WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Perry ready to join UH practices
The transfer is not allowed to play in games this season
As the son of an NFL star, Ryan Perry was born with some advantages as a football player.
But he was also born with Erb's Palsy, a nerve condition that didn't allow him full use of his right arm.
"It was a delivery that kind of went wrong," Perry said. "But I had rehab in first grade and started playing tackle football and I've been doing it ever since then."
And quite successfully. Perry developed into an outstanding high school football player in Charlotte, N.C., good enough to catch the attention of Hawaii coach June Jones, and good enough to get a scholarship at Sacramento State.
Two years later, Perry has ended up in Hawaii, anyway, after transferring from the Hornets. He must wait a year before he can play in games, but Perry joins practice today as school starts and the Warriors' roster is no longer limited to 105 players.
"I just gotta hurry up and get my physical and drug-test clearance on Sunday and hopefully be out and ready to roll on Monday," the 5-foot-9, 174-pound cornerback said.
"I didn't take my recruiting trip out here (two years ago). If I would've taken my recruiting trip, I couldn't have said no," Perry added. "I was supposed to come out here with (high school teammate) Andrew Pearman."
Pearman, the fastest high school football player in North Carolina, ended up transferring to Virginia midway through his first year at UH.
Although Perry hasn't been able to practice with the team, he's worked out after hours with several Warriors, including slotback Pat Olchovy. They're impressed with his upbeat personality and positive attitude.
"He fits in good. You know how some guys come in and they're real quiet at first? He was talking and that makes the atmosphere good," Olchovy said.
Perry still has to make minor adjustments at times because of his arm. Olchovy said it doesn't diminish his talent.
"We don't judge out here. I mean, I can't really explain it. I don't care how you do it, what you look like. If you can play, you can play."
Perry's father was a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback and is now a defensive backs coach with the Carolina Panthers. Both were here for the Pro Bowl last February, Rod Perry as a member of the NFC coaching staff.
Jones couldn't comment on Perry before he joined the team today. Several other players rejoin the Warriors today, including cornerbacks Keao Monteilh and Ryan Keomaka. They both started some games last year.
"I don't know if they'll play the first game. But they have a chance because they've been here before and kind of know what's going on," Jones said. "The rest of them are pretty much walk-ons that are going to be a year away if they're young. If they're here, they're here because they're good team guys."