Washington State is sitting at a brutal 1-7 this season, still chasing their first FBS win, but if you’re watching tight end Trey Leckner, you wouldn’t know it. This guy missed the first *four* games of his redshirt junior campaign, then exploded back onto the field with a key fourth-down conversion against Boise State, piling up 12 catches for 98 yards, including an 18-yard grab. He’s still the absolute downfield threat that made him such an enticing prospect years ago. So, how does a team with just one win handle the crushing noise and keep their heads up?
Trey Leckner’s Grind: From Glacier Peak to Cougar Star
Leckner admits that when he was younger, back in high school at Glacier Peak over in Snohomish, the criticism used to get to him. He internalized it. But those days are long gone, he said, largely thanks to the journey he took to get to WSU. He redshirted in 2023, started building momentum late in 2024, and then earned a starting role last year in 2025. This season, even after missing those initial four games, his veteran presence is absolutely clutch. Leckner credits his growth to the locker room environment, being around a lot of seriously good players since 2023, picking their brains, and having solid mentors, both players and coaches. That kind of foundation makes a difference when the scoreboard isn’t cooperating.
Facing the Fire: The Cougars’ Tough Season Under the Spotlight
It’s been a rough ride for Head Coach Kirby Moore and the Cougars. Their only win this season was a cruise past FCS Duquesne back in mid-September, but since then, they’ve dropped five in a row, including that 31-10 loss to Boise State. They’ve tried everything to spark a change, from switching up play-callers to changing quarterbacks, benching Caden Pinnick for Owen Eshelman. The offense has seen *some* improvement with Eshelman under center in the last two games, but it hasn’t translated into a W yet. The only thing WSU has yielded consistently this season? Criticism. It’s coming from everywhere: fans, media, college football observers. Even in their new Pac-12 era, WSU is a high-profile program, and everyone’s got an opinion when things are this bad. And while the big paydays in the NIL era mean they sign up for this platform, it doesn’t make them immune to the noise.
No Bowl Game? No Problem: The Will to Win
So, with no bowl game on the horizon, what the heck keeps these guys motivated? It boils down to sheer will. “Regardless what the prize is or whatever that we’re playing for, I want to win. I know all the guys in the locker room want to win, and the coaches want to win,” Leckner said. He summed it up perfectly: “just the will to win.” This team has 14 seniors, including key players like linebacker Keith Brown and offensive linemen Jonny Lester. These guys are playing to send their seniors out on a good note, to build some crucial momentum heading into next year. That’s the stuff that makes you keep fighting when everything else is against you.
Next up, the Cougars hit the road for a matchup with San Diego State. It’s another chance to show that “will to win” and build that momentum Leckner talked about. Can they turn that internal fire into an actual FBS win? We’ll be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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