Kapua Sai, an offensive lineman for Utah the past three years, has taken steps to join the Hawaii football team this season.
Sai has notified the Utah coaches of his intentions to transfer and has applied for admission to UH. He said he needs to earn credit for three summer-session classes to earn a bachelor’s degree, one of the transfer requirements.
“That’s the plan,” said Sai, a Saint Louis School graduate.
Sai, who was a third-year sophomore in 2011, would have two years to play two seasons for the Warriors.
He would not have to redshirt in 2012, a usual condition for a transfer, because 1) he would have a bachelor’s degree; 2) he plans to pursue a post-graduate degree in a field (Pacific Islander studies) not offered at Utah; and 3) a family situation requires a move back to Hawaii.
“There were some extenuating family situations that were brought up that pushed my decision to come home now,” Sai said.
Sai, who is 6 feet 4 and 316 pounds, redshirted in 2009 and played the past two seasons. He was used at all of the spots on the offensive line last year.
He was regarded as Utah’s top right tackle at the end of the recently completed spring training.
In Utah’s spring scrimmage, he played right tackle and right guard, earning a grade of 90 percent. After notifying the Utah coaches of his intent to transfer, his name was removed from the two-deep chart.
The Utes signed seven offensive linemen this past February.
The Warriors, meanwhile, finished the Warrior Bowl with nine able-bodied offensive linemen.
Sai noted the Warriors will run the same pro-set offense that Utah used last year, when Norm Chow was the Utes’ offensive coordinator. Chow was hired as UH’s head coach in December.
“Luckily, I won’t be too far behind going into (training) camp,” Sai said.
Sai participated in Utah’s graduation ceremony this past Saturday with the expectation he will complete work on his degree during Utah’s first summer session, which runs through June 20. He said one of the three classes is taught online.
