The Monterey Peninsula College cornerback, who ran a 10.5 100 meters for his junior college track team last year, said last night that he is looking forward to playing for the Rainbows.
"My brother (Waymon Levingston) played for Wyoming for three years," Bashir Levingston said from his Seaside, Calif., home. "They beat Hawaii pretty bad the last couple of years, but I wanted to play for a Western Athletic Conference team like he did, and Hawaii is it."
UH coaches plan to use him as a return specialist as well. In his two years at Monterey, Levingston had nearly 2,500 yards in kickoff returns. He also had eight interceptions. Levingston would like to play both cornerback and receiver, but the UH coaches frowned on that idea.
"They said they needed me at cornerback," said Levingston, who also received offers from Idaho and Utah State. "I played a little receiver my freshman year and I liked it, but I'll do whatever the coaches want me to do."
Levingston is the second recruit signed from Monterey and the 27th overall by the Rainbows. They also signed tight end Jimmy McClain, a player Levingston admired and respected.
"Jimmy was one of the leaders on our team this last year," Levingston said. "I really respected him. He had a military background, so a lot of guys looked up to him. It's going to be good seeing Jimmy again."
UH head coach Fred vonAppen said yesterday the Rainbows are looking at another two potential recruits. He added that some of the recent signings had helped the overall recruiting class.
"You should always save a few scholarships, just in case somebody comes open," vonAppen said. "Our last few signings have really helped us. If we can get the two we're looking at now, it could make a big difference."
Levingston is not worried about being eligible academically. He already has passed 53 hours and needs only seven this semester to be able to transfer to Hawaii.
"I'm going to take part in this all-star game in Orlando (Fla.) that also will have scouts there to look at different guys," Oswalt said yesterday afternoon. "That's set for March 15. Then I'm going to Los Angeles on March 22 for another combine that will be attended by scouts from the NFL, the CFL and the Arena League.
"It cost me $135 to go to the one in Los Angeles, but they contacted me, so I said, 'What the heck.' That might be the best $135 I ever spent if someone gives me a tryout."
Oswalt said he is going to help the UH kickers during spring football. He and vonAppen already have discussed what his role with the team will be.
"I'm glad to be able to help them," Oswalt said. "I'm not sure which coach will handle the kickers next year, but I'm looking forward to this opportunity. Who knows, I might be a coach someday like my dad?"
Oswalt finished his four-year career at UH by hitting 25 of 43 field goals and 106 of 113 extra points. His longest field goal last year was 48 yards. He kicked a 51-yarder his sophomore season.
The Georgia native was the only fourth-year senior on the team. Former outside linebacker Mark Odom was the last UH player to finish his eligibility in four years.