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Sampson’s career with UW comes to end

Sampson led UW backs in TDs in 2003 with eight, including this one against Oregon. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Mike Allende Everett Herald
Sampson led UW backs in TDs in 2003 with eight, including this one against Oregon. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SEATTLE – Apparently Shelton Sampson’s move from running back to cornerback wasn’t what the junior was really looking for.

Sampson, who had been expected to work his way into the running back picture because of his excellent speed, instead has left the team. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder from Lakewood’s Clover Park High School, quit earlier this week, apparently because he was unhappy with being moved from offense to defense.

Sampson was unavailable for comment, and Washington coach Tyrone Willingham declined to answer specific questions about the situation.

“It always affects the team,” Willingham said of Sampson’s departure.

“Anytime you have someone leave the team, it affects the team because there are relationships that are established. He’s been a friend to guys. The good news is hopefully he’ll stay in the university and get his degree. But the loss is always something you don’t like.”

Sampson was moved to cornerback last week after seeing limited action at running back, a position that’s been manned by Louis Rankin and Kenny James, who both return next year along with impressive freshman J.R. Hasty. That meant the likelihood that Sampson would see time in the backfield was slim.

Sampson was a major recruit out of high school, where he won three-straight state 110-meter hurdles championships (beating Nate Robinson as a senior).

His redshirt freshman year, Sampson was third on the team with 274 yards and led all running backs with eight touchdowns, and last year he was again third with 189 yards but developed a reputation for fumbling.

This year, most of Sampson’s playing time came at kick returner, getting just four carries for 20 yards.

Sampson was moved to defense to help at a position that is thin, but Willingham said he has no plans to switch another player to corner.

Hasty impressive

J.R. Hasty, UW’s top recruit last season out of Bellevue High School, continues to impress Willingham.

Last week, Hasty traveled with the team to UCLA, a rarity for a guy unlikely to play. On Wednesday, Hasty was impressive during a 20-minute scrimmage.

“If you talk with anyone who was there yesterday – the kids, myself – J.R. Hasty really jumped out,” Willingham said. “He did some wonderful things.”

Willingham said he still hasn’t come to a decision on if he will redshirt Hasty, but said Sampson’s situation would not affect that decision.

Injury update

Willingham said offensive tackles Joe Toledo (ankle) and Chad Macklin (leg) are progressing well and he hopes they will be available next week. The only injury this week came to receiver Charles Smith, who hurt a shoulder which, Willingham said, could affect his availability for the Oregon game.

Notes

Willingham said he put kicker Evan Knudson on scholarship last week. Knudson, a former walk-on from North Thurston High School, is 6 for 9 on field goals and 12 for 12 on extra points. … Willingham said sophomore Jordan White-Frisbee may be moved from defensive tackle to offensive line. White-Frisbee has been out all season with a broken foot after starting eight games as a true freshman last year. The move to offense, Willingham said, would likely mean White-Frisbee would redshirt this season.