Washington State's Jack Pedersen Is Making It Impossible to Ignore Him in Spring Practice

Jack Pedersen doesn't want to talk about himself. Ask the Washington State tight end about the way he's been standing out during spring practices, and he'll redirect you to his teammates, his quarterbacks, his running backs. "The guys around us," he'll say. But after the Cougars' sixth practice of spring, Pedersen didn't get a choice. During a team period, the fifth-year senior turned around at the goal line, boxed his defender clean, and snagged a touchdown pass from quarterback Caden Pinnick. Just another day at the office for a guy who's suddenly become one of the most dangerous weapons in the WSU offense.

The Tape Doesn't Lie

This wasn't an isolated moment. At WSU's Saturday practice in Spokane, Pedersen lined up for a couple trick play passes and jogged into the end zone untouched on both of them. But here's what really stands out: the guy moves like a 6-foot-5 speedster, not a veteran tight end. His field awareness, his footwork, the way he glides through coverage,it's starting to paint a clear picture of how head coach Kirby Moore and offensive coordinator Matt Miller want to use him.

Pedersen came to Pullman with serious pedigree. He spent his first four years at UCLA, where he caught 23 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown. His final season with the Bruins was productive, too: 11 receptions for 72 yards across 11 games. He's got the size, the experience, and apparently the skill set to be a major part of what's happening in Pullman right now.

An Opening at a Crowded Position

Normally, Pedersen might be fighting an uphill battle for playing time. Tight end Trey Leckner, a two-year WSU veteran who started nine games last season, would likely be the starter if the season kicked off tomorrow. But Leckner is sidelined for the entirety of spring with an injury, and that's opened the door for guys like Pedersen to flash. And he's not wasting the opportunity.

Pedersen came to WSU partly because of relationships built long before he stepped foot in Pullman. Wide receivers coach Derek Sage recruited him when Sage was at UCLA, and tight ends coach Derham Cato did the same when he was at Washington. "Thankfully, it didn't work out and I didn't go over there," Pedersen laughed about choosing Pullman over the Huskies. "I felt like it was the right fit for me."

What Moore Sees at the Position

Head coach Kirby Moore has made it clear what draws him to his tight ends. "Just the flexibility in terms of routes that they can run from different spots on the field," Moore said. "Catch radius, we talked about the red zone and the field shortening,well, there's room for error for the quarterback, or you're bodying up a guy, and it's almost a rebound opportunity if you want to correlate it to basketball."

Pedersen gets it. "I think Coach has a great game plan in place," Pedersen said. "My teammates around me allow me to make some of those plays. I'm just looking forward to continuing to make them, whether that's with the rock or not, just being able to contribute to this team as much as I can."

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