His nickname is the AK-47, but Akili King is anything but a loose cannon.

Spending three years at Army, King has long since realized that life is not all fun and games. The 23-year-old Oregon State tailback focuses only on what is in front of him.

"Akili has a great deal of things in perspective," OSU running backs coach Bill Singler said. "He brings a lot of class to this team."

King was raised in a military family's structured household in Decatur, Ga. Ever since he can remember, he has wanted to be in the Army. The tradition, the work ethic and the prestige were more than any other school could offer. One of his happiest moments was when he was accepted into the West Point military prep school, which King said was a huge step to becoming successful in the Army.

"I have a deep respect for the Army and for anyone who does their time for this country," King said. "I wanted to be a part of that."

At St. Andrew Episcopal High School in Jackson, Miss., King was an all-state tailback, running for 2,005 yards. He had offers to nearly every Southeastern Conference school, including big names such as Auburn, Mississippi and Tennessee. His desire for the Army, though, was too great to be enticed elsewhere.

"I shied away from them because coming from my household, those schools cut loose way too much," King said. "All I wanted was the Army."

King didn't miss a beat, stepping in immediately after his first year. He set a rushing record with 235 yards against Colgate and finished his sophomore season with 883 yards on a 6 yards-per-carry average. Before his junior season, expectations were high. After rushing for 136 yards in a loss to Duke, King was held to only nine yards against Temple when he pulled his hamstring in the first quarter. Adding insult to injury, the Army's regimen didn't give the time to let it heal properly.

"My days would start at 6:20 a.m. and would end at 12:30 a.m. when I was done with my studying," King said. "All the calisthenics took a toll. I really didn't get a chance to rehab correctly."

The pressure mounted for King to return, and he gave into it, playing on only a week's rest. That was nothing compared to the pain he suffered when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, ending his season and his Army career.

"I grew up a great deal from that experience," King said. "My father told me that I could only go so far with football and that I should have something else to rely on."

So King pursued a degree in history, but football was stuck in his head. He worked hard to get his body into shape, knowing he still had his senior year of eligibility left to possibly play.

"I decided that I wanted to play for a Division I school, and I asked the coaches to find me a place to play," King said. "Oregon State offered me two years of education for my one to play."

King redshirted last season, sitting out the one-year mandatory NCAA requirement for transfer players.

"Their backs pound their way for yardage all game, relentlessly," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "They try to tire you out and then they pound you some more."

Through six games, King has rushed for 431 yards on 110 carries and has four touchdowns. His 71.8 yards a game is seventh in the Pacific 10 Conference.

"I would describe him (as) a blue-collar back," Singler said. "He has been a great leader on and off the field for this team."

Following his graduation, King plans to work for - guess who? - the Army.

"I wouldn't mind working for the military if I can," King said. "I don't agree with everything that they do, but I know there is a spot for me to fit in."

---

Daily Wildcat News Opinions Sports PoliceBeat Comics