Senior OG Stephen Bernal-Wendt now on scholarship

[kapakahi]

Played with the 1st team OL at RG throughout Spring Ball.

https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/foot ... endt/19978

https://twitter.com/KaLeoSports/status/1550700094520901638

https://twitter.com/ESPNHonolulu/status/1550901881102209029

[uhwarriors]

Well deserved. I actually can't think of another walk-on offensive lineman who earned a scholarship. He's actually good enough athletically that he's been on the Dline too.

[kapakahi]

Well deserved. I actually can't think of another walk-on offensive lineman who earned a scholarship.

Eliki Tanuvasa was a PWO transfer from Eastern Illinois back in 2019 and was placed on scholarship last December.

https://twitter.com/eliki_tanuvasa/status/1468431621363699713

[uhwarriors]

Well deserved. I actually can't think of another walk-on offensive lineman who earned a scholarship.

Eliki Tanuvasa was a PWO transfer from Eastern Illinois back in 2019 and was placed on scholarship last December.

https://twitter.com/eliki_tanuvasa/status/1468431621363699713

Totally forgot about Tanuvasa. I was thinking of past years but not of the current guys. Prior to Tanuvasa, can you think of another walk-on O-lineman who got awarded a scholarship?

[Nisei]

Does Taaga Tuulima count?

[uhwarriors]

Does Taaga Tuulima count?

Good memory Nisei. You're right. I guess it's not as uncommon as I initially thought.

[BigWave96744]

If I recall correctly Derek Faavi went from
Walkon to Starter & earned a scholie.

Maybe even Keoni Steinhoff?

[Irse]

Wasn't Brenden Urban also a walk on before becoming the starting center and earning a scholarship?

[Waryor]

Stephan Bernal-Wendt (SBW) is an extreme example of the 2 inch rule. Normally, the 2 inch rule applies to recruits who inflate their heights in HS to help them get recruiting attention. When they arrive on campus, they lose 2 inches in height. I don't know what SBW was listed as in HS, since he was a walkon, but he initially was listed as 6'3 on the 2017 roster. In 2018, he actually gained an inch and was listed as 6'4. He stood at 6'4 in 2019. But a curious thing happened in 2020. He dropped 2 inches. It is very unusual for a player to drop more than an inch once on campus. But in the 2020 football media guide, SBW was now listed as 6'2. But it did not end there. In 2021, he dropped another inch to 6'1. He is currently listed on the roster as 6'1.

I've been keeping track of player info in a database since 1999. SBW is the only player who's height has gone up and down through their career at UH at such an extreme. I wonder why?

[Palolo_2LA]

Stephan Bernal-Wendt (SBW) is an extreme example of the 2 inch rule. Normally, the 2 inch rule applies to recruits who inflate their heights in HS to help them get recruiting attention. When they arrive on campus, they lose 2 inches in height. I don't know what SBW was listed as in HS, since he was a walkon, but he initially was listed as 6'3 on the 2017 roster. In 2018, he actually gained an inch and was listed as 6'4. He stood at 6'4 in 2019. But a curious thing happened in 2020. He dropped 2 inches. It is very unusual for a player to drop more than an inch once on campus. But in the 2020 football media guide, SBW was now listed as 6'2. But it did not end there. In 2021, he dropped another inch to 6'1. He is currently listed on the roster as 6'1.

I've been keeping track of player info in a database since 1999. SBW is the only player who's height has gone up and down through their career at UH at such an extreme. I wonder why?

Meanwhile, he's 5'11 and 3 quarters. If you're a shorter OL player, you need a strong punch, quick/good feet and long arms. Otherwise, the prototypical DL will blast you with long reach and a strong punch.

[My3Cats]

I forget the guy's name, but UH had a punter (Australian?) a few years ago who UH listed at 6'6", but he said that he was actually around 6'3".

[BigWave96744]

Wasn't Brenden Urban also a walk on before becoming the starting center and earning a scholarship?

I think you are correct. He transferred to Hawaii to play along side his HS teammate Ben Clarke