SENIOR BOWL
UH’s Satele shows his stuff
The former UH standout is "trying out" for the NFL at the Senior Bowl
One question persists as Samson Satele makes the rounds among the NFL types interviewing him at Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala.
"They all ask if I can run block," Satele said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I felt like I answered it pretty good on the (practice) field today."
The question comes up because the scouts know Satele played at Hawaii, known more for breaking passing records than running the football.
Satele, who is playing for the North team in tomorrow's all-star game, said he considers this week an extended job interview.
"Everything for me now is business. It's my chance to make my little-kid dream come true," said Satele, who first started playing organized football when he was 6, for the Kalakaua Monarchs.
More than 15 years later, including standout careers at Kailua High School and UH, Satele is doing everything he can to improve his stock.
"He's having an unbelievable week," said Satele's agent, Leo Goeas. Goeas might be biased for more than the obvious reason -- he, too, played offensive line at UH.
But a scout said Satele, like everyone else, has had his good reps and his bad reps. That's how it is for even the bluest of chips competing for draft position. The difference is Satele has improved as the week has gone by, the scout said.
Satele has been playing center and guard in practice.
"They're having me split the reps. It's good that I can play both," Satele said. "It's fun. Felt like three games in a row. I love the contact and tempo of the practice. There are some good players over here."
After tomorrow's game, Satele returns to the Plex training center in Houston to prepare for the combine. His former teammates, offensive tackle Dane Uperesa, defensive lineman Melila Purcell and running back Nate Ilaoa -- also clients of Goeas' -- are also working out there. So is Kahuku graduate Palani Ma Sun, an offensive lineman who played at Oregon.
Alama-Francis at clinic: Former UH defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis will appear as a guest instructor at this weekend's Hawaii Speed and Quickness clinics.
Alama-Francis has been projected as a second-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. He is ahead of schedule in rehabbing from surgery for a torn pectoral muscle suffered in the Jan. 14 Hula Bowl, UH defensive backs coach Rich Miano said.
The clinic is held for athletes between first and eighth grades from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Klum Gym.
Kauwalu hopes to be at UH: Waianae linebacker George Kauwalu said he is exploring his options in case he doesn't qualify for admission to UH this fall.
Kauwalu, the Star-Bulletin's Defensive Player of the Year, said he has agreed to accept a football scholarship from the Warriors. But he added "I need to work harder on that," when asked if his grades and test scores will allow him to enroll at Manoa this fall. Kauwalu said "he's not sure" how close he is to qualifying. He added that he plans to take the SAT tomorrow.
"I'm supposed to have a meeting with (UH linebackers coach) Cal Lee to find out more specifics," Kauwalu said.
Kauwalu said he has also been recruited by "mostly junior colleges" and Idaho. He could also go to a school that doesn't have football, such as Hawaii Pacific University, with the idea of enrolling at UH later.
Kauwalu, who is 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, said he is projected as an outside linebacker or safety with the Warriors.
Host with the most: Warriors Heisman Trophy candidate Colt Brennan has an important mission this weekend. He has to help show Plant (Tampa, Fla.) High School quarterback Robert Marve a good time.
Brennan broke NCAA passing records in leading UH to an 11-3 record last fall, and announced last week he'll be back for his senior season this fall. Marve is one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation, and he's on an official recruiting visit at Hawaii this weekend. (He has also visited Alabama and Miami.)
Brennan and his roommate, linebacker Erik Pedersen, are the designated hosts for Marve and one of his teammates.
"The main thing is get a feel for what he's interested in and go from there," said Brennan, who successfully hosted receiver Mitch Farney and quarterback Kiran Kepo'o last year. "Obviously we want to give them the red-carpet treatment.
"It's also fun for us as hosts since we get to enjoy some good meals."
Kahuku defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu is another big recruit making his UH visit this weekend.