Deone Bucannon returns to WSU to finish his degree

More than a decade after playing his final football game as a Coug, former NFL linebacker Deone Bucannon is returning to Washington State University to receive his diploma.

From 2010 to 2013, Bucannon accumulated more than 370 tackles and a dozen interceptions as a member of the WSU football team under head coaches Paul Wulff and Mike Leach. Following his senior season, Bucannon was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the NFL draft. He played for four teams during his professional career, earning a Super Bowl ring in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But when he packed up and left for the NFL, Bucannon left something behind in Pullman - a college degree.

A desire to complete his academic pursuit - coupled with the opportunity for his parents to see him walk across the stage inside Beasley Coliseum - motivated Bucannon to reenroll at WSU.

"My mom has a few college degrees of her own, and I was there to celebrate her receiving each of those," Bucannon said. "I know she wanted the same opportunity to see me graduate."

An outstanding career in Crimson and Gray

Bucannon's talents in high school drew college coaches from across the country. But as he recalls, it was a lot of talk and "pump faking" rather than solid commitments.

"Coach Chris Ball was different," Bucannon recalled. "He kept it real with me. He knew I wanted to go to a school where I could get on the field if I showed what I could do, and so WSU was my first and only visit."

Bucannon was taken aback by the community's response to him during his visit to campus.

"Everybody out there was crazy friendly, saying hello to me," he recalled. "It was just such a welcoming environment."

Bucannon hit the field right away as a first-year student-athlete. It suited his preference for getting after it on the field rather than swaying idly on the sidelines.

Standout moments from his time wearing the Crimson and Gray included knocking off the University of Washington in the 2012 Apple Cup, kicking off the 2013 season against Auburn, and playing in the Cougs' first bowl game in a decade to close out his time with the team.

His last few months in Pullman were a blur of team workouts, NFL combines, and interviews with team officials. Playing professionally was his dream, and required all of his attention at that time. But he promised his parents that he'd come back and finish his degree, a commitment his dad never let him forget.

Fortunately, once the time was right, WSU was ready to help make it happen.

Deone Bucannon (left) prepares to tackle an opponent during a WSU/USC football game. Deone Bucannon celebrating a win with Cougar fans. Linebacker Deone Bucannon may have been a force to reckon with on the field, but loved how welcoming Cougs were during his days in Pullman.

Suiting back up

When Bucannon left Pullman for the NFL, he did so just four classes short of earning his degree. Late last year, Bucannon reached out to Heather Erwin, associate director for athletics, academic services and student-athlete development, to see how he could come back and earn his diploma.

"Being a Cougar doesn't end when eligibility does," Erwin said. "We work intentionally to keep the door open so former student-athletes have the opportunity to come back, finish their degrees, and achieve something they, and we, are incredibly proud of. Life can take people in many directions after their playing days end, but education is something that stays with you forever."

She continued, "Watching someone return years later to finish what they started and walk across that stage is incredibly meaningful, for them, their families, and for the entire Cougar community."

At the end of the semester, Bucannon will earn his bachelor's degree in social science. His career goal is rooted in helping others accomplish their goals, whether or not football is part of their plan.

"I want to show other people I believe in them, and inspire kids to follow their dreams," Bucannon said. "I was relentless about my dream and there were a lot of people who helped me along by not stepping on my flower, and so I want to pay that support forward and nurture the next generation, however that manifests."