PULLMAN - In wearing jersey No. 15 last week, Washington State safety Tyree Toomer was paying tribute to teammate LeAndre Daniels, whose football career was cut short by a neck injury during preseason workouts.
But his gesture paid some unexpected dividends for Toomer during the Cougars' 23-22 win over Montana State.
"When I'm out there on the field and, say, I'm feeling tired or I'm hurting," he said Tuesday, "I can just look down on my jersey and I can just think about what he's going through and how badly he wants to be in my shoes right now. That would kind of help me cope through what I was going through."
Toomer, who normally wears 33, did both numbers proud on the game's pivotal play, when he blitzed Bobcats quarterback Denarius McGhee, jarring his arm as he released the ball. The errant pass was intercepted by Alex Hoffman-Ellis and returned to the 2-yard line to set up the winning field goal with 2:13 remaining.
It was the sort of play that Cougar fans had envisioned No. 15 making this season. But Daniels, the projected starter at free safety and one of the most well-liked players on the team, suffered a neck injury during practice last month and was eventually diagnosed with a fracture of the C1 veterbra. No neurological damage was detected and a full recovery is expected, but Daniels' football career was declared over. He has been fitted with a halo collar, and Toomer said he has recently returned to classes.
Daniels and Toomer, both sophomores who suffered season-ending injuries last year, are roommates who have been close friends since arriving on campus in the summer of 2008. When Daniels sustained his neck injury, Toomer inherited his starting job. So the tribute idea seemed like a natural.
"(With me) wearing his number, he can kind of envision himself out there," Toomer said, "even though he can't physically be out there. That's another reason why I did it."
HOME TO TEXAS - The Cougars' game at Dallas on Saturday against Southern Methodist will serve as a homecoming for two senior defenders from Texas, safety Chima Nwachukwu and linebacker Hallston Higgins.
They are the only remaining Texan imports from ex-WSU coach Bill Doba's pipeline to that state. And although the Texan Cougars in general have met mixed results in their efforts to adapt to a foreign environment, Nwachukwu and Higgins are two success stories, albeit contrasting ones.
Nwachukwu, who grew up near Dallas, has started 30 games and last year was a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Higgins, from the Houston area, has been a perpetual backup but made big strides this past offseason and on Saturday made his first career start, replacing the injured Mike Ledgerwood at middle backer.
"Both of those guys are in their fourth year, and they're veteran guys and they understand the process," WSU coach Paul Wulff said. "They're both very mature, they're good leaders. I couldn't be happier with those two guys and how well they've improved individually."
Coincidence or not, Wulff on Saturday landed his first recruit from Texas in his three years at the Cougar helm. According to Scout.com, offensive lineman Rico Forbes of the Houston area, who plays for Navarro College in Texas as a sophomore, committed to the Cougars after attending the Montana State game.
QUICK RECOVERY - Nico Grasu, who kicked the game-winning 18-yard field goal against Montana State with 2:13 remaining, said he strained his oblique (abdominal) muscle last Tuesday, took the rest of the week off, then relied largely on muscle memory during the game.
One might think the injury helps explain one of Wulff's decisions in the second quarter, when he opted to try for a first down rather than a field goal on fourth-and-6 from the Montana State 27-yard line - and stuck to that plan even after a false-start penalty made it fourth-and-11.
But Wulff said a headwind was the main factor in the decision. The Cougars were stopped for no gain.
ETC. - True freshman receiver Kristoff Williams this week has rejoined practice for the first time since sustaining turf toe during the preseason, and he may see playing time Saturday. ... Also expected to play are Ledgerwood (stinger) and defensive tackle Bernard Wolfgramm (shoulder). ... The Cougars' rally from a 15-point deficit Saturday marked their biggest fourth-quarter comeback since 1984, when they climbed out of a 21-point hole to beat Stanford 49-42.
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Grummert may be contacted at daleg@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2290.
