly why Moore worked so hard to retain him. The edge is there, the work ethic is undeniable, and if Saturday was any indication, the Cougar offense has one of its centerpieces locked in and hungry.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.