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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, February 4, 2003

California lineman to play for Warriors

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

DeJuan Gatling, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman from Silverado High in Victorville, Calif., confirmed yesterday he will accept a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.

"I'm committed," he told The Advertiser. "I'm 100 percent committed."

Gatling visited San Diego State last week, but said: "I really feel this is the school for me. I really want to sign here. I love this coaching staff. I think this is an up-and-coming program."

Silverado coach Paul Golla said Gatling was named to the California Interscholastic Federation Division 8 All-Star team. The CIF is separated by region and enrollment. Silverado, which competes in California's high desert area, has 3,200 students.

Gatling attended Cajon High in San Bernardino, Calif., through the middle of his sophomore year before moving to Victorville, where his mother accepted a new nursing job.

"He enrolled in our school, and thank God that he did," Golla said, noting Silverado went 8-2 last season to win its first league championship. "DeJuan had a lot to do with it."

Gatling played on both sides of the line, but is expected to play offensive tackle at UH.

"In high school, he was a dominating defensive lineman," Golla said. "But he has very long arms, great leverage and quick feet. He's a great backside tackle because he's able to protect the quarterback."

Gatling weighed 275 pounds when he first arrived at Silverado, but chiseled his body with a rigorous weight-training program. He can dead-lift 600 pounds and squat-lift 430 pounds.

He also competes in basketball and the shot put.

Gatling said he wanted to work under UH offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, who has coached four Warriors now in the National Football League. In addition, three other Cavanaugh-coached linemen received NFL tryouts, and three from last season's team are expected to be drafted or signed to free-agent contracts this year.