4 Warriors request releases

Four players have requested releases from the Hawaii football team.

Defensive back Mike Sellers, linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren, running back Jared Leaf and receiver Chinedu Amadi made their requests during exit interviews with the UH coaches this week.

The releases enable the four — all members of the 2011 recruiting class — to enter transfer discussions with other schools.

If they are unsuccessful in finding another school and wish to return to UH, "they will be welcomed back" for the spring semester, UH coach Norm Chow said.

Football scholarships are one-year agreements that are renewable at the end of each academic year.

Chow also confirmed that defensive end Alema Tachibana and offensive lineman Hunter Hollowed have completed their UH careers. Both are scheduled to graduate this academic year, although each has a season of football eligibility remaining.

Tachibana was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2012 season while awaiting a hearing on a charge of driving under the influence. The case was dismissed without prejudice after the key witness, a police officer, twice failed to appear for testimony.

Hollowed was named one of the top scout players at last weekend’s awards luau.

Sellers played in 10 games in 2012, starting four. He is a 2010 Campbell graduate, who grayshirted that fall and joined the Warriors in January 2011. Sellers played in 13 games, making five starts at nickelback, as a freshman.

Van Ackeren, a second-year freshman from Bellevue, Wash., played in 12 games this season. His only start was against New Mexico, when the Warriors opened with three freshman linebackers.

Leaf, of Martinez, Calif., played in all 12 games in 2012, mostly on special teams.

Amadi, of Ontario, Calif., missed the 2011 season while recovering from shoulder surgery. He played in four games this year as a receiver and returner.