UH kicker rewarded with scholarship

Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly has been awarded a football scholarship starting with the spring semester, UH coach June Jones said yesterday.

As a walk-on true freshman last fall, Kelly handled all of the Warriors' kicking. He made 10 of 15 field goals and 42 of 45 extra points. His long field goal was a 46-yarder. Kelly was third on the team with 72 points.

"He has a chance to be a real good kicker," Jones said. "He's only going to get better and better. He's got a strong leg and a little something about him."

Kelly, a former soccer player from Linfield Christian Academy in Temecula, Calif., walked on and won the kicking job in fall camp. He was referred to UH by former Linfield and Hawaii kicker Eric Hannum.

A second walk-on player might be getting a scholarship for the spring. But administrative details have to be worked out first, Jones said.

In other UH football news, slotback Davone Bess received another freshman All-America honor, this one from Scripps/Football Writers Association of America.

Bess earlier received similar honors from Rivals.com and The Sporting News.

He led UH with 89 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns -- tops nationally for freshmen. His 1,124 receiving yards were second for freshman to teammate Ryan Grice-Mullen's 1,228.

Bess tied for third nationally in touchdown catches and was fifth in receptions per game.

Two offensive linemen with Hawaii ties, Oregon State's Jeremy Perry (Kahuku) and Oregon's Max Unger (Hawaii Prep), were also named to the Scripps/FWAA team.