UH gets commitment
from CB
It didn't take long for Hawaii to find a potential replacement for all-conference cornerback Kelvin Millhouse.
Turmarian Moreland, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete from Los Angeles Valley College, made an oral commitment to accept a football scholarship from UH yesterday.
Moreland is similar to Millhouse in size, and both are converted wide receivers.
"There's an open spot there with Millhouse graduating, so I'll give it my best shot," Moreland said.
Suddenly, cornerback appears to be a deep position for the Warriors, especially since second-year freshman Ray Bass has changed his mind about transferring. Sophomore Kenny Patton and second-year freshman Ernest Powell will also get long looks.
Returning fourth-year starter Abraham Elimimian will likely anchor one corner. He was excited to hear about Moreland's commitment.
"It's a good thing to have two strong corners so they don't have a choice where to throw. Pick your poison," Elimimian said. "It's good to have a lot of people competing. We lost three guys in the secondary who were starters, so it's up in the air."
Assuming Moreland signs with UH on Feb. 4, it will be the second year in a row the Warriors get a defensive back who committed to Brigham Young first. Safety Viliami Nauahi told Gary Crowton he'd become a Cougar before changing his mind and signing with Hawaii last year.
Moreland committed to BYU after a visit to Provo, Utah, in early December.
"It's 100 percent I'll be a Warrior," Moreland said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Moreland has two years of eligibility.
"He's very natural, probably the best technique of anyone I've coached," LAVC defensive coordinator Josh Stephenson said. "Hawaii's getting a great person in addition to a great player."
Moreland was also pursued by Syracuse, Kansas, South Carolina and Nevada. He only visited BYU and Hawaii and does not plan on taking any more trips.
"I'm making plans to see him play (against Rice) at Houston," said his father, Jesse Moreland, from the family's Palm Beach, Fla., home.
Moreland is either the eighth or ninth recruit in Hawaii's class, depending on the status of Saint Louis School defensive lineman Fale Laeli. Sources said Laeli committed to UH on Sunday, but he may be wavering.
"I'm not sure what his status is at this point," Saint Louis coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "I've heard conflicting things and want to talk to Fale."
Coach June Jones is prohibited by NCAA rules to talk about specific recruits. But Jones did say yesterday that the Warriors have more than the 14 scholarships previously believed to be available for this class.
"It really depends on what some (current players) decide to do," Jones said.
Division I football teams are limited to 85 scholarship athletes total and 25 per year.
