Ikaika Alama-Francis

Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=Detroit Lions
currentnumber=97
currentposition=Defensive end

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birthdate=birth date and age|1984|12|4
birthplace=Kāne'ohe, Hawai'i
heightft=6
heightin=5
weight=250
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Detroit Lions
college=Hawaii
draftyear=2007
draftround=2
draftpick=58
pastteams=
* Detroit Lions (2007-present)
nfl=ALA415291

Ikaika Alama-Francis (born December 4, 1984) is a defensive end for the Detroit Lions. He was selected 58th overall in the second round from the University of Hawaii in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Early years

Alama-Francis was born to former Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback and former high school football coach Joseph "Joe" Francis [ [http://starbulletin.com/2005/08/18/sports/index2.html Honolulu Star-Bulletin ] ] 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.fact|date=July 2007 His much older brother is Jon Francis, who played running back for the Los Angeles Rams. [ [http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/curranevents_article/a_bigger_stronger_alama_francis/ A Bigger, Stronger Alama-Francis | Curran Events | Midweek.com ] ] Another child, Leya, joined the family after Ikaika went to college. [ [http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/Print_Story/alama_francis_bigger_stronger/ Midweek.com - Print Alama-Francis: Bigger, Stronger ] ]

school. [ [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.

College years

Even though he was recruited to play basketball for New Mexico 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. [ [http://www.uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Player/player.html?pid=8&aid=12051 University of Hawai'i - Office of Intercollegiate Athletics ] ] He played forward mostly at the end of games that were already decided. [ [http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/23/sports/story01.html starbulletin.com | Sports | /2006/07/23/ ] ]
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. [ [http://starbulletin.com/2003/04/09/sports/index6.html Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sports ] ] , [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK7HOYIFMzY YouTube - Ikaika Alama-Francis Drafted ] ]
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 2006-2007 season. [ [http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/23/sports/story01.html starbulletin.com | Sports | /2006/07/23/ ] ] In his 26 starts at Hawaii he had a total of 112 tackles (62 solos) with 10 sacks. [ [http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/alama-francis_ikaika NFL Events: Draft Player Profiles ] ]

Lions years

During the 2007 mini-camp, Alama-Francis could not participate in team organized activities due to a pectoral muscle tear suffered during the Hula Bowl. [ [http://starbulletin.com/2007/01/15/sports/story06.html starbulletin.com | Sports | /2007/01/15/ ] ] 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. [ [http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=457987 Detroit Lions Site: Alama-Francis Takes an Upbeat Approach to Life, but Knows when it's Time to Work ] ]
Alama-Francis remained inactive for 10 of the first 12 games of the season. In the 4 games he played in, Alama-Francis 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.

References

External links

* [http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Player/player.html?pid=3&aid=12503 University of Hawai'i - Office of Intercollegiate Athletics (Football College Profile) ]
* [http://www.uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Player/player.html?pid=8&aid=12051 University of Hawai'i - Office of Intercollegiate Athletics (Basketball College Profile)]
* [http://www.uhwarriorfan.com/IkaikaFanClub/index.html Ikaika Alama-Francis Fan Club] at University of Hawai'i Athletics
* [http://yardbarker.com/users/Ikaika Alama-Francis blog] at [http://www.yardbarker.com Yardbarker.com]
* [http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=446&season=9 Ikaika Alama-Francis page] on the [http://www.detroitlions.com Official Detroit Lions site]