Tucker Large Lands Eagles Deal, Four More Cougs Get Their NFL Shot

Washington State safety Tucker Large is heading to Philadelphia. The Sioux Falls product just signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Eagles, and now he gets to chase his dream of making an NFL roster. Large didn't run through Pro Day after tweaking his leg in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but his tape spoke loud enough. The Eagles clearly liked what they saw.

One Year, Major Impact

Large spent just one season in Pullman, but he made it count. The 5-11, 183-pound safety started all 13 games for the Cougars and put up serious numbers: 71 tackles, three for loss, and six passes broken up. He was a key piece of a defense that was elite, especially in the secondary. One year in, and he's already got the respect of an NFL front office.

The UDFA route isn't some gamble for Washington State guys either. Look at the track record: Esa Pole, Cam Lampkin, River Cracraft, Daniel Ekuale, and Frankie Luvu all went undrafted and made it stick in the league. Luvu is the real proof of concept here. He signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and turned into an All-Pro by 2024. Large is betting he can be next.

Four More Cougs Getting Minicamp Invites

Large isn't riding solo on this opportunity either. Four more Washington State players just accepted minicamp invites, each getting their own shot to impress.

• CB Colby Humphrey is heading to San Francisco. He had a strong season for the Cougars and tested well at Pro Day.
• TE Ademola Faleye is going to Tampa Bay. The guy is 6-7, 253 pounds, so he's got the intriguing size.
• RB Angel Johnson will be at Tennessee's rookie minicamp. One year at WSU doesn't define him, and he knows he's capable of more.
• DE Syrus Webster graduated in 2024 and just went through Pro Day last month. He's a physical freak heading to the Seahawks' minicamp, and his potential might still be untapped.

Making the NFL this way is tougher than going through the draft, sure. But it absolutely can be done. These four guys are getting their chance to prove it.

A Historic Year for WSU Football

This marks the first time since 2021 that Washington State didn't get a player drafted. And 2021 was weird anyway because everyone kept their eligibility. So really, you have to go back to 2012 to find a year when no Cougar heard their name called. The 49ers did take former Cougar De'Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick, but he left WSU back in 2022 and played for Oklahoma State and Ole Miss before that draft night. Some of the old guard found opportunities too. CB Stephen Hall finished his career at Missouri and signed with the Texans. WR DT Sheffield bounced between North Texas and Rutgers before landing with the Jets. Large will even be reunited with former WSU nickel Kapena Gushiken in Philadelphia, who finished at Ole Miss.

The minicamp invites roll out for another week or so, so there could be more announcements coming. For now, Large and company get to show what being a Cougar taught them.

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