SEATTLE — Washington’s defensive line depth took a hit on Wednesday.
Huskies coach Chris Petersen announced via statement that fifth-year senior defensive end Josh
Shirley and seldom-used, third-year sophomore offensive lineman Taylor Hindy have left the UW football team and intend to transfer.
Shirley’s departure had been rumored for a while. He sat out much of the second half of the Huskies’ spring practices with an undisclosed illness, and fans began speculating about his future after he didn’t participate in UW’s “Husky Combine” workout on May 20. Shirley posted a photo on his Instagram
Tuesday of himself on a jet ski with the accompanying message: “Seattle it’s been real. Had to have one final ride. #illbeback #TurnThePage #NextChapter”
Shirley finishes his UW career with 18 sacks and 74 tackles in three seasons. He will be a fifth-year senior in 2014, meaning he will be immediately eligible to play elsewhere so long as he obtains his degree from UW.
A 6-foot-3, 228-pound native of Fontana, Calif., and a standout at Kaiser High School, Shirle originally signed with UCLA and coach Rick Neuheisel in 2010. But after being arrested in connection with the theft of a student’s backpack in June of 2010 — along with now-Seahawks receiver Paul Richardson and his cousin, cornerback Shaquille Richardson — the three players were dismissed from the program before school started.
Shirley transferred to UW to play for coach Steve Sarkisian, who had recruited him heavily, and agreed to redshirt the 2010 season as a condition of playing for the Huskies. Paul Richardson wound up at Colorado — he became the Seahawks’ second-round draft pick this year — and Shaquille Richardson transferred to Arizona.
Shirley made his debut in 2011, when he played in every game, made seven starts, and had 8.5 sacks. That total dropped to 6.5 in 2012 and 3.0 last season.
Hindy, a 6-foot-4, 318-pound lineman from West Hills, Calif., and Chaminade Prep, appeared in two games in 2013, against Idaho State and Colorado.
UW-Hawaii moved to 7:30
UW’s season opener will kick off late for fans watching on the west coast.
Originally scheduled for 5 p.m. PDT, the Huskies’ Aug. 30 game at Hawaii has been moved to a 7:30
p.m. PDT start. That’s 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
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