PRACTICE REPORT: On the mend

PULLMAN- As the Cougars wrapped up practice on Wednesday, WR Marquess Wilson and SS Deone Bucannon were still on the sidelines as spectators. Wilson has missed all three practices this week, while Bucannon has missed the last two. The question on everybody's mind, will both be out for this weekend's high stakes tilt against Utah?

No.

Although Wilson and Bucannon have missed significant chunks of action this week, Wulff told CF.C after practice that both players just needed time to rest their injuries and that both will play against Utah.

"They should both be ready to go tomorrow," Wulff said referring to Thursday's practice.

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SAM LB Sekope Kaufusi and LT David Gonzales on Wednesday each returned and jumped right back in with the starting unit after missing Tuesday’s practice, Kaufusi to rest his shoulder and Gonzales after an academic obligation. Gonzales is arguably the best pass blocker the Cougs have on their roster, and he was showcasing that on Wednesday, providing some great protection for starting QB Connor Halliday.

Kaufusi was eased into practice but was still flying around the football field and should be 100 percent by the time Saturday comes around.

Fellow LB C.J. Mizell (shoulder) also was a full participant in practice for the second straight day and was seeing action with both the 1's and 2's. Mike Ledgerwood continues to see reps with Mizell, and he had a solid afternoon which included two interceptions off scout team QBs.

The defense as a whole did a fine job in creating turnovers -- they recorded 4 interceptions across the units. What made it even more intriguing was that junior QB Jeff Tuel was the one who threw three of them.

Now, it should be noted that Tuel, as Wulff pointed out, was out there trying to help out the scout team defense, so he made some throws he wouldn’t normally make. And after the picks, Tuel himself was clapping and cheering on the defenders as they made plays.

Tuel, who appears likely out for the season after re-aggravating his clavicle injury, is still able to throw and Wulff said Tuel on his own asked to play with the scouts and continue to help as much as he can.

"I keep saying this to people but we're doing our best to have selfless people and guys with no egos who are willing to do what's best to help the team win," Wulff said. "I really believe the core of the football team is like that and Jeff, like Marshall (Lobbestael), and all our quarterbacks are like that."

ON OFFENSE, Connor Halliday continued to impress in running the starting unit. Halliday was methodical on Wednesday, hitting his WRs from all angles. What stood out on Wednesday and previously, his ability to throw on the run and still maintain a tight spiral and hit his targets in small windows.

"He did a good job," Wulff said. " He got more reps this week then he normally has and he's been doing good in practice."

The snow flakes started falling lightly at the beginning of practice but midway through the session, they really started coming down. Enthusiasm remained high throughout.

"They're excited to play and again it's been a while since we've been in the 11th week and have the opportunity to still compete for a bowl game," Wulff said. "There's a lot more excitement than normal."

RUNNING WITH THE 1s

OFFENSE
QB: Connor Halliday
X receiver: Kristoff Williams
Flanker: Isiah Barton
(Note: Bobby Ratliff also seeing action running with the 1s)
Z receiver: Jared Karstetter
TE: Andrei Lintz
LT: David Gonzales
LG: John Fullington
C: Matt Goetz (Andrew Roxas also getting reps)
RG: B.J. Guerra
RT: Dan Spitz (Jake Rodgers also getting reps)
RB: Rickey Galvin

DEFENSE
LE: Travis Long
LT: Brandon Rankin (Toni Pole also getting reps)
RT: Anthony Laurenzi
RE: Adam Coerper
SAM: Sekope Kaufusi (Chester Sua also getting reps)
MIKE: C.J. Mizell (Mike Ledgerwood also getting reps)
WILL: Alex Hoffman-Ellis
CB: Nolan Washington
SS: Casey Locker
FS: Tyree Toomer
CB: Damante Horton (Brandon Golden also getting reps)