Two Washington State Defenders Land NFL Opportunities After Draft Miss

Washington State didn't get anyone called on draft day for the first time in five years, but the Cougars are still getting their guys into the NFL. Former safety Tucker Large inked an undrafted free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, while cornerback Colby Humphrey scored a rookie minicamp invite from the San Francisco 49ers. Not bad for a program that came away empty in the draft itself.

Tucker Large's Path to the Eagles

Here's the wild part about Large: he suffered an injury early in WSU's Potato Bowl win over Utah State back in December and completely missed the team's pro day last month. He showed up to the event but didn't get to work out. That didn't stop the Eagles from calling.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, Large started all 13 games this season and racked up 71 tackles (three for loss) and eight pass breakups. His Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 86.5 was the best on the team among defenders who played meaningful snaps. His overall defense grade of 81.4 checked in second on the squad.

Large's journey to Pullman is worth noting. He spent his first four years at FCS South Dakota State before following former coach Jimmy Rogers to WSU, where he absolutely blossomed into a star.

Humphrey Makes the 49ers' Radar

Humphrey's path mirrors Large's in some ways. He also jumped from SDSU to WSU last year, but started his career with four years at FCS Northern Arizona. In his one season as a Cougar, Humphrey started 12 games (an injury kept him out of the Potato Bowl) and piled up 53 tackles (two for loss), two interceptions, and two pass breakups.

More Cougar Interest Coming

Keep an eye on running back Angel Johnson and wide receiver Josh Meredith in the days ahead. Both participated in WSU's pro day in late March and could land deals as the offseason continues.

The Cougars are also building for the future. Linebacker Josiah Rand, a three-star prospect from Chaminade High in West Hills, California, gave WSU its first 2027 commitment on Saturday. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Rand picked up 50 tackles (40 solo, one for loss) last fall as a junior.

WSU also locked in offensive lineman Gabe Miller, who's transferring from Butte College. Miller, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound class of 2025 prospect from Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, California, announced his commitment on Saturday.

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