Jeshua Anderson switching cleats for spikes

JESHUA ANDERSON has decided to forego his college football career in order to fully concentrate on track, a WSU spokesman said today.

Jeshua Anderson was a big play threat as a true freshman gridder in 2007, with 12 receptions for 372 yards and a pair of scores.

But regularly missing spring ball and significant parts of the offseason had an effect on the football field as he co-pursued a track career. His on-field production fell last season and he was physically overmatched at times.

Anderson has excelled in track for the Cougars, and is the two-time NCAA defending 400-m hurdles champion.

Anderson struggled with the decision to continue playing football over the summer and in the press release issued by Washington State, his quotes touched on that theme again.

“This is a decision I have been thinking about for quite a while and at this point I want to focus all my attention on track,” said Anderson. “I love the game of football and appreciate all the support from coach (Paul) Wulff, the entire coaching staff and my teammates. This team is really headed in the right direction and I would like to be a part of it, but I can’t give 100 percent to both and still reach my goals.”

“He’s a rare and one of a lifetime kind of guy,” Wulff is quoted as saying in the statement. “When you hold a world record in high school I think that speaks volumes and I think it was time for him to take that next step and dedicate his future to being a track star and I completely respect it and support it."

Anderson caught 49 passes for 743 yards and four touchdowns in his two-plus years for WSU.

Anderson is the second WR the Cougs will be without for the 2009 season. Kevin Norrell was dismissed from the team following an arrest for DUI on September 6. Both Norrell and Anderson were projected starters for the Cougs leading into the season though Anderson was listed lower on the depth chart having not gone through spring ball. In the near term, Gino Simone(concussion) is also out for the SMU game this weekend following an illegal hit by Hawaii.

“We are fortunate right now because we have some receivers that have been stepping up and playing well so our depth is ok and we will get Gino back soon so I think we will be just fine at the position,” said Wulff in the statement.