PULLMAN, Wash. — The Washington State Cougars wrapped up day one of fall camp and the beginning of the team's quarterback battle between John Mateer and Zevi Eckhaus on Wednesday.
If you are looking for a clubhouse leader after day one, it had to be Mateer, thanks to a strong connection with star senior wide receiver Kyle Williams.
"We did really well, K.W. looked really good, he probably caught five or six passes and was getting open and we did not have any busts I don't think. We have been walking through and doing all of this stuff with Coach Dickert, his plan and his schedule got us ready to go and I looked good and we looked good today," Mateer said.
Mateer enters camp as the leader for the starting quarterback job and is focusing on trying to limit turnovers and prove he can lead Ben Arbuckle's offense.
"I have all the tools to do it and really just need to take care of the football. I struggled for the first part of spring taking care of the football, but just making sure the ball is the most important thing. From the leadership standpoint, when we really need it, I need to be the guy to step up and get the offense together and get them going, that's really the main thing," Mateer said.
As for Williams, he enters his final fall camp as a college football player as the number one receiver in this WSU offense and he played like it on day one.
"When you are a great player, show other players how to be great players and why you are a great player and then we have a team of great players. I think it is really imperative that Kyle looks at the big picture and I think he has. Kyle has had a great offseason, he has really invested himself in the weight room and it has been fun to see him apply it on the field," head coach Jake Dickert said.
Beginning his third fall camp as head coach at WSU, Jake Dickert says this was the best day one of fall camp he has had yet.
"My plan did not make it great, their purpose and intent to the work makes it great. That was the best first day of fall camp we have had since I have been here and it is because the players went out there and wanted to do it, not me, they did it. It has to be player led, not coach fed," Dickert said.
This also marks the sixth fall camp for redshirt senior linebacker Kyle Thornton, who is hoping to be an example for the young defensive players in camp.
"With that time here, there has definitely come a comfortability with the system and what is going on out here, which really just enables me to help the young guys. In these fall camp practices, there is a lot going on and there are lots of moving parts, so I just tell the guys, 'Hey, just follow me and we will get to where we need to go,'" Thornton said.
The Cougs have three more practices in their helmets before putting on the full pads for the first time at 8:30 am on Tuesday morning.
WSU opens the season August 31st at home against Portland State. Kick off is set for noon.
