Saturday, July 04, 2009
Friday, July 03, 2009
Fertile ground for All-Poly
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 03, 2009
It was a first.
He hopes it won't be the last.
Alema Te'o brought the All-Poly Football Camp to Hawaii for the first time this week. The camp, a mainstay in Utah that is in its ninth year, continues to draw big-name coaches from the college ranks — even with the economy struggling.
Planning for the first Hawaii camp went back several months, with Te'o securing a field at Kapiolani Park in January, anchored in a faith that Hawaii's top players would come out. Many did, and even Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona spoke to the campers on Wednesday.
Te'o's relationships with prominent coaches is a big reason for the consistent success. UCLA assistant Norm Chow was among the instructors this week.
"When our coaches came here, Norm Chow was probably our strongest advocate for coaching our best," Te'o said. "You gotta earn every rep."
Another speaker was Rex Ryan, new coach of the New York Jets. Their advice was taken well.
"They talked about football affecting your life. Each coach really stressed education," Saint Louis running back Sean Valente said, noting a talk by Boise State assistant coach Viliami Tuivai in particular.
"Coach (Brian) Cabral said the best athletes are the ones who work the hardest," Saint Louis receiver Jordan Fukumoto said of the Colorado assistant who prepped at Saint Louis.
Before donning full pads and banging heads, campers were bused to Kaimuki Middle School, where they took a practice ACT test. It's all part of All-Poly's push for young student-athletes to prepare for college sooner rather than later.
"Our focal point is to get as many kids into college as possible," Te'o said. "It's gotta be a collaborative effort. Parents and kids have to be proactive and work with their counselors."
For every athlete who isn't recruited by an elite program, there are others who can establish themselves at camps like All-Poly.
That scenario is quite common, particularly for athletes who don't fit the mold just yet. Andrew Togiai, a free safety from Taylorsville (Utah) High School, is 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds.
Showing his considerable skills at multiple camps is key, but the trip to Hawaii gave his family a chance to visit family in Laie. His parents, Gina and Kaio, are Kahuku graduates.
"It's a big deal to come here and perform for coaches," Kaio said. "Kids here have heart and pride from wherever they're from. This is the only place where the small guy can beat the big guy because of heart."
Some new scholarship offers were made this week. Texas Tech, which landed former Farrington standout Sam Fehoko two years ago, made offers to 'Iolani defensive tackle Sealii Epenesa and King Kekaulike lineman Elvis Matagi, according to Fehoko's mother, Linda. Louisville offered scholarships to Punahou defensive end Jonathan Sani Fuimaono and Sam Fehoko's younger brother, V.J., who now has 16 offers.
Game Plan Football Academy to track participants
Advertiser Staff Writer
LA'IE — In the idyllic setting of Ko'olauloa, the Game Plan Football Academy quietly and effectively wrapped up its sixth annual camp yesterday at Brigham Young University-Hawai'i.
And in a new feature, the college preparation program will continue over the next eight months for the dozens of seniors who attended.
Asai Gilman, executive director of the "Education 1st" non-profit organization that administers the Game Plan Academy, said he and his staff wanted to find ways to make the camp's lessons extend beyond just the past four days.
"We saw that in order for it to really have an effect, we have to follow through," Gilman said. "Sometimes, they don't retain the information in their memory after the camp ends."
To make sure the lessons are retained, the Academy plans to "huddle" with the seniors through monthly "Chalk Talks" until March. Communication will be done through e-mail, and workshops and presentations will be offered covering topics such as creating video profiles and SAT/ACT preparation.
"These are the next steps for seniors," Gilman said. "We'll have academic advisers available, college presenters. We're excited, we're looking forward to it."
The camp participants and even their parents soaked in a lot of information since Monday, when the program began at Radford High School.
After an opening address by BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall, parents broke off into three 35-minute sessions offering four workshop topics to choose from in each session. Topics included "Division I: Reality Check and Athletic Scholarship Opportunities," "NCAA Eligibility: What to Know, What to Do," "Academic Standards: GPA, Rigor, SAT Scores — What to Know for Each Division," and "Prepare and Prevent: Common Pitfalls of the College Athlete."
The workshops were led by such presenters as Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker, New Mexico State head coach DeWayne Walker and Hawai'i associate head coach George Lumpkin, and were conducted in a Q&A format.
"I learned a lot, and my wife enjoyed it immensely, even though she's not a football fan at all," said Derek McMoore, whose son will begin his freshman year at Kapolei this month. "They made a lot of good points."
The camp continued at BYUH Tuesday, Wednesday and yesterday with players participating in classroom sessions and field practices.
