The day after Jimmy Rogers was officially introduced as Washington State’s new football coach, he secured his biggest recruit to date.
A junior college transfer wide receiver, announced on social media that he is transferring to WSU. His commitment marks the most notable transfer since Rogers took over the program in late December. A three-star prospect, will have two years of eligibility (plus a redshirt year) after spending one season at Monterey Peninsula College in California.
In 10 games last season at Monterey Peninsula, he recorded 45 receptions for 837 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning recognition as the No. 6 junior college wide receiver in his class by 247 Sports. He hails from Canton, Georgia, located about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta.
After receiving his offer from WSU last weekend and visiting Pullman earlier this week, Ellison chose the Cougars over finalists Central Florida and Boise State. He was pursued by numerous schools, including Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas-San Antonio, Hawaii, Nevada, Western Kentucky, Akron, and several FCS programs.
Ellison began his collegiate career at Southern University in 2022 but did not see any game action.
In addition to Ellison, Rogers and the Cougars secured commitments Friday from Cal Poly transfer cornerback Kai Rapolla and Southwestern Oklahoma State transfer punter Dylan Mauro. Rapolla, who has two years of eligibility remaining, initially entered the transfer portal in December, committed to San Diego State, then decommitted and re-entered the portal.
In 2024, Rapolla totaled 30 tackles, five pass breakups, and two interceptions in 10 games, all starts. A Winchester, California native, he redshirted in 2022 and followed up with 14 tackles and four pass breakups in 2023. He finished the 2024 season with an impressive Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 81.8, ranking well above average and leading his team.
Standing at 6 feet and 190 pounds, Rapolla is a strong candidate to start immediately for WSU, as the Cougars are losing both of their starting cornerbacks for 2024—Ethan O’Connor (who transferred to Miami) and Steve Hall (who transferred to Missouri). Rogers has also secured a commitment from veteran cornerback Colby Humphrey, a former South Dakota State player.
Mauro, who spent the 2023 season at Texas-El Paso before transferring to Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2024, is a candidate to replace longtime WSU punter Nick Haberer, who transferred to Vanderbilt. A Dallas-area native, Mauro averaged 43.2 yards per punt last season, with a long of 84 yards, and also had six touchbacks on 36 kickoffs.
Ellison, Rapolla, and Mauro are the 18th, 19th, and 20th transfers Rogers has brought to WSU. They also mark the fourth, fifth, and sixth transfers from schools other than South Dakota State, joining defensive lineman Soni Finau from Cal Poly and tight end Ademola Faleye from Michigan State.
Additionally, Rogers secured three high school commitments on Friday: cornerbacks Trillion Sorrell and Tyrone Cotton, along with athlete Damarius Russell, all three-star prospects. All three were previously committed to Rogers at South Dakota State, which reflects the typical pattern of recruiting after the December early signing period.
With several receivers leaving WSU, including senior Kyle Williams (who exhausted his eligibility) and transfers Carlos Hernandez (to Wake Forest) and Kris Hutson (to Arizona), Ellison’s 6-2 frame provides a valuable option for the Cougars’ receiving corps, where he could start immediately. Returning receivers Josh Meredith and Tre Shackelford, both of whom briefly entered the transfer portal before withdrawing, are also likely to feature prominently in the 2025 rotation, along with rising sophomore Branden Ganashamoorthy.
Mauro’s strong performance in punting and kickoffs fills a need for WSU’s special teams, especially with Haberer and placekicker Dean Janikowski leaving. Mauro is the second kicker Rogers has brought in, alongside former South Dakota State kicker Jack Stevens.
In addition to adding depth at defensive back with Cotton and Sorrell, Rogers also secured Cotton’s commitment despite offers from Indiana, Miami (Ohio), Akron, Buffalo, and several FCS programs, including Western Michigan and Western Illinois.
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