At a major position of need, Washington State has picked up a potential impact transfer from the portal.

Former Southern Utah offensive lineman Christy Nkanu announced his commitment to Washington State on Sunday. He chose the Cougars over interest from Cal, BYU, Virginia, and Troy. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining.

A 6-foot-4, 300-pound grad transfer, Nkanu projects as a versatile lineman who can slide around and fit where he’s needed. He played both guard and tackle this fall in what was his best season of college ball yet.

He posted an 84.1 pass-blocking grade (per Pro Football Focus) and was charged with just one sack allowed all season and only one other quarterback hit. He earned a spot on the All-Big Sky First Team for his efforts. Nkanu played in nine games during the 2021 season and then two games in each of the prior two years.

Washington State is expected to return three starters along the offensive line for the 2023 season but is losing left tackle Jarrett Kingston, a three-year starter and the line’s top performer in 2022. The group needs a major overhaul after quarterback Cameron Ward was among the most pressured passers in the country this season.