Two players who can both placekick and punt have accepted invitations to join the University of Hawai'i football team.

Briton Forester of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, Calif., and Kenji Hollaway of East Pennsboro Area High School in Enola, Pa., are among 105 players who will participate in the Warriors' training camp, which begins Aug. 4.

They will provide competition for placekicker Daniel Kelly, who returns for his sophomore season, and serve as apprentices to punter Kurt Milne, a senior. Last year's only backup at both positions, Jeremy Shibata, will not play this season, UH coaches confirmed.

Forester was named San Diego County's 2005 Kicker of the Year. He was selected to the All-Kubroco second-team as a punter.

The Chris Sailer college-scouting service rated Forester as the nation's 31st-best kicker. He received a four-star rating (on a scale of five).

As a La Costa senior last year, Forester converted seven of 10 field-goal attempts, with a long of 42 yards. He was successful from 64 yards during a practice session. "There was a little back wind," he said. "I had a little help on that one."

He said he averaged 40 yards per punt, with a hang time of 4.0 seconds.

Forester said he received offers from Boise State, West Virginia, Missouri, UC Davis and Sacramento State.

But Forester, an avid surfer, said he chose UH because of the football program and academic curriculum. He said he plans to major in kinesiology, with an emphasis in sports medicine.

"Hawai'i is a nice fit," Forester said.

Forester also has found success beyond football. When La Costa's soccer goal-keeper transferred at mid-semester, Forester volunteered to move from forward. With Forester in front of the net, La Costa went 8-3. "I'm not a goalie, but I did what I had to do," he said.

He also competed as a weightlifter. Last year, the 5-foot-10 Forester won the 180-pound division in the U.S. Powerlifting Federation's national championships in Los Alamitos, Calif.

The San Diego Union-Tribune honored Forester as a San Diego County Scholar-Athlete.

Hollaway, who is 5-11 and 190 pounds, is indeed a long-distance kicker, preparing to move six time zones.

"Hawai'i is one of my dream schools," said Hollaway, whose grandmother has friends here.

The Patriot-News, which was named the Pennsylvania Newspaper of the Year for 2005, listed Hollaway as a Midstate Top-100 player.

After sending his highlight videos to UH, Hollaway received a call from UH assistant coach Mouse Davis.

At East Pennsboro, Hollaway was used as a kicker, punter, kick returner, punt returner, running back, receiver and safety. He was told he would compete at punter, kicker and receiver at UH.

Hollaway's longest successful field goal in a game traveled 42 yards.

He averaged 41.6 yards per punt.

Hollaway, who is part Japanese, said his first name came from his maternal grandfather. Growing up in Pennsylvania, "everybody says (my name) is different," he said. "I like it. When you say, 'Kenji,' you know who you're talking about."

Shibata practiced but did not play in any games as a freshman last season. He was a popular figure who was the punter during punt-return and punt-blocking drills.

As a reward, Shibata was allowed to practice at defensive end several times.

THERE IS STILL NO WORD ON SAMPLE'S PETITION

Right wideout Ian Sample said he has not been told if he will be granted a hardship exemption allowing him to play as a sixth-year senior in the fall.

"It's frustrating, but there's nothing I can do about it," Sample said.

More than a month ago, two of Sample's teammates, free safety Leonard Peters and running back Nate Ilaoa, were granted sixth seasons.

Peters and Ilaoa received their exemptions based on injuries. Sample's appeal is based on two factors: the knee injury that limited him to three games last season, and a non-football-related situation. He said he withdrew from school in 2002 to take care of his mother, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis.

Sample said he was supposed to have been notified of a decision last week, "but I haven't heard anything. It's out of my hands, so there's no point in being concerned. I'm still of the mindset I'm playing this season."

Sample is in New Jersey to attend his sister's wedding. He said he will return to Hawai'i next Tuesday to resume training.

He also said he is "100 percent healthy." He suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Idaho last season. The injury did not require surgery.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.