Linebacker E.J. Savannah, Washington’s leading tackler in 2007, will re-enroll in January and has been welcomed back onto the team by new coach Steve Sarkisian.

Savannah had been suspended last fall from the team by previous coach Tyrone Willingham for academic and other reasons. Savannah decided to transfer, but never enrolled at another school.

He has one season of eligibility remaining.

The move seems to back up what Sarkisian called his biggest message to his team when he met with them on Monday.

"This is a clean slate," he said. "Whatever has gone on before I wasn't here, we're starting off on a brand new foot, with me, with the program. I think, for a lot of guys, it's a chance for a new beginning. That it's going to take a lot of hard work, we need to finish up finals really well this week and when we come back in January, we're going to do this thing together, we're going to compete together, we're going to battle together and we're going to become a football team together and we're going to have fun doing it."

That apparently also goes for tailback Brandon Johnson, who missed practiced in the final week of the season and was left home when the Huskies traveled to California for their final game.

Sarkisian has confirmed today that Johnson also has been welcomed back in good standing.

For now, the USC reporters know new Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian better than any of the UW writers.

So, this take from the LA Daily News is especially interesting. It knocks down some rumors than had been raised locally, while floating some names I hadn't heard before.