The second semester started at WSU on Monday. The football team welcomed three new players, but said goodbye to a walk-on and lost another hoped-for grayshirt. Plus, two suspended players are close to being reinstated. Read on.

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• Here's the story I put together for the S-R ...

PULLMAN – Spring semester started at Washington State University on Monday and with it came some news for the football team.

Three junior college transfers – defensive end Brandon Rankin and offensive linemen David Gonzales and Wade Jacobson – enrolled as expected, though Jacobson is still awaiting one piece of paperwork that is en route, according to the sports information office.

However, expected enrollee Quayshawne Buckley, a standout high school defensive tackle from Ontario, Calif., failed to qualify and told recruiting website Cougfan he was headed instead to Oregon State, though he has yet to qualify for admission.

Rankin, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound four-star recruit, spent the fall semester finishing needed classes in North Carolina. Jacobson (6-6, 310), from Gavilan College in Gilroy, Calif., and Gonzales (6-6, 275), from California's Fresno CC, are expected to challenge for starting spots when spring practice starts March 25.

Buckley becomes the fourth member of the 2009 signing class that failed to qualify. He joins linebacker Terrel Thompson, who is attended junior college in Arizona and has indicated he may still enroll at WSU after earning his associate of arts degree, defensive back Asi Hosea and defensive lineman Chris Mastin, from Spokane's Lewis and Clark High.

Senior-to-be walk-on Easton Johnson has also left school, citing financial constraints. Johnson, a wide receiver most of his junior year, moved back to safety for the season's final two games and had 16 tackles, including 10 against Oregon State.

Two Cougars suspended from the team last season, receiver Kevin Norrell and defensive tackle Toby Turpin, are on track to be reinstated, pending a meeting with head coach Paul Wulff, , according to Bill Stevens, WSU sports information director.

Norrell missed the season after being dismissed from the team following an early Labor Day morning arrest. He later pled guilty to first-degree negligent driving. Turpin missed the final two games of the season, suspended for a violation of team rules.

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• That's it for now. We'll be back in the morning. Until then ...