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Washington CB Darren Gardenhire announces transfer days before Apple Cup

Sam Cooper
·College football writer
Washington defensive back Darren Gardenhire celebrates after recovering a fumble Saturday against Arizona State. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington defensive back Darren Gardenhire celebrates after recovering a fumble Saturday against Arizona State. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

UPDATED: 11 a.m. ET Nov. 22

Gardenhire reportedly left the school over a drug test.

According to ESPN, his transfer comes after a refusal to take a drug test from the school. Washington coach Chris Petersen said, via the Seattle Times, that Gardenhire’s departure came stemmed from a “difference in philosophy.”

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Four days before the biggest game of its season, Washington has lost depth in its secondary.

In a message posted to Instagram Monday morning, Huskies junior cornerback Darren Gardenhire announced he will transfer from UW. The news comes ahead of the team’s Apple Cup matchup against Washington State that will decide the winner of the Pac-12 North.

I would just Like to say that I appreciate everyone At the University of Washington and thank them for everything they've helped me accomplish while I spent my time here. After talking with my family and really taking time to make this decision. I will no longer be continuing my career here at the University of Washington. It was a real tough decision but I have to go wit ma Heart and make the best decision I feel is for my future. And I will transfer to the University i feel is right to do it at. And to my Teammates y'all already know what y'all gotta do and that's get everything y'all worked hard for and deserve. !

A photo posted by CBA_Gman (@cba_gman) on Nov 21, 2016 at 8:50am PST

“I would just like to say that I appreciate everyone at the University of Washington and thank them for everything they’ve helped me accomplish while I spent my time here. After talking with my family and really taking time to make this decision, I will no longer be continuing my career here at the University of Washington,” Gardenhire wrote.

Gardenhire has played in every game this season for the Huskies, but hasn’t started since the opener against Rutgers. He has 13 tackles, one interception and recovered a fumble in the win over Arizona State on Saturday night.

In 2015, he started nine of the team’s 13 games and had 45 tackles and two interceptions. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Apple Cup that season. Gardenhire played in 12 games in 2014 as a true freshman and totaled six tackles.

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With Kevin King set to graduate and junior Sidney Jones potentially moving on to the NFL, Gardenhire was presumably in line to reclaim his starting job in 2017. Now he won’t have that chance — with the Huskies, at least.

With the win over ASU, Washington improved to 10-1 on the year. The Huskies are tied with Washington State atop the Pac-12 North division with matching 7-1 conference records. Friday’s game in Pullman decides who represents the division in the Pac-12 title game. A loss would likely put the Huskies out of consideration for the College Football Playoff as well.

For more Washington news, visit TheDawgReport.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!