Akpan planning two-sport UH career

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After a two-week audition with the University of Hawai'i football team, basketball player Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan has told school officials he will play both sports in the coming academic year.

"I'm young," said the 20-year-old Akpan, who completed his sophomore season in basketball. "I have a lot of energy. I want to give it a try."

NCAA rules mandate that the more "dominant" program must pay for a two-sport athlete's scholarship. In this situation, the football team must assume the payments of Akpan's basketball scholarship and count it against the Warriors' annual 85-scholarship limit.

While Akpan has not been officially offered a football scholarship, football head coach June Jones said, "We're trying to work out a way so Riley (Wallace, the basketball coach) can get an extra scholarship."

According to the plan, the 6-foot-7 Akpan would play through the football season, then rejoin the basketball team as a walk-on.

Akpan said he has received Wallace's blessing. "We had a good talk, and he was OK," Akpan said. "All of the rumors of (Wallace) being mad weren't true. We talked about it, and he told me I can come back as a walk-on."

Akpan said he apologized for starting the controversy when he participated in spring football practice without notifying the basketball coaches.

"It was just me being ignorant," he said. "At times, when you come into college, you don't know all of the rules."

UH officials told Akpan he should have delayed practicing until the paper work was finalized. "I got into trouble," Akpan said. "We talked about it. They called Riley, and it's all good now."

Akpan, who weighs 240, said he needs to gain about 15 pounds during the summer. Even at 255 pounds, Akpan insisted, he still would be in basketball shape if he maintains his flexibility and jumping ability.

Jones said he envisions Akpan serving as pass-rushing defensive end. Akpan competed in live drills against the first-team offensive line yesterday.

"I would anticipate once he gets comfortable doing what he's doing, he has the tools to be a player," Jones said. "We're trying to get him not to learn the whole game. We want him to rush the passer. I think he'll be able to do that by the middle of next season. I would think he'll have the technique down and be able to contribute."

If not, Jones said, "he has a redshirt year, too. If it looks like he's not coming along, we'll use this as a learning season and get to the next one."