PULLMAN, Wash. - A bye week allowed some of Washington State's injured football players to heal enough to play at California this weekend, Coach Paul Wulff said Tuesday.
Offensive lineman Zach Williams has a good chance of returning, which should provide a boost to the WSU rush and pass attack. Offensive lineman B.J. Guerra is still questionable, Wulff said.
Starting defensive tackle Bernard Wolfgramm is also expected back, Wulff said.
He'll be needed against a Cal offense that averages 32 points and 200 rushing yards per game.
But the Cougars (1-5, 0-4 Pac-10) will be starting 17-year-old freshman Terrance Hayward at cornerback, in place of Daniel Simmons, who suffered a broken leg against Arizona State.
"For a kid of 17 he's pretty talented," Wulff said.
Not that it really matters, as injuries have forced the Cougars onto a team record pace for freshman starters this year.
California (4-2, 1-2) beat UCLA last week after being blown out by Southern Cal and Oregon the previous two games.
The Golden Bears feature running back Jahvid Best, one of the best in the nation. He's rushed for 616 yards so far, an average of 6.1 yards per carry. Shane Vereen has added 309 yards for Cal's potent rushing attack.
"Nobody's really stopped it," Wulff said.
Freshman Jeff Tuel will start at quarterback for WSU again, and no major lineup changes are expected, Wulff said.
He'd like to see better protection for Tuel and backup quarterback Marshall Lobbestael, who were sacked a total of 12 times by Arizona State.
"We haven't given any of our quarterbacks much opportunity to perform at the level they are capable of," Wulff said.
The bye week, at the exact midpoint of the season, also gave the team a chance to focus on goals for the second half, Wulff said.
"What can we do different and improve on, based on the first half?" Wulff said. "We will not get taller or gain weight or get a tenth faster."
But the team can practice better, prepare better and players can demand more of each other, he said.
"The attitude has been great," Wulff said. "It's night and day from a year ago at this time."
Last year, Cal jumped on the Cougars immediately and won 66-3 in Pullman. Best had runs of 80 and 86 yards in that game.
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