The Couch GM Podcast

The Couch GM Podcast

WSU's New Edge Rusher From Berlin (Zunk) & Newest LB Transfer (Warner) Join the Show

Aug 21, 2026 · 29 min · 10 segments

Two of Washington State's newest defenders join the show, and neither one took a normal road to Pullman. DJ Warner was the No. 67 recruit in the country coming out of Desert Edge in Arizona. He went…

Two of Washington State's newest defenders join the show, and neither one took a normal road to Pullman. DJ Warner was the No. 67 recruit in the country coming out of Desert Edge in Arizona. He went to Kansas with his cousin and a high school teammate, spent a year at SMU, and is now learning a brand new position: he played on the edge his first two years and Trent Bray has him at off-ball linebacker. Bray says he's night and day from where he was in the spring, and he looks like a starter. Linus Zunk grew up in Berlin playing club basketball, picked up football as a teenager because the practice field happened to be close to his house, and showed up at a Georgia prep school as a junior with zero college offers. Four years and 36 games at Vanderbilt later, including the best season in that program's history, he's a 6-6 edge rusher spending his last year of eligibility on the Palouse. We get into the Berlin-to-the-SEC path, why you leave a program right after it wins 10 games for the first time ever, what it actually feels like to drop into coverage after two years of rushing the passer, and what this defense has to do differently after finishing 41st in the country in sacks last season. The Apple Cup is 19 days out. If you're new here, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a Cougs on the Couch episode this season. New shows every week through the fall. Follow us on Instagram for clips, graphics and mailbag questions, and drop a comment with what you want us to ask the next guest. Go Cougs. Connect with Connor/ The Couch GM- https://lenderconnorwebb.com My Mortgage Lending website- https://www.envoymortgage.com/connor-... My equipment list- https://www.amazon.com/shop/thecouchgm My Mortgage Lending website- https://www.envoymortgage.com/connor-... Livestream across channels using StreamYard- https://streamyard.com/?fpr=connor-35 Connor Webb- Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #1529504 Envoy Mortgage NMLS #6666 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Two of Washington State's newest defenders join the show, and neither one took a normal road to Pullman. DJ Warner was the No. 67 recruit in the country coming out of Desert Edge in Arizona. He went…

Introducing the Defensive Transfers0:00 – 2:01

Connor WebbHost

0:00

Welcome back to the Cougars on the Couch.

Connor WebbHost

0:01

Today we have a great episode.

Connor WebbHost

0:03

We've got two football players on the defensive side for Washington State this season, two transfers, some big name guys that you want to look out for.

Connor WebbHost

0:10

First off, we have DJ Warner, who is moving positions.

Connor WebbHost

0:13

He started in the spring and this is part of his transfer over to Washington State, was moving from an edge rusher to a linebacker.

Connor WebbHost

0:19

So we get into that story.

Connor WebbHost

0:21

And then Dylan, who do we have on second?

DylanHost

0:23

Yeah, Linus Zonk, transfer from Vanderbilt, defensive end, one of the stepbrothers with Matthias McClain on that edge.

DylanHost

0:33

So it was really nice to hear his background, how he got into football, grew up playing basketball in Germany, and then ended up coming over to Georgia and playing football in high school.

DylanHost

0:44

So without giving too much detail in the intro, We'll get into more of that with Linus.

DylanHost

0:50

And then just talking about the fit that Washington State was.

DylanHost

0:53

I mean, this is a guy that was transferring from a very good Vanderbilt program.

DylanHost

0:58

Obviously was a rotational player there, not a starter.

DylanHost

1:01

So he kind of goes into detail on how he ended up at the Palouse.

DylanHost

1:05

And, you know, Connor, these were two guys that were at the top of our target list and wanting to talk to before the season started.

DylanHost

1:12

So hats off to WSSID, Bobby Allworth for the help there.

DylanHost

1:16

And, you know, really excited to watch these guys rush the quarterback this season.

Connor WebbHost

1:22

Yeah, and make sure to stay tuned in to all of the updates and the interviews that we have because there's a lot of transfers that came in this past portal season, and especially the defense.

Connor WebbHost

1:31

A lot of the starters came in via the transfer portal, and it's a lot of top-end talent that if it jives together how it can, This could be a really good defense.

Connor WebbHost

1:41

So very excited.

Connor WebbHost

1:42

Before we get into it, you notice that this episode is cross-posted on YouTube with the couch GM and Cougs on the couch.

Connor WebbHost

1:47

If you haven't yet already go subscribe to the new Cougs on the couch, YouTube channel to stay up to date on all things, Washington state, go follow us on Instagram Cougs on the couch.

Connor WebbHost

1:56

And with that, let's get into the interview with DJ DJ Warner linebacker for Washington state university.

Read the full transcript.

Create an account to read the whole episode, search across every transcript, and follow the shows you care about.

Sign up Already have an account? Log in

Introducing the Defensive Transfers0:00 – 2:01

Connor WebbHost

0:00

Welcome back to the Cougars on the Couch.

Connor WebbHost

0:01

Today we have a great episode.

Connor WebbHost

0:03

We've got two football players on the defensive side for Washington State this season, two transfers, some big name guys that you want to look out for.

Connor WebbHost

0:10

First off, we have DJ Warner, who is moving positions.

Connor WebbHost

0:13

He started in the spring and this is part of his transfer over to Washington State, was moving from an edge rusher to a linebacker.

Connor WebbHost

0:19

So we get into that story.

Connor WebbHost

0:21

And then Dylan, who do we have on second?

DylanHost

0:23

Yeah, Linus Zonk, transfer from Vanderbilt, defensive end, one of the stepbrothers with Matthias McClain on that edge.

DylanHost

0:33

So it was really nice to hear his background, how he got into football, grew up playing basketball in Germany, and then ended up coming over to Georgia and playing football in high school.

DylanHost

0:44

So without giving too much detail in the intro, We'll get into more of that with Linus.

DylanHost

0:50

And then just talking about the fit that Washington State was.

DylanHost

0:53

I mean, this is a guy that was transferring from a very good Vanderbilt program.

DylanHost

0:58

Obviously was a rotational player there, not a starter.

DylanHost

1:01

So he kind of goes into detail on how he ended up at the Palouse.

DylanHost

1:05

And, you know, Connor, these were two guys that were at the top of our target list and wanting to talk to before the season started.

DylanHost

1:12

So hats off to WSSID, Bobby Allworth for the help there.

DylanHost

1:16

And, you know, really excited to watch these guys rush the quarterback this season.

Connor WebbHost

1:22

Yeah, and make sure to stay tuned in to all of the updates and the interviews that we have because there's a lot of transfers that came in this past portal season, and especially the defense.

Connor WebbHost

1:31

A lot of the starters came in via the transfer portal, and it's a lot of top-end talent that if it jives together how it can, This could be a really good defense.

Connor WebbHost

1:41

So very excited.

Connor WebbHost

1:42

Before we get into it, you notice that this episode is cross-posted on YouTube with the couch GM and Cougs on the couch.

Connor WebbHost

1:47

If you haven't yet already go subscribe to the new Cougs on the couch, YouTube channel to stay up to date on all things, Washington state, go follow us on Instagram Cougs on the couch.

Connor WebbHost

1:56

And with that, let's get into the interview with DJ DJ Warner linebacker for Washington state university.