Earvin Sione is transitioning from WR to DE

About waiting for eighteen months after he signed a letter of intent with UH to get on their active roster, Earvin Sione said that the wait:
"was hard for me, but it taught me a lot. It taught me to buckle down and put school work first." (HA)

HA Note: "Sione, who was named after Los Angeles Laker great Earvin "Magic" Johnson, was a quarterback, receiver and safety at McKinley High. At 6 feet 4 1/2, he also played basketball and volleyball. He was supposed to join the Warriors in August 2008. But his grade point average and corresponding SAT score did not meet the minimum requirement on the NCAA's sliding scale. The problem was traced to when Sione replaced two classes with a lab and college-prep class. He dropped the two classes after the withdrawal deadline, thus earning Fs for both courses."

About missing the withdrawal deadline, Sione said:
"I didn't even know." (HA)

HA Note: "The past academic year, Sione attended UH-West O'ahu, earning the 24 transferrable credits necessary to enroll at UH-Manoa this fall. Sione, who weighed 190 last year, gained about 30 pounds through a high-protein diet."

About moving Sione to DE (a position he has never played), Dave Aranda said:
"He's the type of prospect we're looking for. He's got a great frame and long reach, and he's going to put on good weight. He's very smart, and he's physical, and he asks really good questions. We spend a lot of time talking after meetings and before practices." (HA)

HA Note: "Sione has drawn comparisons to Ikaika Alama-Francis, who was a UH basketball player before switching to football, and Melila Purcell III. Both are on NFL rosters. Sione said he was timed running 40 yards in 4.5 seconds last month. He can bench press 305 pounds. His vertical jump is 38 inches."

About moving Sione to DE, Mac said:
"(Sione) has the body of a defensive end. He's got speed. He's got height. He's a natural athlete, and he's going to get better when he gains weight and gets stronger." (HA)

Happy to be named after Magic Johnson, Sione said:
"A lot of people don't know that. It's pretty cool. I guess I was born a Laker fan. I love the game, and I love the team." (HA)

About moving to DE, Sione said:
"It's going to be a long learning process. I'm trying to gain a lot of weight first and I'll learn the plays as I go along." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Sione is not on scholarship and was slated to join the team when classes start on Aug. 24. But the Warriors, who began camp one short of the 105-player maximum, welcomed Sione to camp yesterday."

About being at UH's camp, Sione said:
"It's different, a lot different from high school." (HSB)

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