Think you're living the sweetest life?

Think again.

University of Hawai'i football player Ikaika Alama-Francis can trump it.

He's young (21), smart and popular.

He has traveled in the same social circle as American Idol singer Camile Velasco.

Last week, he was named to the watch list of the Ted Hendricks Award, which goes to college football's top defensive end.

UH coach June Jones said if all goes well, Alama-Francis will be fitted for a pro team's cap during the 2007 National Football League draft.

"He's a great young man, and he works very hard," said UH assistant strength coach Mel deLaura, who is shepherding Alama-Francis' transformation from a skinny UH basketball player three years ago to one of the football team's defensive leaders.

Best of all, Alama-Francis, who has gained 67 pounds since joining the football team in March 2003, has been told to eat anything he wants. Alama-Francis, who is 6 feet 5, now weighs 282 pounds.

"I want him to gain weight," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

No wonder Alama-Francis' attitude is the same as his blood type: B positive.

Alama-Francis, who will be a senior this season, chatted with The Advertiser.

On his father, Joe Francis, the backup to Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers:

"I believe he was the first Hawaiian quarterback in the National Football League. I'm not 100 percent positive, but that's what I heard. He was with the Green Bay Packers for four years. He always tells me he's going to show me the old tapes, but he hasn't. ... He's really quiet, calm. He's very humble. He always tells me to 'keep quiet, do your thing, and work hard.' "

On his childhood:

"It was a totally different lifestyle. I wasn't into athletics. I was into video games, kids' stuff. Sports never came into my mind until my freshman year (at Kalaheo High School). That's when I really started getting into sports. My dad said, 'Maybe you should try a sport.' At the time, I loved playing basketball. I decided to go out for basketball.

"I was about 5-11, and I weighed 120 pounds, during my freshman year. I was on the varsity team my freshman year. It was me, Julian (Sensley, who went on to play at UH), Ryan Hogue. It was an experience. It was demanding, but it taught me discipline. I learned so many different things. Pete Smith was an awesome coach. He taught me so many values. He gave me a sense of responsibility."

On playing basketball and volleyball but not football at Kalaheo:

"(The football coaches) asked me. I just didn't want to do it at that time. Of course, volleyball and football were in the same season. I had to choose one."

On his growth spurt:

"From my sophomore year to my junior year (in high school), I grew about four or five inches. I was hurting in my bones, my joints. It helps me now. I'm glad I got the height. I'm still trying to figure out where I got it from. My dad's about 6-2. My mom is about 5-4."

On joining the UH basketball team as a walk-on:

"I had partial offers (from) some local schools in Hawai'i. I prayed a lot. I talked to God. I asked him to lead me in the right way. Everything happens for a reason.

"(UH's) volleyball (team) had an interest. Basketball had a little interest in me. But I didn't know what I wanted to play. I played basketball in high school, and I wanted it to continue to college. I wanted to stay close to the family, close to home. They kindly let me on the (basketball) team. It was a good situation. It helped me grow into the person I am today.

"It was a tough freshman year (in 2002-03). You're learning the system. You're learning everything new. It's a totally different system from high school. We had (Phil) Martin, Carl English. That was the year we went to the NIT. We almost made it (to the semifinals in New York). We lost to Minnesota. I traveled with them all of the time. It was a great experience. I learned so many new things. In high school, the farthest you go is to Kahuku. In college, you're traveling all over the country. You don't have to worry about snow or altitude when you go to Kahuku."

On his decision to switch from basketball to football:

"I asked my parents: 'What should I do?' My dad always said, 'Do what you feel like doing.' I wasn't restless, but I wanted to try something different, like football. I was working out with the football guys. The (football) coaches asked, 'Why don't you come out?' One day, I walked into (Rich) Miano's office. He handles all of the (football) walk-ons. I said, 'OK, I'm trying out.' He said, 'Are you sure you want to do this?' I told him, 'Yes.' But I was thinking, 'Oh, God, please let this be the right decision.'

"I had to break it to (basketball) coach Riley (Wallace). It was a decision I had to make, and he understood that. He respected it, and that was it."

On his first football practices:

"I didn't know I was going to play on defense. I got one of those light helmets. It was a little different. I had these over-sized pads, D-line pads. I was this skinny guy putting on D-line pads. I weighed about 210

"Honestly, I took it day by day. I knew I had to work hard every day, and I would get better. They saw something in me, and it made me believe I could do it. I have to thank coach Jones for giving me this opportunity to play on this team. Without him, I wouldn't be here. He had confidence in me. I didn't want to let him down. I didn't want to let any of my family down, either. I wanted to go out there and play my hardest."

