Andru Pulu is being given a second chance at getting a college degree and playing the sport he loves, thanks to Eastern Washington University.
The 2009 Federal Way High School graduate officially inked his national letter of intent Wednesday to play football for the defending Division I national champions.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive tackle is currently attending classes at Eastern after playing at the University of Washington as a true freshman during the 2009 season. Pulu was one of just 10 freshman to see action for the Huskies that season.
“Andru is going to fill a need at defensive tackle right away,” said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. “He is somebody we liked very much out of high school, but had the opportunity to play at a Pac-10 school. For us to have him here at Eastern is extremely exciting.”
It is also extremely exciting for Pulu, who sat out the 2010 season for the Huskies after being sentenced to six months in jail in connection with an attack on a fellow athlete in March. Pulu pled guilty to felony second-degree assault in King County Court in May.
Pulu played in 12 games as a true freshman at Washington. But was suspended indefinitely from the team in March by head coach Steve Sarkisian after the attack. He was expected to compete for one of the starting defensive spot before being arrested.
Eastern Washington finished 13-2 during the 2010 season and won the NCAA Division I Football Championship with a 20-19 victory over Delaware on national television.
“He has the combination of great size, strength and athletic ability that will make him a tremendous force in this conference,” Baldwin said. “He is already lifting and working out with the team, and is fitting in very well.”
Pulu was an All-South Puget Sound League North Division linebacker and offensive tackle. He was named the lineman of the year in the SPSL North in 2009 and Scout.com rated Pulu as the 61st-best prospect on their 2009 Northwest Hot 100 list.
He led the Eagles to the first round of the State 4A playoffs for the first time since 1976 his senior season.
Eastern, which will return 16 of its 22 starters, will open its 2011 season Sept. 3 at Husky Stadium in Seattle against Pulu’s old team, Washington.
