Stanford Leti, an All-State football player from Moanalua High School, said he expects to join the University of Hawai'i football team as a partial-academic qualifier.

As a partial-qualifier, Leti will be allowed to enroll at UH in the fall, but not practice or play in games for a full academic year.

After that, he will have three years to play three seasons. He could earn a fourth season if, by the end of his third academic year, he has earned 80 percent of the credits needed for a bachelor's degree.

"The first year will kill me, just watching the team," Leti said. "But the more I talk to the (UH) coaches, the more I realize that's the best thing for me to do."

NCAA eligibility rules require an incoming freshman to earn both a qualifying SAT score and passing grades in core classes. A partial-qualifier is a student who meets only one of the two requirements.

Pisa Tinoisamoa, now a starting linebacker for the St. Louis Rams, and Melila Purcell III, the Warriors' starting defensive right end, also enrolled at UH initially as partial-qualifiers.

At Moanalua, Leti played quarterback, running back, slotback, safety and returner. He was named as an all-purpose player on The Advertiser's 2005 All-State football team.

At the Nike combine in 2005, Leti ran 40 yards in 4.62 seconds and bench-pressed 185 pounds 23 times.

Leti verbally committed to UH in December, but did not sign a letter of intent during the spring period while awaiting academic results.

Leti's teammate, linebacker Quinton Tang, will enroll at Palomar College in California, according to Moanalua coach Arnold Martinez. Tang also had verbally committed to UH in December.

HE'LL PAY TO PLAY

Wideout Ian Sample is prepared to make a financial sacrifice to play for the Warriors. Sample has petitioned the NCAA for an exemption, which would allow him to play as a sixth-year senior during the 2006 season.

If successful in his appeal, Sample will pay for his tuition, room and board, and college expenses for the fall semester, his last at UH. He was notified that his football scholarship, which expires at the end of July, will not be renewed.

The Warriors, who had lost five football scholarships because of an inadequate showing in the NCAA's Academic Progress Report, had reserved scholarships for 2006 recruits.

"I understand," Sample said. "It's a business."

Sample is enrolled in summer school, and needs only to pass a three-credit course in the fall to earn a bachelor's degree. According to the UH Web site, a three-credit course costs $540.

"It'll work out," Sample said. "Where there's a will, there's a way."

Sample has based his appeal on two points: the injury that limited him to three games last season, and the year he took off from the University of Delaware to care for his mother, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis.

He said his mother is in the process of transferring her medical records from the hospital to the NCAA.

"I've been told my chances are 'good,' whatever that means," said Sample, who was regarded as the Warriors' top receiver during spring drills in April.

LINWOOD LEAVING

Adam Linwood, a freshman slotback from Texas, has decided to transfer, said Ron Lee, who coaches the receivers.

"He's a great kid, a hard worker with a lot of talent, but it was too expensive to stay here," Lee said.

Lee said Linwood will attend a school in Texas.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.