Thursday, February 5, 1998

Recruiting campaign
a success for Hawaii

'Bows fill most of their needs
with 20 signees

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The 20 University of Hawaii football recruits who signed on the dotted line yesterday will help. The six still waiting in the wings could help even more.

Today, Rainbows head coach Fred vonAppen was still waiting for letters of intent from Snow Junior College (Utah) quarterback Fred Salanoa, All-America offensive lineman Kynan Forney of Trinity (Texas) Junior College, cornerback Jayson Thompson of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Junior College, running back Robert Grant of Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif., cornerback James Polk of Ranger Junior College in Fort Worth, Texas, and cornerback Sedric Hurns of Taft High School in Los Angeles.

''One of the areas we felt we needed to address was the secondary,'' vonAppen said last night. ''And if we get everybody we think we're going to get, we definitely addressed that area.

''We really had a wish list at every position. But the areas of enormous concern were the secondary, the defensive line and a big receiver with breakaway speed who could spread the secondary.

''We also got help at running back and more competition at quarterback if we receive some letters of intent that we expect (today). This could be a very good class, but the proof in the pudding will be how they play on the field in the future.''

Among the Rainbow signees are eight local products, including linebacker Matt Wright of Iolani School; quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen of Kalaheo High; wide receiver Craig Stutzmann of St. Louis School; defensive lineman Chris Hogge of Radford High; and Damien High's Chris Brown. Salanoa also is from Radford, but spent the last two years in junior college.

Last February, Hawaii received verbal commitments from local linemen Aaron Laverenz of Radford and Chris Smith of Mid-Pacific Institute. Both enrolled in school last fall, but needed to improve academically before they could be added to the roster this year.

This season, Hawaii received verbal commitments from several local players who also will have to improve academically before they are offered a scholarship -- White Sosene, Stanford Evaimalo, Nate Jackson and Kainoa Evangelista from Waianae High's OIA championship team that lost to St. Louis in last year's Prep Bowl, Campbell High's Robby Takara and Derek Zoller, Waipahu's Lui Fuga, Radford's Ashley Lelie, Lui Fuata of Lahainaluna and Jimmy Timoteo and Joey Raquino of Leilehua.

''We want these guys, but they know what they have to do to be eligible,'' UH recruiting coordinator Don Dillon said. ''We're committed to them if they prove they're committed to us.''

UH also is committed to the eight junior college players set to join fall camp in August. Chief among them are three outstanding players from Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. -- All-America center Dustin Owen, wide receiver Dwight Carter and running back Eric Shine.

The 6-3, 310-pound Owen helped open some holes for Shine, who rushed for 909 yards and nine touchdowns. The 12-0 Mountaineers were voted junior college national champions by several publications.

Von Appen denies report on English By Paul Arnett Star-Bulletin University of Hawaii head football coach Fred vonAppen flatly denied yesterday a television report that Wally English will not return as the Rainbows' offensive coordinator this year. KHON-TV (Channel 2) made the report on its 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts, citing unnamed sources. ''(Sportscaster) Bob Hogue should be working for The National Enquirer,'' vonAppen said yesterday evening. ''There is no truth to that report whatsoever. ''I don't know who would have told him that. I certainly didn't. And that decision rests with me and me alone. The only way Wally won't be with us is if he decides to leave or if we reach some kind of understanding.'' Rumors of English's departure have been swirling around the first-year offensive coordinator for weeks. A high school in Texas asked the UH sports information department for his biography, but vonAppen said, as far as he knew, nothing had come of it. English went to the NCAA coach's convention in Dallas about a month after Hawaii's season-ending loss to Notre Dame. Once he returned, he fell ill, and is still recovering from a nasty bout of kidney stones. Much like the rest of the staff, vonAppen asked for a two-year commitment that English said he plans to fulfill. ''It takes more than one year to get a system into place,'' English said. ''We've got this thing moving in the right direction. In the spring, hopefully we can take it to the next level.''

Hawaii went to Bakersfield (Calif.) Junior College to land another big offensive lineman -- guard Douglas Gosling, who along with Owen provide the interior strength Hawaii felt it needed.

''We're very happy with our returning tackles, but we needed to solidify ourselves up the middle offensively,'' vonAppen said. ''I think we did that. But we won't really know for sure until August when those guys come in.''

Junior college transfer Jeff Ulbrich of Gavilan College in Gilroy, Calif., was the only recruit to enroll at midterm. Last fall, the 245-pound inside linebacker had more than 100 tackles, two interceptions and forced four fumbles.

''This kid looks outstanding,'' Dillon said. ''He ran a sound 40 time in our conditioning drills. He's going to be a big man inside for us this fall.''

Los Angeles Valley College quarterback Tom Racius was set to join Ulbrich and UH at midterm, but the Rainbows didn't have a scholarship available. Dillon was worried Racius might go elsewhere, but his fears proved to be unfounded.

Hawaii also signed several top high school prospects. The tallest was tight end James Bessard of Channelview High in Houston. The 6-foot-7, 260-pounder was just what vonAppen was looking for at that position.

Other top high school signees include receiver Sean Butts of Culver City (Calif.) High, receiver Ray Harrington of San Diego and safety Keith Bhonapha of Skyline. Harrington is a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder with 4.5 speed in the 40. Butts also possesses sprinter speed. The 6-3 standout ran a 10.5 100 meters in high school and gives Hawaii some big-play potential on the perimeter.

Rainbow signees

Player			Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown/HS/JC
James Bessard		TE	6-7	260	Fr.	Houston TX/Channelview HS
Keith Bhonapha		S	5-11	180	Fr.	Oakland, Calif./Skyline HS
Chris Brown		LB	6-1	255	Fr.	Honolulu/Damien HS
Sean Butts		WR	6-3	185	Fr.	Culver City, Calif./Culver HS
Dwight Carter		WR	5-11	175	Jr.	Santa Monica, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College
Steve Dietschy		OLB	6-2	235	Jr.	Walnut Creek, Calif./Diablo Valley JC
Douglas Gosling		OL	6-4	302	Jr.	Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield JC
Ray Harrington		WR	6-3	195	Fr.	San Diego/Horizon HS
Chris Hogge		DL	6-4	256	Fr.	Mililani, Hawaii/Radford HS
Jajuan Huddleston	S	6-3	219	Jr.	Klamath Falls, Ore./College of Redwoods
Shaun Jackson		DL	6-3	235	Fr.	Dove Canyon, Calif./Santa Margarita HS
Dustin Owen		OL	6-2	320	Jr.	Brawley, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College
Tomas Racius		QB	6-2	210	Jr.	Thousand Oaks, Calif./Los Angeles Valley JC
Eric Shine		RB	5-7	165	Jr.	Anaheim, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College
Chris Smith		OL	6-1	270	Fr.	Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute
Craig Stutzmann		WR	5-11	190	Fr.	Kaimuki, Hawaii/St. Louis School
Jeff Ulbrich		ILB	6-1	254	Jr.	Morgan Hill, Calif./Gavilan College
Yaphet Warren		OLB	6-1	191	Jr.	Seattle/University of Idaho
Shawn Withy-Allen	QB	6-4	195	Fr.	Honolulu/Kalaheo HS
Matt Wright		ILB	6-1	210	Fr.	Honolulu/Iolani School

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