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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, July 6, 2005

DB will play for UH, just like dad

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

When your father is a former University of Hawai'i football player and future owner of an L&L Drive-Inn franchise, and your living room resembles a RainBowTique, is there any doubt about your choice of college?

"I'm going to be a Warrior," said defensive back Devion Volta-Johnson, the son of ex-UH receiver/returner Marco Johnson. "It's always been a lifelong dream to follow in the footsteps of my dad."

Volta-Johnson, who is 5 feet 10 and 180 pounds, is participating in unsupervised workouts on the Manoa campus this summer. He recently graduated from Quartz Hill High (Antelope Valley, Calif.), and is enrolled at UH for the fall semester.

"Ever since he was a little kid, that was the only school he wanted to go," Johnson said. "He was recruited by other schools on the Mainland, but he only wanted to attend UH."

Raised in Antelope Valley, 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Volta-Johnson's destiny was in Hawai'i.

From his numerous visits, he said, "I have so much memorabilia from Hawai'i. On some of our vacations, I used to sit around and watch the (UH) team practice."

Volta-Johnson also attended many of the Warriors' games in California.

UH athletics are "all that's been around him while he was growing up," Johnson said. "UH is in my blood, and it will always be there. UH is in his blood, too. We make it to Hawai'i two, three times a year just to visit and to slow down a little and get the aloha spirit back in our blood. UH is still a big part of our lives."

Johnson is the football ancestor of diminutive UH punt returners Chad Owens and Jeff Sydner. At 5 feet 9 and 165 pounds, Johnson relied on quickness and spine-twisting elusiveness. He led UH in punt returns in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

After his playing career ended, Johnson became a firefighter and paramedic in Antelope Valley. In 1997, he began teaching medical training classes. Soon after, Johnson and his wife, Sandra, founded Antelope Valley Medical College, a nationally accredited vocational institution offering 11 different programs in nursing and paramedics.

The school, which now has a staff of 60, earned $7.5 million last year. Johnson, who is planning to retire as a firefighter this year, was featured in Entrepreneur magazine's profile on "young millionaires."

During a visit to Hawai'i, Johnson met UH alumnus Eddie Flores, president of L&L Drive-Inn. Johnson inquired about buying a franchise, to which Flores countered with a pop quiz.

"He had to make sure I still had the aloha spirit, and that I knew what the food was all about," Johnson recalled.

Johnson's request was accepted, and he will join former UH wideout Ashley Lelie as a franchise owner. Lelie's restaurant is in Denver.

"We'll add some more salads to the menu," said Johnson, whose restaurant opens this fall, "but the main staples will be the same. ... My favorite is the loco moco. It's bad for you, but it tastes so good."

Defensive tackle Wilson cleared to play

Defensive lineman Lawrence Wilson said he has met the academic requirements to play for the Warriors this coming season.

Wilson, who is 6 feet 1 and 300 pounds, will have two years to play two seasons.

The 2002 Farrington High graduate played two seasons at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah.

He signed with UH in February 2004, but did not earn enough transferrable credits to play for the Warriors last season.

He earned those credits at Honolulu Community College. Wilson said he was told yesterday he met the NCAA requirements.

"I'm qualified," he said. "I'm excited. It's a dream to play for the Warriors. I'm looking forward to the season."

Wilson is one of the strongest Warriors. Last Thursday, with defensive tackle Billy Tafea as spotter, Wilson bench pressed 500 pounds.

"It was a lot of hard work," Wilson said. "Working with (strength) coach Mel (deLaura) really helped a lot."

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