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Saturday, August 12, 2000
Jones welcomes Even though yesterday's two workouts for the 34 newcomers were as informal as a flag football game, it's easy to see why University of Hawaii head coach June Jones is so high on this class.
new class
The University of Hawaii
coach calls the 34 newcomers
to the football team 'a gifted class'By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin
"This is not only a physically gifted class," Jones said last night. "It's also a group of very good kids who want to contribute to our program right away."
Chief among those are freshmen quarterbacks Timmy Chang and Matt Manuma, who took turns firing passes to talented wideouts Mark Tate and Gerald Welch as they grew accustomed to Jones' practice routine.
Fellow freshman signal-caller Chad Kapanui didn't take part in the afternoon workout, but Jones said the Roosevelt High School product cleared his final academic hurdle and would be the eighth quarterback to compete in fall camp for the coveted position.
"He's going to start out back there," Jones said.
"We're going to leave it up to him. If he wants to play somewhere else, he can because he's such a gifted athlete."And the talent doesn't end there. Offensive assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh was surrounded by several large linemen, including potential standouts Uriah Moenoa of Iolani School and William Jackson of Detroit.
"I just need some time to mold them like clay," Cavanaugh said, then smiled. "But we've got some talent down there in my huddle."
Of the 34 players taking part in the workouts, 23 were signed to scholarships in the spring. The two missing from the original 25 are cornerback Shaddrick Carter and linebacker Isaiah Alameda.
Carter was involved in a dorm room incident last spring at Northwest Mississippi Junior College and wasn't able to get his classwork done. Defensive assistant Vantz Singletary called the lost recruit, "The best defensive back in the nation."
Kamehameha Schools' Alameda had off-season shoulder surgery, but the UH medical staff said it was possible he could be able to play in November. It's likely he'll be redshirted.
Just don't look for too many of those to be passed around to this list of newcomers. Jones wants to give everyone a chance to play right away.
One of those sure to get that opportunity is punter Greg Kleidon of Santa Monica (Calif.) Junior College. He launched several punts across Cooke Field that landed in the stands across the way. That's 60-plus yards. Kamehameha product Justin Ayat also figures to see some time back there over the next few weeks.
Jones welcomed about a dozen walk-ons to two-a-days, which begin on Monday. That number will grow considerably once school begins on Aug. 21. Veterans are due in today.
"We're very excited to finally get out on the field," Jones said. "We've said all along that we thought this was an outstanding recruiting class and so far, nothing has changed our mind about that. There are many players here who could help us right away."
Jones will know more once everyone is in camp.
Next week, Hawaii will work out from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, those sessions move from 2-5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.-9 p.m. The Saturday workout shifts back to the Monday and Tuesday times.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu