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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 17, 2005

Peters makes easy transition

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Leonard Peters' physical development can be measured in his off-season employment.

Peters, who joined the University of Hawai'i football team as a 161-pound safety in 2001, moonlights as a security guard at concerts and clubs.

"When he first came in, you would never think he would become a bouncer," linebacker Tanuvasa Moe said. "You might think he would be a dancer."

Since then, Peters has grown an inch, to 6 feet 2, and filled out to 190 pounds.

"He did a lot of hard work," Moe said. "He got bigger. He's an intimidating guy."

Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive secondary, said Peters has emerged as the Warriors' best all-around defensive player. Miano said Peters has made an easy transition to new defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville's blitzing schemes.

Last season, the Warriors divided the deep coverage into left and right safeties. This spring, they are going with the traditional roles of free and strong safeties. Peters, as the free safety, is the last line of defense, roaming from sideline to sideline to provide needed defensive help at troubled areas.

"I don't know how he learned the new defense so fast, but he knows everything," left cornerback Kenny Patton said. "He's making plays out there. He's definitely the captain of the defense."

Moe added: "We need that, because he has the best view of the field. He's always been there with the right calls."

Peters said he is following Glanville's orders to "run hard to the ball."

He also has decided to play without regard to, well, personal safety.

"Every year I got injured," Peters said. "It's almost in your mind all of the time. This is my last year. I really don't care if I get hurt. I'm going to give it 100 percent and see what happens."

As for his other work at concerts and a North Shore club, Peters said, "I'm not the bouncer, I'm more of the foreman. (Linemen) Tala (Esera) and Kahai (LaCount) are the bouncers. Sometimes they have to pull people out of there, but it's never like a brawl or anything. People know we're football players, so they respect that, and we don't have problems."

Receiver Dickerson solid before injury

Ron Lee, who coaches the receivers, said fourth-year junior Ross Dickerson secured the job as the successor to right wideout Britton Komine before suffering a pulled hamstring during Monday's practice. Lee said Dickerson will not compete in the final two practices of spring training.

"What he showed in spring, he's fine," Lee said. "He did a good job. He's clearly ahead."

Dickerson has had opportunities to start, at slotback and then wideout, but fell out of favor because of inconsistency.

"He used to run good routes and drop the ball," Lee said. "Now he's finally completing the package."

Dickerson's absence is opening the way for non-scholarship receivers Chad Mock and Julien Petit. Mock has worked with the first team for the past four practices.

"I want to show the coaches what I've got," said Mock, a junior who played at Avila College before transferring to UH last August.

"He catches the ball, he's athletic and he has decent speed," Lee said. "He's really coming on."

Petit, a sure-handed receiver who runs precise routes, is working his way into shape after spending most of last year taking care of his father in Australia.

"There's football shape and good shape," Petit said. "It takes some time to get back into it."

As senior at Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.), the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Petit averaged 21.1 yards per catch. The Orange County Register named him as one of the area's top 25 players.

He redshirted at Colorado State as a freshman in 2002. At Saddleback Community College (Mission Viejo, Calif.) in 2003, he caught 47 passes for 849 yards and seven touchdowns. He received offers from UH, California, San Diego State, Oregon State and Arizona but opted to take care of his father.

"Every day is a new learning experience," Petit said. "There are still mistakes, but for the most part, I'm getting the system down pretty well."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.