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Marshal Pirtz needed a change of scenery, and the former Centennial High football star didn't have to go far to find it.
Pirtz is transferring from Washington State to Idaho and will play for coach Robb Akey, he told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday.
"I just didn't like how things were going for me," Pirtz said. "I like coach Akey and I like Moscow. It seemed like the right change for me."
Pirtz, a 6-foot, 244-pound linebacker, appeared in 11 games for the Cougars last year as a reserve and on special teams. He had 11 tackles.
Pirtz, a two-time All-Idaho linebacker in high school, was recruited by Akey when he was the defensive coordinator at Washington State.
Pirtz redshirted the 2007 season in Pullman under head coach Bill Doba. He never played for Akey, who left the Pac-10 program after the 2006 season to become Idaho's head coach.
But when it came time to find a new school, Pirtz sought out Akey.
"I went to his office and told him I was looking at changing schools," Pirtz said. "I think they're relatively excited that I'm going."
Pirtz must sit out the 2009 season under NCAA transfer rules. He'll have two seasons of eligibility for Idaho beginning in 2010.
Pirtz said he'll report to fall camp Aug. 7 and is expecting to play middle linebacker for the Vandals.
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