UW’s Savannah academically ineligible

Published 3:27 pm Monday, August 4, 2008

SEATTLE — The Washington football team’s leading tackler E.J. Savannah is academically ineligible.

He was not on the Huskies’ roster Monday as they begin fall camp in Seattle, although he could be added later.

The linebacker led the team with 111 tackles last season and was Washington’s defensive player of the year.

Savannah broke his arm in the offseason in a non-football related incident, but the team expected him to be ready for the start of the season.

Meanwhile, Washington reserve tight end Chris Izbicki has been charged with a pair of misdemeanors — second-degree criminal trespass and minor in possession of alcohol.

Izbicki, who will be a redshirt freshman for the Huskies this fall, was charged Monday and will be arraigned on Aug. 14 in King County District Court in Burien, prosecutor’s spokesman Dan Donohoe said.

According to a police report, Izbicki attempted to enter a VIP area during a July 20 concert at the White River Amphitheater and was denied access. Officers also noted a strong smell of alcohol and that Izbicki was swaying from side to side.

Izbicki was escorted from the area, but later tried again to enter the VIP area and was released to a friend who promised to take him home.

Less than 20 minutes later, however, Izbicki was seen again near the VIP area and was arrested for trespassing. A breath test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .241 — three times the legal limit of intoxication, the report said.

Izbicki is expected to compete with senior Michael Gottlieb and freshman Kavario Middleton for playing time this fall.