Ikaika Alama-Francis
Encyclopedia
Ikaika Alama-Francis is an American football
outside linebacker for the Miami Dolphins
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Hawaii
.
back-up quarterback and former high school football coach Joseph "Joe" Francis and Rolenda "Ku'ulei" Alama-Francis. He has three older half brothers from Joe Francis's first wife and two older brothers from Joe's second wife, Kuulei. His much older brother is Jon Francis
, who played running back for the Los Angeles Rams. Another child, Makana, joined the family after Ikaika went to college. http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/23/sports/story01.html starbulletin.com | Sports | /2006/07/23/] While playing basketball and volleyball for Kalaheo High School
, he made the All State High School basketball and volleyball teams his junior and senior years.
and Portland State
, he started his career at Hawaii after graduating from high school in 2002 as a walk on to the Warrior basketball team. He played forward mostly at the end of games that were already decided.
Alama-Francis decided to try out for the football team during spring training after his first and only season with Warrior Basketball. The elder Francis was a bit skeptical due to Alama-Francis relatively small size and lack of experience with football physicality as a basketball player. Even though Warrior coach June Jones
offered Alama-Francis a scholarship coming out of high school with no high school playing experience, Alama-Francis and his father, Joe Francis, refused the offer because they did not feel that Alama-Francis was ready. The elder Francis told the coach that his son needed to earn the scholarship.,
Alama-Francis gained 70 pounds over the years to build his 190 pound frame to 260 pounds. He also worked on building his strength and football defensive end knowledge to become a starter his junior and senior years. At the beginning of Alama-Francis' senior year, he was chosen by Coach Jones to represent the University of Hawaii at media day for the Western Athletic Conference at the start of the 2006 season. In his 26 starts at Hawaii he had a total of 112 tackles (62 solos) with 10 sacks.
. Instead he worked with head Coach Rod Marinelli
and the defensive coaching staff on developing his skills. Alama-Francis impressed the coaches and team mates with his work ethic and positive demeanor.
Alama-Francis remained inactive for 10 of the first 12 games of the season. In the 4 games he played in, he recorded 12 tackles.
For the 2008 season, Alama-Francis switched his uniform number from 91 to 97, after the departure of Boss Bailey
who had previously worn 97.
Alama-Francis was released from the team on September 6, 2009.
on November 24 for a salary of $460,000 The Dolphins changed his position from defensive end
to outside linebacker. He is competing with teammate Koa Misi for a starting position.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
outside linebacker for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Hawaii
Hawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
.
Early years
Alama-Francis was born to former Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
back-up quarterback and former high school football coach Joseph "Joe" Francis and Rolenda "Ku'ulei" Alama-Francis. He has three older half brothers from Joe Francis's first wife and two older brothers from Joe's second wife, Kuulei. His much older brother is Jon Francis
Jon Francis
Jon Charles Naekauna Francis is former American football player. He is the son of former Green Bay Packer, Joe Francis, and brother of one of the Detroit Lion's 2007 second round draft pick, Ikaika Alama-Francis....
, who played running back for the Los Angeles Rams. Another child, Makana, joined the family after Ikaika went to college. http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/23/sports/story01.html starbulletin.com | Sports | /2006/07/23/] While playing basketball and volleyball for Kalaheo High School
Kalaheo High School
Kalaheo High School is a public high school in Kailua CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on the island of Oahu.The school building opened as an intermediate school in 1966, but was repurposed as a high school in 1973. The school mascot is the Mustang, and the school colors are...
, he made the All State High School basketball and volleyball teams his junior and senior years.
College career
Even though he was recruited to play basketball for New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
and Portland State
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
, he started his career at Hawaii after graduating from high school in 2002 as a walk on to the Warrior basketball team. He played forward mostly at the end of games that were already decided.
Alama-Francis decided to try out for the football team during spring training after his first and only season with Warrior Basketball. The elder Francis was a bit skeptical due to Alama-Francis relatively small size and lack of experience with football physicality as a basketball player. Even though Warrior coach June Jones
June Jones
June Sheldon Jones, III is the American football head coach for Southern Methodist University.-Playing career:Jones played the quarterback position on three college teams: Oregon , Hawaii , and Portland State . It is during his time at Portland State that he was introduced to the Run and Shoot...
offered Alama-Francis a scholarship coming out of high school with no high school playing experience, Alama-Francis and his father, Joe Francis, refused the offer because they did not feel that Alama-Francis was ready. The elder Francis told the coach that his son needed to earn the scholarship.,
Alama-Francis gained 70 pounds over the years to build his 190 pound frame to 260 pounds. He also worked on building his strength and football defensive end knowledge to become a starter his junior and senior years. At the beginning of Alama-Francis' senior year, he was chosen by Coach Jones to represent the University of Hawaii at media day for the Western Athletic Conference at the start of the 2006 season. In his 26 starts at Hawaii he had a total of 112 tackles (62 solos) with 10 sacks.
Detroit Lions
During the 2007 mini-camp, Alama-Francis could not participate in team organized activities due to a pectoral muscle tear suffered during the Hula BowlHula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
. Instead he worked with head Coach Rod Marinelli
Rod Marinelli
Rodney Marinelli is the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Chicago Bears. He is the former head coach of the Detroit Lions...
and the defensive coaching staff on developing his skills. Alama-Francis impressed the coaches and team mates with his work ethic and positive demeanor.
Alama-Francis remained inactive for 10 of the first 12 games of the season. In the 4 games he played in, he recorded 12 tackles.
For the 2008 season, Alama-Francis switched his uniform number from 91 to 97, after the departure of Boss Bailey
Boss Bailey
Rodney "Boss" Bailey is a American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1st round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
who had previously worn 97.
Alama-Francis was released from the team on September 6, 2009.
Miami Dolphins
Alama-Francis was signed by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 24 for a salary of $460,000 The Dolphins changed his position from defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
to outside linebacker. He is competing with teammate Koa Misi for a starting position.