Friday, November 2, 2001
ONE of college football's hottest players almost got cut two years ago.
Ashley Lelie, a Radford walk-on
Lelie a Biletnikoff semifinalist
of the Fred vonAppen era, went
from almost being cut by June
Jones to having NFL aspirations
Warrior notebookBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe biggest play of Ashley Lelie's career isn't the leaping, nationally televised, game-winning, 14-yard catch against Fresno State last Friday night in front of 35,000 screaming fans at Aloha Stadium, the one that made ESPN's "Plays of the Week."
It isn't among the school-record 23 touchdown receptions in his less than three seasons for Hawaii.
Nor is it one of the four grabs for 43 yards he made as a freshman in the Oahu Bowl two years ago.
Lelie's biggest play came in the team's 1999 spring game -- without it, the others might not have been possible.
UH receivers coach Ron Lee doesn't recall if Lelie even caught the ball. Lelie himself doesn't remember the play at all.
If he hadn't flown by defenders on a fade route late in that spring game, and if Lee and new head coach June Jones hadn't noticed it on tape, Lelie could have been cut. The gangly walk-on who couldn't catch very well might have been discarded along with other players left over from the Fred vonAppen era.
"We almost let him go, it was that type of thing," Lee said. "But he showed his speed on an outside release, a fade route. It was 'wow.' It just jumped out on the screen."
Ashley Lelie -- a talent who could go in the first round of next spring's NFL Draft -- almost didn't make the team.
"No! I didn't know that. You serious? Nah, I was not aware of that," Lelie said earlier this week with a big laugh, as Hawaii prepared to host San Jose State tomorrow. "That's funny.
"I was kind of scared though, when they started calling names out of who they wanted to see in their office because guys were getting cut. I was afraid my name might get called because I didn't feel I performed well that (redshirt) year. Some guys I came in with got cut. I guess I was lucky. I'm glad I was in for that play."
These days, the only team Lelie has to worry about making is All-America.
But he doesn't think about that kind of thing, even though he is beginning to get national recognition after his nine-catch, 122-yard, three-touchdown performance last Friday, which was seen in a million households across the country.
"Nah, I know how to block all that stuff out," Lelie said. "Just clear it out and get ready for the next game."
His teammates say Lelie's personality hasn't changed from when he first arrived at UH more than three years ago, in search of a history degree and a sport to play. (Football just happened to be the one because it started before basketball, he says.)
"I knew him before all this publicity and everything and he's still the same dude from the time we first got here to now," said Justin Colbert, also a junior wide receiver. "He's a hard worker. He takes a lot in that the coaches teach him and uses it on the field. He's really disciplined and he does what he's told."
He is naturally gifted with 4.25 speed in the 40 to go with a 6-foot-3 frame and a 38-inch vertical leap. But Lelie's work ethic and attitude -- what the scouts call "want to" -- are what set him apart.
Jones likes to show a snippet of film from this season's Southern Methodist game that displays Lelie's desire. Again, it is not a catch -- it is after an interception, and shows Lelie getting up from the ground to chase down the Mustangs' speedy Kevin Garrett.
Desire has also helped Lelie take the raw talent and soak up pass-receiving know-how from Jones, Lee and the other coaches.
"It's unbelievable, his attitude," said Lee, who never saw Lelie at Radford High School, nor heard of him before that spring. "He gets better all the time at understanding the system and running the routes. He's definitely stronger, but I think his mental aspect helps him. I think he's surprised himself because he's so humble. I think after the Fresno State game he was very excited because he realized he could take it to another level against really good competition."
Jones said Lelie is one of the best receivers he has coached, including those in the NFL.
"He has special-ness," Jones said. "He's played that way all year.
"Sure, he made a couple great catches in that (Fresno State) game. Every day in practice he does those things. He can run. He's big and he's got great concentration. He's very smart. You put all those things together, you've got a pretty good football player. He'll be a good player for a lot of years."
Lelie has been among the nation's leaders in receptions, touchdown catches and receiving yardage all season. He could become UH's first player to leave for the draft early. But he said he plans to stay for his senior year, even though he is scheduled to graduate next semester or in the summer.
"No, I'm still not really thinking about it," he said. "As of right now I'm still going to be here. They want to win and it comes down to being a team player and helping the team win.
"I'm just trying to get to where I can be the best I can be. The coaches are really good in teaching techniques, helping me in getting strong, ready to play. I still have a lot of work to do to be the best. I stopped worrying about making mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. I just have to clear it and go to the next play.
"Working toward my master's (next fall), that would be great, because I want to be a high school teacher and eventually a college professor. So that would be perfect."
As it would for the Warriors and Jones, although the coach has said he is happy Lelie could have the opportunity to go pro early.
Plus, according to fellow receiver Channon Harris, Lelie still has a weak spot that needs a lot of work.
"Ashley's a great person, and a great player," Harris said. "But he kind of sucks at John Madden, though. I don't know what it is, he's just not the same kind of player at that game that he is on the field. Other than that, he's great."
Video-game inadequacies aside, Harris is happy the coaches decided to keep Lelie around after that spring game in 1999.
"It probably would have been the worst mistake they ever made," Harris said. "I'm glad he's on our team. Nothing he does amazes me, because I see it every day."
Ashley Lelie's statistics with the Warriors: By the numbers
2001
55 receptions for 821 yards in seven games. Leads the WAC and is sixth in the nation with 117.3 receiving yards per game. Second in the WAC and third in nation with 7.86 catches per game. Has 10 TD catches, including 7 in last three games.
2000
Second-team all WAC after leading UH with 74 receptions, 1,110 yards, 11 TDs and 92.5 all-purpose yards per game.
1999
Started seven of 12 games played in. Fourth on team with 36 catches, for 518 yards and two TDs.
UH Athletics
Hawaii's Ashley Lelie is among 11 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes annually to the nation's top college football receiver. Lelie a Biletnikoff
By Dave Reardon
semifinalist
dreardon@starbulletin.comLelie, a junior who broke the Warriors' record for career touchdown receptions last Friday, gained national attention with three TD catches in last week's nationally televised victory over Fresno State.
He was surprised when told he was a semifinalist, especially since he wasn't on the "watch list" for the award.
"It's quite an honor to be thought of that highly, to be listed among those great receivers," Lelie said.
Lelie has caught 55 passes for 821 yards and 11 touchdowns this season in seven games. He leads the WAC and is sixth in the nation in receiving yardage at 117.3 per game, and is second in the league and third in the country in receptions per game with 7.86.
Lelie is the first UH player to make the semifinalist list in the eight-year history of the award.
"I know he's honored and we're all excited for him that he'd be considered among that elite group of guys," Hawaii coach June Jones said.
The other semifinalists are Josh Reed (Louisiana State), Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell (Florida), Kelly Campbell (Georgia Tech), Kevin Curtis (Utah State), Lee Evans (Wisconsin), Nakoa McElrath (Washington State), Marquise Walker (Michigan), Kelley Washington (Tennessee) and Darius Watts (Marshall).
The list will be trimmed to three on Nov. 14, and the winner announced Dec. 6.
The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
UH Athletics
