Posted on: Tuesday, January 7, 2003

Walk-on Stennis awarded scholarship for spring

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wide receiver Sean Stennis, who joined the University of Hawai'i football team as a freshman walk-on last August, has been awarded a football scholarship for the spring semester.

Because Stennis, the nephew of former UH quarterback Mike Stennis, went from being a walk-on to a scholarship player within two years, he counts as an initial signing. NCAA rules limit each Division I-A team to 25 initial signings each academic year. An initial signing usually is regarded as a student-athlete who had not previously signed a national letter of intent, a written commitment that binds a player to a Division I school for a year.

UH did not use its full allotment of 25 initial scholarships last year. Because Stennis was awarded a scholarship during his first academic year at UH, he can be counted retroactively as part of the school's 2002 initial signings.

That will create some scholarship flexibility for the UH football team, which is preparing to serve as host to recruits over the next three weekends.

The Warriors already have accounted for four initial scholarships for the 2003 recruiting class. They will go to Orlando Wong, a former Kahuku High quarterback who signed with UH in 2000 before going on a church mission, and three recruits from last year — defensive back A.J. Martinez, defensive tackle Matt Faga and defensive end Darrell Tautofi.

Wong returned from his mission after the start of UH's 2002 fall semester. He is enrolled at UH for the spring semester, which begins Monday. Wong, who will participate in spring football practice, is projected to compete at receiver or defensive back.

Martinez needs to pass an English class to become eligible. A mix-up resulted in the NCAA Clearinghouse, which certifies the eligibility of incoming college freshmen, discounting one of his high school core classes. Martinez has said he expects to report to UH for training camp in August.

Faga and Tautofi are attending Hawai'i Pacific University in an attempt to earn enough credits to transfer to UH. Both attended Mainland junior colleges for two years before signing with UH last February. They are expected to report to UH for training camp.

"I can't wait," Tautofi said. "It's a bummer to have to sit out."