RU defensive coordinator Joe Rossi

Among the many challenges for Rutgers defensive coordinator in the season opener at Washington State is finding a way to limit the Cougars' deep stable of wide receivers

(Aris Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger)

PISCATAWAY -- Kyle Flood doesn't need to compare Washington State's current roster to last year's to know the team he faces in the season opener Thursday night has an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position.

One look at the game film tells the Rutgers football coach that.

"It's a four wide receiver style of offense,'' Flood said. "The longer those guys stay together it's almost like the rhythm of playing on a basketball team with the same people for a long time. There's a rhythm to what they do and I think they have that.''

Not only does Washington State return its top eight receivers from last season, only five teams in the country bring back more pass-catching depth. Cougars coach Mike Leach's deep WR corps will present a challenge to Rutgers' unproven secondary Thursday night at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

"I think it's good,'' said Leach, who schemed the fourth-best passing offense in the country last season at 368.0 yards-per-game. "A lot of them are the same guys but they have a season under their belt at least.''

Gabe Marks was the most productive of the bunch last season, finishing his sophomore campaign with a team-high 74 catches, which ranked fifth-best in the Pac-12 and second in program history. The 6-0, 181-pounder from Los Angeles tallied a team-best 807 receiving yards and his 13 receptions in a loss against No. 2 Oregon became the program standard for a single game.

The Spokesman-Review reported Friday that Marks' status for the opener and beyond is in question due to an undisclosed injury. Marks, however, remains listed on the depth chart for the opener.

Either way, it appears that the Cougars have plenty of depth to survive the absence of last year's leading pass-catcher.

"They have very good receivers,'' Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said. "When you talk about throwing the ball around and coach Leach -- no one does it better than him. It's going to be a tremendous challenge.''

One issue Rossi is surely facing as he installs his defensive game-plan is the inability key in on a single Washington State receiver. Eight Cougars wideouts recorded at least 37 receptions last fall, and the Cougars had 10 receivers catch a pass in a game 11 times.

Other receivers to watch include Kristoff Williams (51 receptions), River Cracraft (46), Vince Mayle (42), Dom Williams (40), Rickey Galvin (39) and Isiah Myers (37). Another receive to watch is Calvin Green, a freshman who appears poised to make an immediate impact after moving up the depth chart throughout the summer.

What it all means is means fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Halliday will be looking to spread the wealth after setting a school-record with 449 completions, 4,597 passing yards and 34 touchdowns a year ago.

"We have eight guys that can be playing anywhere in the Pac-12,'' Halliday said. "I think that says a lot about our recruiting, a lot about our coaching staff and a lot about how hard we work. So I'm excited to see what everybody does the 28th.''

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.