It’s that time of year where news is slim pickings, but that doesn’t mean it’s all quiet on the Pullman front. Graduation came and went last weekend (congrats to the class of 2025—hope you’re not in too much debt!), but the work continues in the Football Operations Building.
The work never ends because its transfer time. WSU recently picked up a few new players to fill some roster spots, including two quarterbacks:
Ajani Sheppard. QB
Last School: Rutgers
Sheppard was down the depth chart at Rutgers and threw two passes during his redshirt year in 2023—both completions. He worked mop-up duty last season and never attempted a pass. He’s mobile, and he had three rushes for 24 yards, though 20 of those yards came on one carry. The 6’2, 233-pound signal caller has three years of eligibility left.
Julian Dugger, QB
Last School: Pittsburgh
Dugger appeared in one game last season and has four years of eligibility left. He’s a dual threat, and his only appearance was in a 6OT loss last year in the Sports Bowl against Toledo where he was 7 of 13 for 72 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He carried the ball 21 times for 88 yards and one touchdown.
The quarterback room at WSU is now a table of four, with Sheppard and Dugger joining assumed starter Zevi Eckhaus and sophomore Jaxon Potter. WSU will also welcome true freshmen Dalton Anderson and Owen Eshelman this summer, giving them six quarterbacks to work with. These QBs will have a new receiver to throw to in….
Jeremiah Noga, WR
Last School: Oregon State
Noga hops from fellow Pac-12 foe Oregon State to Pullman where he fills a need after Tre Shackelford announced his intention to transfer. Noga has one year of eligibility left and caught 23 passes last season for 266 yards. There’s no Kyle Williams on the roster, but at least WSU is building some depth and has some choices to make at the receiver position.
Changes coming to the Martin Stadium game day experience?
WSU Athletic Director Anne McCoy spoke to The Spokesman-Review recently about a number of topics, but what stood out to me was her teasing the game day experience this fall:
Perhaps the most interesting development McCoy hinted at involved lodging, which has long been a snag in Pullman, a small town with only so many hotels for fans to stay during football game weekends.
Because the town’s hotels can rake in serious revenue off the six or seven home games per year, they often drive up prices for those weekends, which in turn repels some would-be patrons, decreasing the amount of tickets sold at football games.
McCoy said any announcements on game day experiences would have to wait until “the next couple weeks,” but she offered a clue to what WSU is doing for lodging improvements.
“We’re trying to be as creative as we can,” McCoy said. “One thing I will say is that while we may have a finite number of hotels, we do have a fair amount of land. So that’s as much as a hint as I’ll give you.”
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?!?!
I have precisely zero insight, so I’m just guessing here based on (almost) nothing. We all know the hotels jack up their prices on football weekends because that’s supply and demand, brother. Families looking to spend less than a monthly mortgage on a trip to Pullman who also want to only stay one night are light on options. Could WSU open up some empty dorm space to accommodate some fans?
In looking at the school’s housing website, you’ll notice not every dorm is listed, and there’s a note indicating Stephenson South will be “offline” next school year. Will the school open it up hotel-style on football weekends? We’ll see!
What other creative options would you suggest?