Warriors fill need for speed in receiver
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
A speedy wide receiver from California has accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.
Jeremiah Cockheran, of Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., said he will visit UH next week and sign a letter of intent Feb. 6, the first day of the NCAA spring-semester commitment period.
Cockheran, who is 6 feet 2 and 184 pounds, ran 40 yards in 4.26 seconds during a scouting combine for junior college players last year.
As a senior at A.B. Miller High in Fontana, Calif., in 1999, Cockheran and UH wide receiver Justin Colbert were members of the 4x400 team that finished second in the California state track meet. Cockheran has run 48.3 seconds over 400 meters.
"He's one of the fastest we've ever had," Chaffey coach Carl Beach said.
Cockheran made a verbal commitment to UH in 1999, but did not meet the NCAA eligibility requirements to play as a freshman. He sat out a year before enrolling at Chaffey, where he has been the featured receiver the past two seasons.
Last season, he caught 52 passes and scored nine touchdowns in 10 games. He was named to the Foothill Conference all-star team.
He said he will earn his associate degree this summer, and join the Warriors for the start of training camp in August. He will have three years to play two seasons.
Cockheran received several offers, including one from Utah, but "Hawai'i was always on his mind," Beach said.
Cockheran said he looks forward to reuniting with his childhood friend, Colbert. They work out together each summer.
Cockheran reads several books a week. Once, he attempted to read an entire encyclopedia.
"That was a little too much," he said, "but I do like to read."
He is expected to help fill the void created by the departure of slotbacks Channon Harris and Craig Stutzmann, and wide receivers Ashley Lelie and Tafiti Uso. Cockheran was aligned in the slot and wide last season.
"He does a nice job after making a catch," Beach said. "He turned into a pretty good blocker, as well."
Meanwhile, UH is awaiting word from wide receiver Jon Makonnen of City College of San Francisco. The 6-foot-1 Makonnen was prepared to make an oral commitment to UH Monday afternoon before receiving a scholarship offer from California that night.
"I can see his dilemma," CCSF coach George Rush said of Makonnen, who was raised in the Bay Area. "He loves Hawai'i and (UH coach) June Jones' offense, but he grew up around here. He has to balance things out."
Also, Jones said the 15 days of spring practice will begin March 11.
