“We’re pretty big up front this year,” Beatty said. “Last year, we were some dogs up front and we’re trying to replicate that and even improve on that and with the bodies that we have now, I think we can definitely dominate in the trenches and show that we’re dogs again and have (the) Washington State defensive line be feared.”
Hutson said he appreciates the opportunity to play fast and off the ball and the high-level instruction he receives from Ena, a full-time college coach since 2006 across the west, and pass rushers coach Andrew Browning, who spent the past eight years at Cal.
“All facets and all parts of our defense just work together well,” Hutson said. “I feel like we all mold well and mesh well and we have great coaches.”
Hutson began his career at FCS-Campbell (N.C.) in 2022, where he totaled 23 tackles, two blocked kicks and a forced fumble.
He transferred to Austin Peay (Tenn.), where he redshirted in 2023, and then found his way back to Campbell, where he tallied 50 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two more blocked kicks in 2024.
“I’ve been able to understand different defensive schemes, different defensive coaches, different head coaches,” Hutson said. “Meeting new people, meeting new environments … that’s just a testament of me being able to adjust and go with the flow. And I’m blessed for it all. I’m blessed to be here now, and obviously (for) all the experience I had before.”
Hutson is far from the only one new to town.
Ena said that the fact that the staff is new to Pullman, too, has helped the team jell early.
For a veteran coach like Ena — an Eastern Washington grad who rose from defensive ends coach, to associate head coach to DC at his alma mater from 2016-21, in addition to stints at Idaho (2009-12), Cal Poly (2013-15), Hawaii (2022-23) and New Mexico State (2024-25) — every team is a new team, even if a majority of the room is wearing the same colors they were the previous year.