WSU NOTES: Williams likely to get going earlier this season

No one who has watched Dominique Williams during Washington State football practices since 2011 was surprised by his late-season emergence last season, highlighted by his eight-catch performance in an Apple Cup win over Washington.

The surprise had come earlier: He caught only three passes through the first six games of the season.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore receiver, now battling newcomer Vince Mayle for a starting role at the X (left outside) position, seems resolved to avoid another slow start this year as the Cougars continue preseason camp at Sacajawea Junior High in Lewiston.

Of course, a year ago Williams was playing behind Marquess Wilson, the marquee talent whose disruptive late-season departure from the Cougars carried one silver lining: the chance it gave to Williams to rack up reps and develop his confidence.

"You can't really get frustrated, because you're playing a game you love," Williams said Thursday of his low-profile start as a second-year freshman. "This is what we're here for, because we love the game. They're always going to play the best 11. So all you can do is come out and keep competing."

Williams finished with 36 catches last year for 546 yards. If he merely continues the pace he set during the latter half of last season, he'll be pushing 1,000 yards this time around.

QB TO SAFETY - Not surprisingly, true freshman Isaac Dotson, who had worked with quarterbacks the first few days of camp, is now being ushered into a safety position.

With the Cougars dealing with depth issues at safety, Dotson is expected to challenge for a backup role soon.

"As we stand at quarterback right now, he's fourth or fifth," coach Mike Leach said. "And part of that is learning curve, no question, because he's really smart and he has a ton of skills. ... Safety, he's going to be two or three, and then if he really gets in a rhythm maybe challenge for a spot."

Also moved to safety was Anthony Carpenter, a swing player who started at cornerback for much of last season.

The position got a further boost from the return of top-shelf free safety Deone Bucannon, who had been held from most drills the previous two days.

The Cougars will practice at Sacajawea again at 3 p.m. today and at 9 a.m. Saturday.

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Grummert may be contacted at daleg@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2290.