Broadway lights up Warriors' defensive secondary
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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When you are defensive back Lamar Broadway, with the expectations that come with being the nephew of former University of Hawai'i quarterback Michael Carter, your collegiate football career can be a hit or bust.
"To be honest, before fall camp, he wasn't even in the mix," said Rich Miano, who coordinates the Warriors' pass defense.
Now Broadway is drawing rave reviews.
"Not only is he in the mix, he's going to play a lot," Miano said. "He's come a long, long way. I'm very impressed with his work ethic and his quick ability to learn. He competes."
Yesterday, with strong safety Hyrum Peters inactive because of a strained right calf, Broadway played nickelback on the first team and free safety.
"It's about time," said Broadway, a 5-foot-11, 173-pound sophomore from Corona, Calif. "I'm going into my third year, and everything is falling into place."
Broadway was recruited to play cornerback, but was asked to move to safety last year.
"Corner is fun, but I was a high school quarterback, and free safety is just like being the quarterback on defense," Broadway said. "You're using your head a lot. And I like to play the whole field. At corner, you're really isolated to one man. At safety, you can move around and do a lot of things. That's what I'm trying to do."
As the nickelback, Broadway often aligns near the line of scrimmage, across from the tight end or slot receiver.
"He can cover receivers one-on-one because he's fast, or he can blitz because he's tough," Miano said.
Broadway attributed his ascent to experience. "It's all about the maturity level," he said. "When I came in, I was young. You have to mature into the defense, mature into the system. It's hard to play at full speed when you're learning the position. You're always hesitating. But once you learn it, you can play at full speed. I'm playing at full speed."
No slowing down: It was a simple practice play, an inside screen to slotback Nate Ilaoa, who eluded two would-be tacklers and sprinted downfield. This time, Ilaoa was chased, more than 60 yards, by defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan, a converted basketball player. Akpan did not stop until Ilaoa began scaling the hill at the end of the field.
"Nobody told me to stop," said Akpan, who raced back to the huddle to his teammates' cheers of "Tow-nee! ... Tow-nee! ..."
"Tony is a great kid, and as you can see, he works hard," UH coach June Jones said.
Akpan did not play football until he auditioned in spring practice in April. He meets with defensive line coach Vantz Singletary after every practice, and studies football videotapes two hours each night.
With right ends Travis LaBoy and Kevin Jackson sidelined with injuries, Akpan worked with the first team yesterday.
"At times the frustration kicks in when I try to compare myself to other guys out here," Akpan said. "That's wrong. I know I've never played this before. I'm willing to learn, and if they need me, I'll jump in and help."
Jones said he has not decided on a role for Akpan.
"He'll contribute some in different ways for us," Jones said. "It'll be limited, I'm sure, but as he gets better and more experienced, he has a chance to be a very good player."
Health report: Defensive tackle Lui Fuga, who has played one game in the past two years because of shoulder and ankle injuries, plans to begin practicing Sunday.
"I'm trying to get my legs in shape so I won't be rusty when I put on the pads," he said.
Fuga said his left ankle is at 80-percent strength, and "the pain has gone down. My range of motion is almost there. I just have have to get going."
Safety Hyrum Peters is expected to resume practicing today. Trainers placed several elastic tapes on his strained calf, a treatment designed to create space between the outer and inner layers of the skin, and help the lymphatic system.
