UW Football | Tailbacks David Freeman, Brandon Johnson ineligible

Washington's depth at tailback took a hit Tuesday with the news that David Freeman and Brandon Johnson are academically ineligible and no longer enrolled in school.

A school spokesman confirmed that neither player is on the roster.

Freeman's coach at Inglewood (Calif.) High told The Times on Tuesday that Freeman had been declared ineligible.

"It's really too bad," said Charles Mincy, a UW cornerback in 1989 and 1990. "I really thought that was a great fit for him."

Mincy said he expected Freeman would try to land at another school.

The Huskies already projected to be minus one tailback for the 2009 season with sophomore Brandon Yakaboski, a graduate of Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, unlikely to be healthy after suffering a recent setback in his recovery from a knee injury that sidelined him midway through last season.

The Huskies were already without sophomore Terrance Dailey, the leading rusher last season with 338 yards, who was also declared academically ineligible during the spring.

That leaves UW with four healthy tailbacks for the 2009 season — freshmen Chris Polk and Demitrius Bronson and sophomores Willie Griffin and Curtis Shaw.

Polk and Griffin were listed as co-starters after spring football, with Bronson listed No. 3. Freeman and Johnson each battled injuries throughout spring and weren't listed.

Freeman started two games last season and Johnson one, and both were projected to contend for playing time this fall.

Johnson, who would have been a junior in 2009, was the team's third-leading rusher last season with 194 yards, averaging 2.6 yards. Freeman, who would have been a sophomore, was the fifth-leading rusher with 152 yards on 27 carries in four games before suffering ankle injuries.

Oakland WR commits

UW reportedly got a commitment Monday from receiver DiAndre Campbell of Oakland (Calif.) Tech High, according to the Contra Costa Times. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder was third last season in the Oakland Athletic League with 22 receptions for 212 yards and four touchdowns, according to the paper, which reported he also had an offer from Utah.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.