Eastern picks up Arizona State transfer Rashad Wadood

Arizona State’s loss is Eastern Washington’s gain as the Eagles pick up another Pac-12 transfer who is expected to immediately help out at cornerback after both starters from last year graduated. Rashad Wadood has been admitted and has enrolled at Eastern in time to join the football team, which begins practices on July 31, the university announced Wednesday. “We’re excited to add a player like Rashad with his skill and experience,” coach Beau Baldwin said in a news release. “He provides leadership and experience at a position where it is needed. We’ve heard nothing but great things about this young man, not only in terms of his ability to play the game, but also his character on and off the field.” According to publish reports, Arizona State officials only said that Wadood’s departure from the team was for “unspecified reasons.” On June 12, Wadood wrote this on his Facebook page: “I have never failed a drug test, missed a workout, showed up late, been suspended, been in any academic trouble and ‘Ive also earned the scholar baller academic award. So no, I was not forced to leave ASU, I chose to leave. To clear that up.” Wadood (pronounced Wah-doo) is originally from Long Beach, Calif. He played as a true freshman for the Sun Devils in 2011 but suffered a season-ending knee injury against Washington State. He redshirted in 2012 after suffering a torn labrum in his shoulder. Last season, all seven of his tackles came against a 54-13 win over Colorado. Wadood was listed as one of ASU’s starting cornerbacks this past spring. Eastern, which has been picked by media an coaches to repeat as Big Sky Conference champions, lost both starting cornerbacks and its top backup from the 2013 team to graduation. Wadood, an incoming junior, joins fellow junior Frank Cange and redshirt freshman Jake Hoffman at cornerback. Eastern also has 2013 UCLA transfer Tevin McDonald at safety. “I’m anxious to come in and contribute where I can to an already good team,” Wadood said in the release. “As far as FCS schools go, Eastern is the best and has a strong history. Every FBS school respects Eastern. I knew a little about their program before I decided to transfer.” Wadood was ranked among the top 60 cornerback prospects in the nation while at Lakewood High School in Long Beach. Wadood’s final game in high school in 2010 was a loss to a team led by current Eastern quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “Pretty much everything he is doing now he was doing back then,” Wadood said of Adams. “So it’s no surprise to see the success he is having in college.”