[UH FOOTBALL]
UH football loses
Martinez, Ma‘afalaQuarterback Ryan Stickler
may move to running back
Defensive back A.J. Martinez is no longer on the Hawaii football team. The highly-touted recruit from Fountain Valley, Calif., has left due to academic reasons, sources close to the team said.
The 6-foot, 180-pound freshman redshirted last season and never did play in a game for the Warriors. He was originally recruited in 2002, but needed to qualify academically before he could enroll at UH, which he did last fall.
A.J. Martinez: The defensive back has left the team due to academic reasons
Martinez was an all-state defensive back at Huntington Beach Edison, one of California's best programs.
Junior defensive tackle Abu Ma'afala, who was expected to compete for a starting spot this fall, has also left the program.
"I don't know all the details, but I know it's family related," defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said. "He feels he's doing what he needs to do."
Ma'afala, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound Kamehameha graduate, was a key reserve and sometime-starter for the Warriors his first two seasons. He and senior Matt Faga were slated to battle for a starting spot at tackle next to senior Lui Fuga next month in fall camp.
"He still had a lot to prove, but I thought he did real well in the spring," Singletary said. "He was really tough on himself, and that's the sign of a competitor.
"Now Matt and Lui are tag team No. 1. Matt had a great spring," the coach added.
Junior college transfers Austin Jackson and Lawrence Wilson are also expected to contend for playing time at defensive tackle.
"Somebody's going to have to step up," Fuga said. "I was shocked that he's not going to be with us, but I'm sure Abu thought it over and he's doing what's best for him and his family."
Abu Ma'afala: The defensive tackle was expected to compete for a starting spot
Also, Singletary said senior defensive lineman Darrell Tautofi remains "a big question mark."
Tautofi still has academic issues to clear up before he can play.
At defensive end, junior Mel Purcell will likely start at one side, Singletary said. Ikaika Alama-Francis or Kila Kamakawiwo'ole will probably start at the other end, as Tony Akpan will likely serve his one-game suspension for fighting at the end of the Hawaii Bowl in the season-opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept 4.
"We're going to need (Akpan) for the other games," Singletary said.
Meanwhile, third-year sophomore quarterback Ryan Stickler might move to running back instead of outside linebacker.
Running backs coach Wes Suan said the move has nothing to do with the possible loss of West Keli'ikipi and Mike Bass due to suspensions this season.
"Not at all, that's not the intent," Suan said. "Ryan's still young, so we want to find the best position for his future. Running back is an option. He's strong and a very active learner. I'm excited. He's also focusing on being a great special teams player. This guy will work at it wherever you put him."
Head coach June Jones had no comment on the departures of Martinez and Ma'afala.
The status of Keli'ikipi, Bass and offensive tackle Brandon Eaton "will be solved probably in the next four or five days," Jones said. "We hope we have them, but it's out of my hands."
Keli'ikipi was suspended from the team in May after he was indicted for alleged second-degree felony theft, and the university recommended Bass and Eaton be suspended for the fall semester for their alleged involvement in a campus fight in February.
UH Athletics
uhathletics.hawaii.edu
