SAN DIEGO » Former University of Hawaii running back Joey Iosefa’s search ended on Montezuma Mesa.
"The code for me this week was redemption," said Iosefa, who reaffirmed his status as the Warriors’ top football prospect during Thursday’s pro day on the San Diego State campus.
Before scouts and coaches, Iosefa completed the 40-yard dash between 4.71 and 4.81 seconds. The discipline is hand-timed, which accounts for the range.
Even at the high end, Iosefa shaved more than two-tenths of a second from the 5.02 he ran at the National Football League Scouting Combine last month in Indianapolis. That was the slowest 40-yard time among the 30 running backs competing at the annual NFL event.
"I wanted to redeem myself," Iosefa said, "not only for the combine but for everything else."
It was a reference to his arrest on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol this past October.
"That incident made me wake up, (and) realize I have a lot in front of me," Iosefa said. "I let a lot of people down — my family, my coaching staff, my teammates, the state of Hawaii."
It was his closest friends who offered this challenge: What are you going to do?
Even though he fulfilled his obligation to the court, Iosefa, with his familiar second effort, decided to do more. He volunteered with youth groups. He spoke at forums across the state.
"I changed the way I do stuff," Iosefa said. "I still have a lot to work on, but I’m excited where I am now."
Despite being limited to six games because of injuries and suspension in 2014, he averaged 102.8 yards per game on a workmanlike 151 total carries. After the season, he ached from shoulders to knees to feet.
The doctor’s recommendation was to rest for a month, then begin training for pro day.
"When I started training, I didn’t want be sore here and there," Iosefa recalled. "I wanted to be 100 percent. That was the mentality. I was going to relax."
At the end of December, he weighed 262 pounds on a 6-foot frame.
"Man, I can get down easily," Iosefa vowed.
But the timetable was skewed when Iosefa received an invitation to participate in the NFL combine in February. The goal was to lose weight gradually, then compete in the 40 at pro day. Instead, he would run the 40, at 247 pounds, at the combine.
Coupled with tenseness at the starting line, Iosefa was credited with a 5.02 time. Worse, he feared being judged as a "big back who runs slow."
After the combine, Iosefa resumed training under Chad Ikei. He worked on his running technique and form. He also made wiser eating choices. He weighed 243 pounds on Thursday.
"A couple nights ago, I looked at the results of my combine and I compared it to how I feel now," Iosefa said. "I feel like, man, I’m way better, 12 times better."
Iosefa completed the short-shuttle in 4.19 seconds and the long-shuttle in 6.98 seconds. He also had a vertical jump of 32 1/2 inches and a broad jump of 112 inches.
The Cincinnati Bengals sent three people, including running backs coach Kyle Caskey, to lead Iosefa in drills on Thursday.
Despite the turf moistened by drizzle, Iosefa showed speed and agility during a jump-cut drill.
In a blocking drill against a 300-plus-pound defender, Iosefa demonstrated his aggressiveness. Iosefa received a welt arcing his left eye on a hit. He continued to the next drill without taking a break.
The Bengals tried to fire different instructions at Iosefa, a tactic to gauge his "coachable" level. By all accounts, Iosefa did well.
At the NFL combine, Iosefa led all running backs by bench pressing 225 pounds 30 times. He matched that effort on Thursday, although a lift was discounted because he did not fully lock his arms.
"Even one less is still better than any other running back (at the combine)," said Aaron Gordon, Iosefa’s agent.
The Bengals, the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers have expressed the most interest in Iosefa.
During workouts, Iosefa will chant the mantra: "All heart."
"You have to know why you’re doing something and who you’re doing it for," Iosefa said.
