WSU football dismisses another linebacker

Washington State linebacker Sekope Kaufusi was dismissed from the team Friday for a violation of team rules. Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said Kaufusi was arrested Wednesday night and charged with possession of less than 40 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after police served a search warrant on his apartment. Tennant said police received a call Tuesday night about the smell of marijuana emanating from Kaufusi’s apartment. Officers responded and obtained enough information for a warrant, Tennant said, and served the warrant on Wednesday. Kaufusi was arrested and charged – both counts are misdemeanors – before being released on his own recognizance at about 3 a.m. Thursday. He is the second WSU linebacker to be dismissed from the team following an arrest since Mike Leach took over as head coach. C.J. Mizell was arrested on an assault charge on Feb. 5 and dismissed from the team shortly after. In addition to Mizell’s dismissal and the graduation of Alex Hoffman-Ellis, Kaufusi’s dismissal means WSU will not return any starters at the linebacker position. Linebacker Louis Bland also decided to give up football earlier this offseason due to several knee injuries. The Cougars signed five linebackers to national letters of intent on Feb. 1, and return just two linebackers who have ever started a game. As a redshirt sophomore last season, Kaufusi recorded 42 tackles and two sacks in 11 games.