By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
If things had proceeded normally, University of Hawai‘i football player Patrick Lavar Harley would be in his junior year — of high school.
Instead, Harley, a redshirt freshman who turned 17 on Jan. 15, is perhaps one of the youngest college football players in the country.
"I don’t think about how old I am, because the other players don’t care how old I am," said Harley, who graduated from Maui High last May. His family moved from Seattle to Maui six years ago.
Harley always has been ahead of his time. Ann Harley said her son could read and write at age 3. He tested well and enrolled in kindergarten when he was 4. He also was promoted from the third grade straight to the fifth grade.
He was team co-captain as a Maui High junior. Last fall, the Warriors accepted Harley as a 16-year-old, nonscholarship player.
"I was worried, from the beginning, because he was 16 when he left for college," Ann Harley said. "But he’s very mature for his age and, though he may be quiet, he has the ability to speak up."
Clayton Harley said he was more concerned about his son’s physical maturity. "I was worried his bones weren’t as solid, like a 20-year-old’s," he said.
But Harley, who trains with weights daily, takes vitamins and never eats junk food, has proved capable against older players. Since last May, he has gained 30 pounds and now weighs 200. The 5-foot-11 Harley can play both linebacker and defensive back.
"I want to play," Harley said. "I don’t want to be on the bench."
After yesterday’s two-hour practice, he spent another 30 minutes working on speed and agility drills with graduate assistant coach Tavis Campbell.
"I always told him, ‘Lead by example; don’t be a showoff,’ " Clayton Harley said. "I always told him to give 100 percent; never to hold back."
Still, youth has its drawbacks. Harley cannot vote, register for the draft or donate blood. He said he is constantly faxing permission forms to his parents on Maui. He has never had a job.
"I’ll just chill out at the dorm," he said.
 Running in place: As the Florida election taught us, there are many chads. At UH, there is the Throwing Chad, the Tackling Chad and, now, the Running Chad.
"Hopefully, I won’t have to change positions again," said running back Chad Kapanui, a 6-foot, 226-pound redshirt freshman.
Last fall, Kapanui entered UH as a quarterback. But he was moved to linebacker in training camp, then back to quarterback during the season and, finally, to running back.
Kapanui, who can throw a football 80 yards on the fly and dunk a basketball, said he is adjusting to running back. He had the two longest runs in yesterday’s practice, once breaking four tackles for a 15-yard gain against the first-team defense. He said the biggest adjustment is learning the blocking schemes.
"There are a lot of assignments, but running back is a cool thing," Kapanui said.
Kapanui always has been a quick learner. He first tried out for football, baseball and volleyball teams without ever playing those sports. Kapanui, who sleeps only four hours a night, said he likes to be active. It is no surprise that he will try out for the UH baseball team next year.
Watch me: At most college spring football practices, punters are out of sight, out of mind. But in the spirit of team unity, UH punter Mat McBriar accepted a "volunteer" assignment to practice as a wide receiver yesterday.
McBriar, who was raised in Australia and didn’t play football until last summer, was admittedly out of place.
"I don’t really know what I’m doing," he said. "It’s pretty fun, I guess."
During workouts, McBriar wore a watch on his left wrist — "To keep track of his 40 time," defensive tackle Lui Fuga mused.
"I’m going to remember to take it off the next time," McBriar said.
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