The question of why the Huskies are so young this season can be partially, if not greatly, answered by looking at the Class of 2005, which officially became one person smaller this evening with the news that E.J. Savannah is no longer a Husky.

His departure means there are now just six players left from that class.

As I noted in June when also looking at this class after the departure of J.R. Hasty, the Class of 2005 was put together in about as much duress as any in recent UW history with the Huskies coming off a 1-10 season, firing Keith Gilbertson and then hiring Tyrone Willingham. Gilbertson wasn’t able to secure many commitments and ultimately just one player who committed to him ended up signing. UW also simply didn't have a lot of scholarships to give that year.

Here’s the list of the players who eventually signed along with a comment:

DE Tyrone Davis --- High school player didn’t qualify academically.
QB Johnny DuRocher --- Technically counted as part of this class. Career ended early due to brain tumor. Is now working as an office assistant for the football program while finishing up some class work.
CB Qwenton Freeman --- JC transfer didn’t qualify academically.
CB Chris Handy --- Nevada transfer via JC also didn’t qualify academically.
RB J.R. Hasty --- Highest-rated of the group but didn’t make impact expected and was dismissed from team during the summer.
DE Darrion Jones --- Finally emerging as a starter this season after a few injury-riddled years.
OT Ben Ossai --- Entrenched as a starter at left tackle.
PK Ryan Perkins --- Overcame brutal injury early in career to start last season and so far this year. Was the lone Gilbertson recruit who ended up signing after Willingham took over.
LB E.J.Savannah --- Now gone after leading the team in tackles last season with 111.
LB Chris Stevens --- Also an RB in high school but quickly switched to defense with Huskies. Playing mostly in nickel packages and on special teams.
DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim --- Probably the most consistently productive member of this class.
TE Tim Williams --- Played sparingly for one season then transferred to Eastern Washington.
WR Marlon Wood --- JC transfer made some memorable plays in his two seasons before eligibility ran out.
OL Morgan Rosborough --- Hoping to earn time this season at guard.

Of the 14 players, four would have already been out of eligibility even if they had all made it in --- DuRocher, Freeman, Handy and Wood.

To recap the eight who are already gone: three never made it in --- Freeman, Handy and Davis; two have one transferred --- Williams and Savannah; one was dismissed from the team --- Hasty; one had his career end early for medical reasons --- DuRocher; and one saw his eligibility expire --- Wood.

Stevens and Jones each played as true freshmen, but Jones has since redshirted, so Stevens is the only one who won’t have eligibility after this season. That means UW could have just five members of this class in uniform in 2009, about as small a fifth-year senior class as I can ever remember.