If linebacker E.J. Savannah’s best season was 2007, when he led the Huskies in tackles with 111 and earned radio station 950 KJR AM’s Defensive Player of the Year title, last season just might have been the worst.

Savannah was suspended indefinitely by former head coach Tyrone Willingham during the 2008 season due to academic issues and other undisclosed reasons.

“I definitely lost a year,” Savannah said. “I should have been out here playing on Saturdays last season. [If I had been playing], I think we would have at least gotten one [win], to say the least.”

Washington didn’t do so well as a team, either, considering that the Huskies went 0-12. Although it was eventually announced that Savannah would not be rejoining the program, he did try to get back on Willingham’s good side last season, but to no avail.

“Up until about the third game, I was trying the whole time to try to work back in with the coaching staff and do everything that coach asked,” Savannah said. “But he wasn’t giving me a definite answer on when I would be back, so I felt that it was just pointless.”

However, new head coach Steve Sarkisian allowed Savannah to return to the team and gave him a chance at redemption.

“[The new] coaching staff accepted me with high hopes, and so I’m coming in here and I’m trying to perform,” Savannah said.

Indeed, Sarkisian does appear to be optimistic about Savannah’s play.

“E.J.’s obviously a very instinctive player,” Sarkisian said. “He’s a great athlete. He has a great knowledge of football, and he just adds another dimension.”

While sitting out the season, Savannah worked to get back in shape.

”I was just working out, like, six days a week,” Savannah said. “I have a personal trainer, Tim Manson, down at ATI [Athletic Training Institute] in Bellevue, and then I worked out with a couple of my friends from high school who played football.”

Linebacker coach Mike Cox liked the results of Savannah’s workouts.

“I think he’s progressing well,” Cox said. “He’s done a nice job in the offseason. He’s cut some weight, and he’s moving better. He’s done very well in practice the last couple days.”

Savannah appears to be getting along well with Sarkisian’s coaching staff, gelling with Sarkisian’s casual way of running the program.

“I’m loving it. This is how football should be right now,” Savannah said. “We’re fooling around. People just need to start making plays. That’s how football should be.”

Now Savannah’s biggest worry is getting over an ankle injury that forced him to rest during Saturday’s practice.

“Obviously, he couldn’t go today,” Sarkisian said. “He tried, and he wanted to [on] his first day of pads. Everyone was all excited, but he’ll be fine. It’s just a rolled ankle. [But] it was good for our young guys to play.”

When Savannah returns, he’ll be playing alongside a group of Husky linebackers that includes 2008 leading tackler Mason Foster, who is heading into his junior season.

Savannah and Foster both have the potential to become leaders of the Husky defense, each having recorded more than 100 tackles in a season in their career.

However, they will have to win their starting jobs and playing time first.

“We’re not saying, ‘Hey, you’re a starter,’” Cox said, echoing Sarkisian’s philosophy. “Everyone’s a starter now. Come to practice every day and play.”

Fellow linebackers Trenton Tuiasosopo and Donald Butler might also figure toward the starting positions.

Reach reporter Honsen Lin at sports@dailyuw.com.