Well, it was breaking yesterday afternoon, but we were asked to sit on it until the official start of classes this morning. So now that that’s here, here it is:
Tyrone Willingham announced Tuesday that he would be adding 10 players to the roster, including running back J.R. Hasty and offensive lineman Aaron Mason. Just as big of news, Willingham said safety Ashlee Palmer and receiver Chancellor Young would not be Huskies, at least for this season.
Willingham doesn’t expect any of the players to help the team this season.
Hasty will have to sit out the year for academic reasons but began practicing with the team on Monday. His addition will help add depth to the running back situation – if only from a service team standpoint. It can only help the Husky defense, which now has to face Hasty and Texas transfer Michael Houston on scout teams. Hasty, Houston and Louis Rankin should give the Huskies quite a backfield next season.
Mason had been ineligible while awaiting clearence from Santa Monica Community College. He will almost assuredly redshirt this season. He was the No. 87-ranked JC prospect by Rivals.com at Santa Monica.
The news wasn’t as good for Palmer and Young. Palmer was a highly-recruited safety from Compton Community College who was expected to compete for a starting job this year but instead did not qualify academically. His letter of intent is now void and he is eligible to again be recruited by anyone.
Young transferred to Washington from Duke last season but was declared academically ineligible over the summer. He had starred at O’Dea and was expected to give Washington a big-play threat. There was speculation that he was close to qualifying during fall camp, but instead his status is now uncertain.
Four players who have been injured were among the group who have returned to the team: Kicker Ryan Perkins, safety Darin Harris, center Robert Lukevich and cornerback Josh Okoebor. None are likely to help this year.
The rest of the players are walk-ons: Wide receivers Charles Hawkins, Gordie Verhovek and Ian McMilan and tight end Jonathan Shapiro.
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