Lelie plans to return in 2002
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In the strongest indication that he will return for his senior season next year, University of Hawai'i wide receiver Ashley Lelie has decided to apply for an insurance policy through the NCAA.
Advertiser library photo • Nov. 17, 2001
The move will protect him financially should he suffer a serious injury next year.
Ashley Lelie plans to insure his valuable hands (and other body parts) for his senior season at UH next year.
Through school officials, Lelie has requested documents from the NCAA about the organization's Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance Program.
The NCAA started the program as a way to encourage student-athletes to remain in school.
The insurance is available to student-athletes who are considered top pro prospects. UH coach June Jones is willing to provide a letter of recommendation for Lelie.
If Lelie is deemed a top prospect, he may borrow against future pro football earnings to pay for the insurance premium. The loan would go through the NCAA.
UH compliance officer Daniel Arakaki said Lelie is the first UH player to apply for the insurance.
Lelie has told reporters that he plans to return for his senior season. He leads the Western Athletic Conference and is fifth nationally in receiving, averaging 116.6 yards per game. He has 67 catches for 1,166 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
"He's getting better and better every game," Jones said of Lelie.
As a senior at Radford High in 1997, Lelie received no Division I-A scholarship offers. He decided to join the Warriors as a walk-on because "at least I could pay in-state tuition. It wasn't like I could go anywhere else."
Lelie redshirted in 1998, but played well enough the following spring practice to win the starting job at right wideout in 1999, Jones' first as UH's head coach.
During early workouts, Jones recalled, "He wasn't in great condition. He never really worked at running. Since I got here, he runs every day. It seems like he's run 100 miles."
Last spring, a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles hand-timed Lelie running 40 yards in 4.27 seconds. "He has track speed," Jones said. "He believes in himself, and he makes plays. He's a big-time player."
Notes: Cornerback Hyrum Peters (3.8 grade-point average in general studies) was named to the Verizon Academic All-America District VII first team. Defensive tackle Mike Iosua (3.2 in mathematics) was named to the second team. District VII comprises Hawai'i, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nevada and Idaho. ... Wide receiver Tafiti Uso, who has missed the past four games with a shoulder injury, said he is healthy and available to play Saturday against Air Force. ... Outside linebacker Keani Alapa is scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging to determine the severity of his sore right shoulder.
