By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Perhaps the surprise isn’t that redshirt freshman Uriah Moenoa apparently is favored to win the starting job at right tackle in spring football practice, but that he is attending the University of Hawai‘i.
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| Home at UH is where the heart is for former 'Iolani School standout offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Moenoa, who graduated from ‘Iolani School last June, grew up in Honolulu wanting to attend a college on the Mainland.
While he was being recruited as a high school senior, his parents would ask repeatedly, "Are you sure you don’t want to go to Colorado or Oregon?"
But the 1999 UH football season turned Moenoa’s heart, and when it came time to sign, he had no doubts.
"A lot of people were surprised," Moenoa recalled, "especially my parents. But everything is here — Coach (June Jones), Cav (assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh) — plus, I want to help build this program."
Last fall, he recalled, "I was walking around campus and I felt this relief that I came here. I feel so comfortable here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."
Moenoa, who is 6 feet 3 and 330 pounds, also felt at ease at right guard, where he practiced while redshirting last fall. But the coaches decided that Moenoa was best suited to replace right tackle Kynan Forney, who completed his eligibility at the end of last season.
"I thought he had enough athletic ability to play out on the edge," said Cavanaugh, who coaches the blockers. He moves his feet really well and he changes direction well. I like him a lot."
Moenoa said he has to learn to play in "space." UH, which does not use a tight end, requires the tackles to be open-area blockers. It is a change from guard, where he said, "You’re in a confined area. At tackle, you can run around. I have to work on my footwork a lot."
He also is working on his strength. He can bench press 305 pounds five times and 225 pounds 18 times. He also no longer carries the burden of his decision to stay home.
"My parents are behind me," he said.
 Alapa improving: Despite wearing a thick brace to protect a surgically repaired knee, sophomore Keani Alapa has emerged as the No. 1 weak-side linebacker.
If the season were to start today, said UH associate head coach George Lumpkin, who coaches the linebackers, "he would be a starter."
"He has great instinct and he’s very, very smart," Lumpkin added. "He doesn’t make mistakes."
Lumpkin said the 6-foot, 224-pound Alapa is not a sprinter, but he is "explosive," the football vernacular for quickness from a standing start.
"He is so quick from Point A to Point B," Lumpkin said. "In a short space, he’s as quick as anybody on this team. And his timing is uncanny. When he blitzes, he gets there quicker than anybody. That’s what makes him so good."
Alapa’s quickness was apparent during his rehabilitation. He underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament four months ago, and the knee is now measured at 65 percent healed. UH trainers say it is advisable to practice when an injury is, at the minimum, 80 to 85 percent healed.
But Alapa said he did not want to wait, and while he participates in most drills, he is not involved in full-contact ones.
"There’s some good competition for my position," he said of his early return. "I’m trying to be a contender out there."
McKnight back: Assistant coach Dennis McKnight, who did not participate in last week’s practices while recuperating from knee surgery, made his first appearance at yesterday’s two-hour workout.
McKnight coaches UH’s special teams. His duties were shared during his absence.
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