"I'm thankful for the opportunity," said Veikune, a 2004 graduate of Campbell High School.

As a Campbell senior, Veikune signed with the University of Colorado. He redshirted in 2004, then decided "I really wanted to come back home and play."

Rather than sit out a year, he transferred from Colorado to Fresno City College, where he played this past season. Veikune said he will earn an associate degree in May, an NCAA eligibility requirement for player transferring from a community college that fields a football team.

Veikune, who is 6 feet 3 and 245 pounds, can run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds. He can bench press a maximum 425 pounds, and bench 225 pounds 28 times.

Veikune said the UH coaches contacted him yesterday afternoon. He said he received a scholarship offer Friday. "I gave them my verbal commitment," he said.