AP Ex-Husky Hasty joins Central Washington football team

ELLENSBURG -- Running back J.R. Hasty, a former Associated Press Washington state player of the year and prize of Washington coach Tyrone Willingham's first recruiting class, is resuming his career at Division II Central Washington.

A Central Washington spokesman confirmed Thursday that Hasty was on the initial depth chart. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer earlier quoted Wildcats coach Blaine Bennett as saying Hasty would play for the Wildcats.

Hasty is the son of former Washington State safety and longtime NFL player James Hasty, who started his career at Central Washington before transferring to Washington State.

As a senior at Bellevue High School in 2004, Hasty scored a state-record 50 touchdowns and was considered the top player in Willingham's first recruiting class with the Huskies in 2005. Earlier this summer, however, Willingham told Hasty his scholarship would not be renewed. He finished with 18 yards on six carries for Washington, all last season.

After not playing against Oregon on Oct. 20, Hasty briefly quit the team, saying he didn't feel he was getting a fair shot at playing.

According to the Wildcats' roster, Hasty is the third former Husky that will play for Central Washington this season.

-- The Associated Press