DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Defensive coordinator George Lumpkin says time with the first team gives Nkeruwem Akpan a chance to learn more about playing defensive end.
Injuries allow Akpan
some reps with first stringThe basketball convert has
turned heads with his effort
So far so good for The Akpan Project.
Six months ago, Nigeria-born Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan had never worn shoulder pads. Yesterday he played defensive end for the Hawaii first string in football practice.
Sure, injuries are the main reason the 6-foot-7, 254-pound basketball forward got the repetitions with the starters in the pass-rush package. But coaches and teammates agreed Akpan is ahead of schedule in his crash course on how to play the game with the funny-shaped ball.
Way ahead. Coach June Jones said Akpan will likely play rush end in some passing situations in games this season, as he did in practice yesterday.
"Certain people are injured, so we're just rotating them around, but he's showing he can play," Jones said. "He's a great kid. He studies it. He's going to be a great football player, he's got all the tools."
Those tools include quickness of foot, long arms and above-average athleticism. Combined with his size, Akpan has unlimited potential.
"It's all upside with him," Jones said.
Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said Akpan has displayed toughness in practice and he doesn't worry about his ability to deal with more experienced opponents.
"He doesn't take any mess from anyone," Singletary said.
Akpan learns quickly and thoroughly. Since he never played before, he doesn't have his own ideas about how to do things, the coaches said. As evidence of that, he chased speedy slot receiver Nate Ilaoa 80 yards downfield after the other defenders gave up -- it was a display of hustle resulting from the Warriors' daily pursuit drill.
"That's what they taught me to do. It's part of our training," Akpan said.
The effort impressed senior safety Hyrum Peters.
"Oh, yeah. That's how good defensive (players) are. You hustle to the ball. That's why we always do that pursuit drill. Work on it every day. Eleven guys to the ball. That was one example right there," Peters said. "He's disciplined. He listens. He's the type of guy who would do that. He showed some pride and leadership. Now some other guys might say, 'Hey, we practice that every day. I'm going to make sure I do it.'"
Defensive coordinator George Lumpkin also believes Akpan can play.
"Maybe you don't always know what you're doing, but if you can run to the ball, that's big," Lumpkin said. "It's not good that other guys are hurt, but it's an opportunity for him to get reps and learn more, understand more and get in the heat of the action."
Akpan laughed and said "no comment" when asked if he likes basketball or football better. (His scholarship has been converted from basketball to football, but his current plan is to continue playing basketball.)
"It feels like my hard work is paying (off)," he said. "Having those reps will help me improve my skills and learn more."
Hyrum joins hurt list: Peters sat out yesterday with a tender right hamstring.
"I pulled it just a little, I'll be back tomorrow," the all-conference performer said. "I wanted to rest it because if I pulled it again it could be really bad."
Defensive linemen Lui Fuga, Isaac Sopoaga, Travis LaBoy, Kevin Jackson, Kila Kamakawiwo'ole and Matt Faga all remained sidelined yesterday with various ailments. Sopoaga, LaBoy and Jackson are expected back in time for the season-opening game a week from Saturday against Appalachian State.
Visitors from the neighborhood: Kahuku High School coach Siuaki Livai brought about 80 members of his varsity football team to watch the Warriors practice yesterday morning.
"I want to make this an annual thing," Livai said. "It's good for them to see the speed of the game, and players that came from their school."
Six Kahuku alumni are on the UH roster, including freshman running back Kala Latuselu, a 2000 Kahuku graduate whom one of the current Red Raiders recognized and said hello to.
"That was really neat," he said. "That's nice that they remember me."
Latuselu (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) was recruited by Utah and attended their camp. But he decided not to go to college right away.
"I got married right after high school and went to work in construction," he said. "I'm enjoying it here. Utah was a running team and that's why I wanted to go there, but this is good, learning blocking technique."
Catch of the day: Wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran's sprained right ankle seems completely healed.
Yesterday afternoon in goal-line drills, Cockheran jumped straight up to grab a bullet pass from Tim Chang between defenders Omega Hogan and Lincoln Manutai in the end zone.
