PULLMAN – Zevi Eckhaus had never grilled before. But on a sunny spring Saturday in Pullman, with practice behind him and teammates to feed, the Washington State quarterback figured it was time to give it a shot.
He went out, bought a grill, and invited a handful of players over for burgers and wings. Word spread fast. By the time he got back from Walmart with fellow QB Jaxon Potter—and Potter’s truck to haul the grill—nearly 30 teammates had shown up.
“There’s a picture floating around of me out there with the spatula, towel on my shoulder, giving a thumbs-up,” Eckhaus said, laughing. “If you’ve got 25 hungry football players, it doesn’t take much to satisfy them.”
That moment—part cookout, part team bonding—was about more than food. For Eckhaus, it was proof of how much has changed in a year.
From Transfer to Teammate
When Eckhaus transferred from FCS Bryant to WSU in January 2024, he envisioned a clear path: win the starting quarterback job, then head to the NFL draft. Instead, he spent the season as backup to John Mateer, who has since transferred to Oklahoma along with former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
The script didn’t go as planned. But what Eckhaus found was something more valuable—comfort.
He now feels settled in Pullman, with teammates who show up at his apartment for cookouts, with a locker room where he’s at ease, and with a rhythm to daily life that allows him to focus on both his craft and his community.
“In L.A., it’s all about the flash,” said Eckhaus, a Culver City native. “The cars, the outfits, the biggest picture you can make. Here, it’s different. It’s about making memories. Fishing, playing cards, grilling with your teammates—that’s what you really appreciate when you’re in Pullman.”
Confidence With a Competitive Edge
Eckhaus is walking a fine line. By all accounts, he’s in line to be WSU’s starting quarterback this fall. He flashed real promise in the Holiday Bowl against Syracuse, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns while showing poise under pressure.
But he refuses to see the job as his just yet.
“There’s always a voice in the back of your head,” he said. “If I’m off, I could lose it. It’s not even about someone else doing better—it’s about me holding myself to the standard I need.”
He looks to Tom Brady for inspiration. In a Patriots documentary, Eckhaus noticed Brady’s relentless competitiveness, even with a clear-cut backup like Jimmy Garoppolo behind him.
“I’m not comparing myself to Brady,” he said, “but I have that same internal clock. In practice, in the film room, in the weight room—I can’t just assume anything. That’s what keeps me sharp.”
A Quarterback’s Mindset
Eckhaus has learned to embrace uncertainty, both in life and on the field. His journey has already taken him from Los Angeles to Rhode Island, and now to the Palouse. He compares it to reading progressions as a quarterback.
“You might love your go-ball,” he explained, “but if the receiver slips, you’ve gotta move on. Maybe you hit the dig on the back side for 15 yards. It’s not what you pictured, but it might be even better. That’s how I see life right now.”
For Eckhaus, Pullman has become more than a stop on the way to professional football. It’s a place where he feels grounded, surrounded by teammates who trust him—and who know he’s as competitive as they come.
“When the pads come off, that’s when you relax and enjoy it,” he said. “But when it’s time, you flip the switch. That’s what this year is about—being comfortable, but never complacent.”
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