On his first one-on-one drills:

"They didn't take it easy on me, and I didn't take it easy on them. Isaak Sopoaga (a defensive tackle now with the San Francisco 49ers) hit me the hardest. It was during defensive drills. I've never been hit like that before. Imagine a monster truck hitting a Mini Cooper. That's what it felt like. I was the Mini Cooper. I took my knocks early. After that, I knew I had to get bigger — bigger, faster, stronger."

On the 2003 season, his first as a football player:

"It was all a learning experience. I tell you one thing, everything comes with experience. After a while you get more confident in your abilities. You get more team-oriented. Every year I started to make more plays and more plays. Hopefully, this year I can make a lot more plays."

On developing from a third-down pass rusher into a complete player:

"Going into last year. I knew Glanville was bringing in a new defensive scheme. I knew I had to get bigger and stronger because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to play every down. I was playing with all of the big boys now. I'm basically (playing) inside (in the 3-4 scheme). I rarely rush (from the) outside. (On the inside) you have to be able to hold your own in there. It's a nasty world in there. It's a dogfight. It's whoever wins the most battles. He's going to win some, you're going to win some. And I tell you what, offensive linemen have a lot of tricks. They're doing all kinds of things. They get nasty. But defensive linemen have a lot of tricks, too."

On opposing offensive linemen:

"They all look the same to me — slow, fat and ugly. Nah. There's really good talent. I look forward to it."

On Jeff Reinebold, who was promoted to defensive line coach in April:

"He's a great guy. He's somebody everybody can get along with. He's willing to go that extra step for somebody. That's trust. I trust him. I listen to whatever he says. He's been there (as head coach in Canada). Coach helps you do the things to try to get you to the next level. He knows everything that is going on. I listen to him, and soak up whatever he says."

On being a defensive end:

"You've got to be fast. You've got to be quick. You've got to keep your distance (from offensive tackles). The main thing is to play hard every play. There's nothing more that you can do. When you practice hard, you play hard. ... It's a tough business. It's a tough sport. But you have to go hard. You can't let anything hold you back."

On his training, during which he improved his strength and quickness.

"When I first started (in 2003), my max (in the bench press) was 225 (pounds). It was a little more than my weight. Now I'm at 405. The first time I broke 400, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe how far I've come. I know I have a long way to go.

"I ran a 4.69 (seconds), 4.71 (in the 40-yard dash). That was OK. I do a lot of sprints. I work with boxes, jumping on them, and on foot drills and changing directions. It helps to play basketball. You're playing a game, but you get to work on your footwork and lateral movement. Basketball has helped me tremendously in football. And you have fun with basketball, too."

On meeting Glanville's mandate to weigh at least 279 pounds before the start of training camp in August:

"I like Italian food. Italian food is delicious. Lasagna is my favorite food of all time. I'm not talking about a vegetarian lasagna. I'm talking about meat, cheese, cheese and more cheese. I love food. I've learned to eat here (at UH). Eating is a technique. Before, I used to have maybe a cheeseburger or a little salad. Now I try to engulf everything I see. We're working out so hard, we're losing so many calories, you need to eat constantly to keep your weight up. The key, for me, was rest. I eat, work out and rest. You need a lot of rest to build yourself up.

"That training table (each morning during the season) is very crucial. I'll start out with a little fruit. Maybe one, two or three. Don't fill up the stomach too much. Then I go straight for the rice, eggs and whatever meats they've got. I once filled up two plates. I piled whatever they offered.

"(For dinner) I get spoiled because my dad is a really good cook. I'm glad I'm living at home. He does all of the cooking. You'd better watch out, Emeril Lagasse, dad can cook. Growing up, he was the chef. He makes an unbelievable corn chowder. I don't know the recipe, but he puts in bacon and all kinds of stuff. It's really good. I want to eat it right now."

On his free-time activities:

"I like to watch movies. I'm a movie critic. My favorite of all time is 'Predator.' I know every single line. The original 'Predator' was the best. 'Predator 2,' uh, I don't know about that."

On the 2006 season, which opens Sept. 2 at Alabama:

"Everybody looks in good shape. The people I see are getting better. They're improving. I'm really excited about this year. Everybody knows the defensive scheme. I know our offense is going to be fantastic. We're going to be awesome. I believe this team is going to be really special. We're going to be really focused. I know our coaches will get everybody ready. This team will be ready come Alabama time."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.