The best play Zevi Eckhaus made in Friday’s Holiday Bowl, even in his Washington State team’s 52-35 loss to No. 21 Syracuse , was never going to end up on SportsCenter’s top plays. What it did accomplish was give WSU fans and coaches, whatever that staff looks like in the coming days and weeks, something to build on.
It alerted the Cougars and those who care about them that in the midst of turmoil, with coaches and players alike leaving the program, they may have a quarterback to build around. The play came late in the third quarter, the Cougars trying to draw within one score, facing a third-and-4 inside Orange territory. Eckhaus dropped back, saw just a three-man rush, and realized he could buy some time in the pocket.
He danced until a Syracuse pass rusher was closing in, then flicked an accurate pass over the middle to sophomore receiver Carlos Hernandez, who took it 42 yards for a touchdown. Eckhaus completed 31 of 43 passes for 363 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also 11 carries for 28 yards and one score.
Outside of a couple of mistakes through the air, including an interception that took the wind out of WSU’s sails early in the fourth quarter, Eckhaus had a promising performance. He might have earned enough attention to field some NIL offers, even if he uses them to earn a bit more from the Cougars. Nobody knows whether Eckhaus will wear a crimson uniform next season, not even Eckhaus.
WSU’s Saturday announcement of Jimmy Rogers becoming th.
