Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Grant rewarded As a running back, Rob Grant was another guy waiting in a long line for playing time.
with Hula Bowl spot
Hawaii's defense is taking
John West lands UH scholarship
4 to the game and the offense
is only taking 2By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comAs a safety, linebacker and special teams standout, Grant was a major contributor to Hawaii's 9-3 season.
On Saturday, Grant was rewarded by being named to the Feb. 2 Hula Bowl on Maui.
He said he was surprised with being selected to the college all-star game, but UH defensive backs coach Rich Miano said Grant will fit right in with the other pro prospects.
"Early in the season, scouts started asking about him," Miano said. "He is a prototype NFL safety with his height (6-feet), weight (211) and speed. And he showed he's a fast learner by playing safety, nickel, dime and linebacker for us. He improved very quickly."
Grant, who was converted from running back to safety last spring, also excelled on special teams for the Warriors last season.
"I played running back all my life before this year so at first I was worried," Grant said. "But Coach Miano really helped me a lot. I got an understanding of playing defense, and about two-thirds of the way through the season I started to feel really comfortable."
Grant was at ease enough throughout the season to make 71 tackles, sixth on the team. He also forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes, one which he ran back for a touchdown. Grant also blocked two kicks.
He is joined in the Hula Bowl by fellow Warrior safeties Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau, defensive end/linebacker Joe Correia, quarterback Nick Rolovich and slotback Craig Stutzmann.
UH Athletics
John West, a first-team All-American junior college running back and 1998 Leilehua graduate, has accepted a football scholarship from Hawaii. West lands Hawaii
football scholarshipBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comWest is 5 feet 10 inches and 180 pounds and runs 40 yards in 4.4 seconds. He said he accounted for 2,200 all-purpose yards last season for Yuba College in Marysville, Calif., as a running back and kick returner. West scored 16 touchdowns last season, and returned two kicks for touchdowns as a freshman.
He chose Hawaii over other full-ride offers from Indiana, Utah State and New Mexico. Michigan State was also considering offering him a scholarship. West will start school at UH this week and participate in spring practice, since he has already earned an associate's degree from Yuba.
West said he selected Hawaii because of his familiarity with the state and program.
"Mainly, it's the home crowd. I know the coaches are good. I have respect for the whole staff," said West, whose uncle and aunt, Norman and Judy West, live in Hawaii. "I also like the quick pace of the game Hawaii plays. A lot of it is based on knowing the coaches and having played against a lot of the athletes before."
West steps into a fairly crowded situation at running back, as returnees Mike Bass and Thero Mitchell played nearly all the downs last year in the one-back attack. Also, record-breaking kick returner Chad Owens will be hard to unseat. But West said the coaches told him he will compete for playing time right away.
"They said they'll give me a shot and it will go to the best man," he said. "They might look at me at slotback, too."
In other recruiting news, Kahuku receiver Ferron Fonoimoana verbally committed to Brigham Young, according to a report in the Provo Herald. Red Raiders defensive end Jonathan Mapu, the top prospect in Hawaii, also visited with the Cougars over the weekend.
Mapu, who was hosted by his cousin, BYU defensive end C.J. Ah You, said he enjoyed his visit.
"But I don't plan to make a decision until all the visits," he told the Star-Bulletin.
Mapu said he is looking forward to the Tennessee visit this weekend, as he has been no farther east than Utah. He has also visited Washington. Mapu's UH visit is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 25.
While Brigham Young and Utah continue to woo some of the state's top prospects, several more local athletes could be headed to another Utah school.
Coaches at Dixie College in St. George, Utah are interested in Waianae defensive back/quarterback Kekoa Reyes and four Kailua seniors. Surfrider coach Darren Johnson said defensive linemen Felipo Mokofisi and Levi Manutai, tight end Larry So'oalo and quarterback Taleki Mailau are all considering Dixie as well as Idaho State and Western Montana.
Star-Bulletin reporter Jason
Kaneshiro contributed to this report
UH Athletics
