Warrior Beat

Former UH linebacker Solomon Elimimian today accepted an invitation to the Buffalo Bills’ rookie camp this week. The camp runs Thursday through Sunday. If he does well, he might receive a free-agent contract. * * * David Veikune is looking at a big payday. Last year’s 52nd pick — Quentin Groves, a defensive end from Auburn — had signed a four-year deal worth $3.3 million, of which $1.6 millon was guaranteed. At UH today, Veikune waited for his girlfriend to […]

“I’m back with them,” Ryan Mouton said after he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of today’s NFL draft. Mouton was the 94th overall pick. Mouton, who was raised in Houston, was “8 or 9” when the Houston Oilers moved to become the Tennessee Titans. “You always root for the hometown team,” Mouton said. “Even though we’re big Cowboy fans in my house, when the Oilers played, we rooted for those guys. When they moved to […]

David Veikune was on the golf course in Mililani when he received the call: The Cleveland Browns selected him in the second round. His father became emotional, and Veikune received a kiss from his girlfriend. Veikune said he was pleased because his mother’s family lives in Canton, Ohio. He reports to training camp Thursday, and will compete as a linebacker. * * * Today’s the last chance to see the Warriors in action for another three months. The autograph session […]

Here’s info from our basketball writer, Dayton Morinaga: The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team is no longer in the running for two recruits. • Rafael Crescencio, an athletic 6-foot-9 forward at Arizona Western College, made a commitment to play for the University of San Diego. Crescencio had narrowed his choices to UH and USD. He averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Arizona Western this past season. • Kevin Menner, a high-scoring 6-5 forward […]

Cory Daniel, a Castle High graduate and one-time MMA competitor, is expected to join the Warriors as a walk-on this summer. Daniel is a big-time hitter. He’s also good friends with Blaze Soares, which shows his toughness. Big thanks to BigWave for the head’s up. Here’s a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HURJ_w5l8ig * * * In a preview for Saturday’s Warrior Bowl, the Mauka and Makai teams competed in heated — and vocal — 2-minute drills. Shane Austin threw well for the Mauka, […]

The Warriors today uveiled “The Noke,” a scheme in which running back Inoke Funaki takes the direct snap. “I am so honored,” left guard Ray HIsatake said, “to be in an offense named after a great man. Inoke is a living legend.” It will be an easy transition for Funaki, who played quarterback during his first four years at UH. There’s a twist in the scheme in which quarterback Greg Alexander can curl deeper into the backfield, creating a double-pass […]

Our very own Curtis Muryama was today’s guest on the Warrior Beat Show. Here are the answers to the questions he couldn’t get to on the show: [Comment From Pauoa Boy] Curtis, which former UH players that didn’t get drafted do you think has the best chance of being picked up via free agency? What are the chances of Chad Owens and Ryan Grice-Mullens, making into the NFL seeing that alot of teams are looking for that next Wes Welker […]

Inoke Funaki continues to impress as a running back. A coach marveled at Funaki’s abiity to “get skinny” on rushes, vernacular for being able  to run without ever getting hit squarely. Also during today’s pactice: • Cornerback Jeramy Bryant had the gutsiest play, taking on center John Estes on a sweep play. Bryant is expected to win one of the corner jobs. • The most impressive play was defensive end John Fonoti chasing down slotback Ryan Henry, who had at […]