"I think I improved a lot of my skills as a linebacker," said Farrington junior Justin Vele. "I learned a lot on and off the field, especially how important grades really are. It makes me more prepared."
Camp Awards — Offense: Darin Kamealoha, Pac-Five (skills); Christopher Thee, Kahuku (line); Defense: Charles Tua'au, Leilehua (line); Tevita Malafu, Baldwin (skills).
Hawaii All-Poly Camp Hot 11
HONOLULU – Around 300 of the top Polynesian prospects from the islands of Hawaii, some from the mainland and even some visitors from American Samoa were gathered to compete in the inaugural Hawaii All-Poly Camp in Honolulu this week. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barton Simmons took in all the action at the camp and takes a closer look the Hot 11 performers from the three-day event.
Top performers listed below in alphabetical order.
6-3/210, Kapolei (Hawaii) High As far as upside and ceiling, Akuna was the most talented senior prospect in Honolulu. He is a tall, lengthy linebacker that flies around the football field. Akuna truly plays the game sideline to sideline and is very natural in pass coverage. In fact, he's versatile enough that he will be playing safety as a senior in high school – among several other positions. As Akuna adds weight in college and learns to play with a good pad level he has a chance to be an absolute star on the next level.
6-5/285, Honolulu (Hawaii) Word Of Life Academy (Class of 2011) The sky is the limit for Asiata. He has only been playing football for two years and he already showed that he is very coachable and eager to learn. He is only a rising junior, and in only a couple of days of teaching, he already was making great strides in his development. That is scary considering the level of dominance that Asiata was playing with. Asiata has great size, very good feet and he loves the physical battles in the trenches. If he continues to develop, Asiata could be a rare nationally recruited Hawaiian next year.
5-11/215, Kahuku (Hawaii) High You know what you are getting with Fehoko. The true inside linebacker plays with a high intensity level, is a sure tackler, takes great angles, pursues with speed and aggressiveness and has a very physical mindset. At times Fehoko is too eager to get downhill and his height leaves something to be desired but you never have to worry about effort level and presence with Fehoko. His passion for the game alone is going to ensure that he continues to find success on the next level.
6-3/240, Kailua (Hawaii) High It is not surprising that Friel holds an offer from the University of Hawaii after camping there recently. In fact, if Friel were able to camp at multiple colleges on the mainland, there's little doubt that he would have multiple offers at this point. Not only does Friel have a great first step but he has a motor that won't quit and unlike many of the Hawaii prospects, size is not an issue. At 6-3, 240 pounds, Friel's size will not scare anybody off. In fact, teamed with his athleticism, Friel's size is a major asset turning the corner as a weakside defensive end.
6-2/255, Honolulu (Hawaii) Punahou Fuimaono has scholarship offers from Arizona, Washington and Hawaii so he is not exactly an unknown to college coaches but he proved over the three days of camp that he is certainly deserving of a Pac-10 offer list. Despite somewhat limited size (6-2/255), Fuimaono is very tough to block. The state heavyweight wrestling champion makes great use of his hands, uses his leverage well and is very physical. His constant presence in the backfield was impossible to miss, even when he wasn't actually making the tackles.
6-2/225, Kapolei (Hawaii) High Lolohea was part of a linebacking corps that was deep and talented. A squatty, downhill player, Lolohea is a physical run-stuffer. He is a fullback's nightmare with his physicality at the point of attack and he moves well laterally for a physical inside player. Already with an offer from Hawaii, Lolohea impressed Oregon State at a recent camp and could be in for his first Pac-10 offer by the end of the summer. This week he showed that he certainly has the size, mentality and strength to compete at that level.
6-1/270, Kahuku (Hawaii) High (Class of 2011) At only 6-1, Napeahi doesn't have the upside of a bigger lineman like Asiata but right now, Napeahi is the best offensive lineman that competed at the camp. Only a rising junior, Napeahi is a definite BCS player at offensive guard or offensive center. His skill set offers the complete package. He has a powerful base, great feet, strong in the upper body and he loves finishing his blocks. With three more inches on him, Napeahi could have been identified as the top prospect in the camp regardless of class.
6-4/265, Waialua (Hawaii) High Rowley, a BYU commitment, was impressive both in his size and his athleticism. He lines up at defensive end at 270 pounds and was a tough task for the offensive tackles to handle. However, Rowley is very capable of moving inside to defensive tackle. On the next level, as Rowley gets comfortable with the inside, his athleticism provides loads of potential on the defensive line.
