Posted on: Sunday, February 1, 2004
North Carolina back opts for UH
| • | UH verbal commitments |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
A record-setting running back from North Carolina yesterday said he will accept a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.
Andrew Pearman of Providence Senior High in Charlotte told The Advertiser: "I'm going to the University of Hawai'i."
Pearman said he will turn down scholarship offers from Virginia, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Army.
He said he will sign a national letter of intent Wednesday, the first day NCAA Division I-A recruits may put their commitments in writing.
In 14 games last season, Pearman rushed for 2,268 yards, breaking the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County record, and scored 37 touchdowns.
As a junior in 2002, he rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.
According to one report, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Pearman ran consecutive 40-yard sprints in 4.3 seconds. He said he will compete at running back at UH.
Pearman, who will complete his 48-hour recruiting trip today, said "everything here is wonderful. They definitely have it together coaching-wise and with the team. The people in Hawai'i are such nice people. They definitely helped in my decision. This is where I want to be."
Pearman said he was impressed with what he called Hawai'i's "laid-backness."
"You don't have to be GQ every day," he said. "You can be yourself and have fun with it."
Before leaving for this recruiting trip, Pearman recalled telling friends, he was hopeful that meeting the UH players and touring the UH campus and Aloha Stadium would help finalize his decision.
"Hawai'i is everything I hoped it would be," he said. "It was even better than I thought. I'm stoked and excited."
He said he announced his decision to his parents yesterday afternoon.
"My dad is really cool about it," he said. "With my mom, the far-away-thing is a factor. But my older sister is in Africa, and (my mom) dealt with it. They want me to be happy, and I'll be extremely happy at the University of Hawai'i."
Meanwhile, quarterback Brandon Satcher of North Augusta (S.C.) High said he has narrowed his choices to UH and Division I-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga. He also has taken recruiting trips to Rice and Ohio.
Tennessee-Chattanooga is recruiting Satcher as a quarterback. UH is offering Satcher a shot at quarterback, his preference, although he said he would be agreeable to moving to another position if needed. He was a cornerback and wide receiver until the start of his senior season.
Satcher, who is 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, passed for 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. He also ran for a team-high 782 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
