SEATTLE — Two University of Washington rushing backs have been ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming football season, depleting the depth of the running corps for a struggling program.

UW athletics spokesman Richard Kilwien said Tuesday that Brandon Johnson, a junior from Hawthorne, Calif., and David Freeman, a sophomore from Inglewood, Calif., did not meet academic standards to join the football team.

Johnson rushed for 194 yards in nine games last season, making him the team's third-leading rusher. Freeman was fifth on the team with 152 yards in four games.

Terrance Dailey led the Huskies with 338 yards in eight games.