By Theo Lawson | McClatchy News Service
PULLMAN — Despite entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal last week, Washington State’s Skyler Thomas will stay put this fall and finish his college career with the Cougars.
Thomas announced the news on Twitter: “I will be pulling my name from the transfer portal and returning to WSU.”
The Pacific-12 Conference’s postponement of fall football two weeks ago prompted the Southern California native to enter his name in the portal and seek opportunities elsewhere. While the Pac-12 and Big Ten have moved on from the idea of playing this fall, the Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference still plan on a season starting next month.
In Thomas’ Twitter post, the defensive back wrote, “I would like to thank all the coaches that have reached out to me this past week. I would also like to thank Coach Rolo for giving me this week to explore other options.”
It’s unclear how many Power Five coaches contacted Thomas, or if any of those presented him an opportunity to play this fall, but the 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior who’s started in 25 of 26 games the past two years indicated returning to WSU was his best option.
In 2019, Thomas started in 12 of 13 games for the Cougars, playing at both the “nickel” and strong safety positions. He was second on the team with 72 tackles and led the Cougars with four interceptions. Thomas was a 13-game starter at free safety the year prior, recording 76 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.
Fisher enters portal
Rodrick Fisher, who started six games at wide receiver for Washington State last season, has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal, Rivals.com reported.
The Spokane native left the Cougars football program in February after a successful redshirt freshman season under Mike Leach.
Fisher’s reasons for leaving the program were unknown and the player’s name hadn’t resurfaced until Rivals.com’s Transfer Portal Twitter account reported he’d slipped his name into the database, suggesting he plans to continue his college football career.
A former two-sport star at East Valley, Fisher impressed WSU coaches during fall camp in 2019 and claimed the starting job at “X” receiver, beating out a more established player in Tay Martin, who recently announced his own transfer to Oklahoma State.
Fisher reeled in his first college touchdown in his first start against New Mexico State and finished the year with 19 receptions for 265 yards and one score. He averaged 16 yards per punt return on four tries during the season. Though Fisher started in just six games, he appeared in all 13 for the Cougars.
