UH lineman Fruean will return to team

The University of Hawai'i will be helped on the defensive line with the return of Renolds Fruean. Fruean will join Waipahu alumnus Rustin Saole on the defensive side. In addition Waipahu almunus Todd Dickerson, the younger brother of WR Ross Dickerson, will walk on this fall.

UH lineman Fruean will return to team

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Defensive lineman Renolds Fruean said he will rejoin the University of Hawai'i football team for next week's start of training camp.

Fruean, who started three games last season, was permitted to skip spring practice to take care of financial obligations. Fruean, who is not on scholarship, is the father of a 10-month-old son. During the spring semester, he attended school and worked in a warehouse.

There were concerns about Fruean's availability when he did not participate in the Warriors' offseason conditioning program or unsupervised workouts with teammates.

"I've been working," said Fruean, who lives on the Leeward Coast. "I didn't have time to condition with the team."

He said keeps fit by working and running on the beach.

Fruean, a senior, has been told he might be placed on scholarship. He said he has earned enough money to pay for tuition and school expenses.

"You've got to love the guy who doesn't have a scholarship but keeps coming back," UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "He's really going to help us this season."

Fruean was an All-State tight end at Waipahu High School. He was a member of the Washington State team for two years before transferring to UH in 2004.

Last season, he started the first two games at nose tackle before suffering a severely sprained right ankle. He played in five more games the rest of the season.

He opted not to undergo surgery during the offseason.

"It's better," he said.

"He can play," Glanville said. "He's a little crazy. If (season-opening opponent) Alabama knew he's coming, they'd go, 'Oh, my gosh.' He was playing winning football when he got hurt."

Fruean is projected to split time between nose tackle and left end. "It's important when a guy can help you at two places," Glanville said. "If (the defensive linemen) can do their job, we can blitz more. Our plan is to blitz more. We're going to blitz coming off the bus."