Linebacker Erik Pedersen has decided to leave the Hawai'i football team and transfer to Portland State.

Pedersen will be reunited with his twin brother David, who signed in February, and PSU head coach Jerry Glanville, who was the Warriors' defensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006.

"It's a great opportunity for me to go up there and start," Pedersen said.

The Vikings run a 3-4 defense, and Pedersen is expected to compete for one of the two inside-linebacker positions. David Pedersen is an outside linebacker.

Pedersen said he sought UH head coach Greg McMackin's blessing before requesting a release from his football scholarship.

McMackin told Pedersen: "I respect you as a person. We want the best for you."

Pedersen said: "It's like my family here. It was hard to go up to the coaches and tell them what I wanted to do."

Pedersen, who will be a fourth-year junior in the fall, was expected to contribute on special teams this coming season. But he would have had difficulty breaking into the playing rotation at linebacker.

The Warriors run a 4-3 defense. Adam Leonard, Solomon Elimimian, Blaze Soares, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Tyson Kafentzis and Brashton Satele occupy the spots on the two-deep chart. Mana Lolotai also is expected to have a significant role.

"I know I would have played special teams," Pedersen said. "I wanted to play linebacker."

Pedersen will have two years to play two seasons at Portland State. Because he is transferring from a I-A program to a I-AA team, he is eligible to play in 2008.

Glanville said he cannot comment on the situation.

"Everybody is cool with it," Pedersen said. "I'm going to miss them a lot. A lot of my best friends are here."

The past two years, Pedersen's roommate was former UH quarterback Colt Brennan.

Earlier this week, running back Korey Reynolds announced he was transferring to a junior college in Mississippi. He said he made the move because he wants to play tight end, a position that is not employed in the Warriors' four-wide offense.

CLINIC GOING BANANAS

The Hawai'i Speed and Quickness clinic goes on the road tomorrow with its participation in the seventh Banana Man Chase at Magic Island.

The 5-kilometer event begins at 7 a.m., and it benefits both the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Hawai'i, and Hawai'i Speed and Quickness, a not-for-profit organization that runs after-school programs for students throughout the state.

Entry fee is $35, and there are nine divisions: 12-younger, 13-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-older.

The first three male and female finishers in each division win Jamba Juice for a year.

Television personalties Stephanie Lum, John Veneri and Dan Meizenzahl will run dressed as bananas.

Participants will receive a gift bag, which includes a T-shirt. After the run, there will be free Jamba Juice smoothies, a bounce house, massage therapists, and demonstrations from the Speed and Quickness staff.

There also is a 500-meter dash. That entry fee is $10, which includes a T-shirt and medal.

For more details, log on to: http://www.active.com