6-2/270, Waianae (Hawaii) High Similar to many of the talented defensive players in attendance in Honolulu, Tanielu has less than ideal height for a defensive tackle. He is only around 6-1 but he is much heavier and thicker than he looks due to his thick lower body. In one-on-ones there may not have been another defensive lineman that was more consistently dominating. His array of pass-rush moves made him virtually unblockable but when it was time to scrimmage he showed that he has more than enough ability to move the line of scrimmage and occupy blockers as well. Though he is offerless right now, Tanielu is one that certainly warrants several major offers.
6-0/235, Honolulu (Hawaii) Moanalua (Class of 2011) An intriguing rising junior, Villasenor was the most dangerous offensive matchup of the week. He lined up at tight end and did loads of damage working the middle of the field and seem routes. He showed very sure hands, versatility and body control, making catches while taking hits and contorting his body to adjust to a variety of passes. In college Villasenor likely plays a tight end/H-Back hybrid position and will be a definite name to watch. After missing almost all of his sophomore season with an injury, expect to hear big things out of Villasenor over the next two years.
6-1/215, Honolulu (Hawaii) Kamehameha School In a way, Yap was too good. From the perspective of nearly all of the skill players, the camp would have been much more productive if he wasn't around. With Yap lining up at defensive end, any opposing quarterback struggled to get productive reps and in turn, few receivers and defensive backs got much action either. That was how disruptive Yap was off of the edge. His speed and relentlessness on the pass rush was extremely effective and the high-energy prospect made a major statement once the pads were donned.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Exposure priceless for many
Even at 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds, Kapa'a High School senior Sean Shigematsu could have easily gone unnoticed by college football recruiters.
Playing on a 1-6-1 team in a three-team league on the state's fourth-most populated island, Shigematsu might have been at risk of falling through the cracks as big-name programs cherry-picked prospects from higher-profile schools.
But after emerging as one of the top offensive tackles during this week's nationally renowned All Poly Camp at Kapi'olani Park, Shigematsu is a stranger to no one.
"A guy like that probably would have had to wait until his (game) film came out (in the fall) for anyone to see him," said camp founder/organizer Alema Te'o. "But after this, I'm sure he'll walk out of here with his name on at least six or seven recruiting boards."
That is why Shigematsu and about a dozen of his Kapa'a teammates, plus many other
While top recruits like Kahuku linebacker VJ Fehoko and Leilehua quarterback Andrew Manley are household names and have already received strong NCAA Division I interest after two years of prime time media exposure, kids from smaller programs — especially from the
Kealakehe and Konawaena each was represented by about five players, and kids from Kaua'i High, Waiakea and Kamehameha's Hawai'i and Maui campuses also made their presence known.
"It's wide open, and we wanted to see what the competition from the other islands is like," said Shigematsu, who like most of his Kapa'a teammates was attending an O'ahu camp for the first time. "I'm thankful I got to see what I could do against guys from other teams. We brought offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers ... I thought we did pretty good."
Shigematsu said the college coaches at the camp taught him to "be explosive, to get after it," and also stressed the importance of academics.
He said he has received some early interest from the
"I just want to get a scholarship, anywhere, to be honest," Shigematsu said. "I just want to get a free education."
Kapa'a offensive line coach Dean Petro, who accompanied the group to
"This is a great group — after our spring game, we gave them three weeks off to rest, but the next week they asked me if I could come back and coach them during the break," Petro said. "Hopefully this (All Poly Camp) gave them some exposure, because I think all of them have a chance to play in college. If (Shigematsu) gets that one shot, that one break, then it might open the door for the rest of them."
Continue at HA
All Poly All-Stars
Respective position coaches awarded their top players at the camp's conclusion:
Fehoko sees the value in All-Poly Camp
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 02, 2009
While most players viewed this week's All-Poly Camp as a chance to gain some valuable exposure, V.J. Fehoko had his own way of looking at things.
"Full pads, man, you get to hit people," he said. "You know us Polynesian kids, we get after it. That was fun."
The camp concluded with a full-pads scrimmage yesterday at Kapiolani Park. After all the teams were done playing, camp coaches selected an all-star group for one last 11-on-11 competition.
Fehoko, who has transferred from Farrington to Kahuku for his senior season, is one of the few guys who hasn't had to worry about getting his name out to college coaches.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker says he has already been offered scholarships by 16 schools, including California, Colorado, UCLA and Texas Tech -- where his brother Sam plays -- and plans on narrowing his choices just before the season starts.
But after watching his brothers go through the recruiting process, Fehoko knows he's one of the lucky ones. Getting a chance to host this All-Poly Camp in Hawaii is a big deal for anybody looking to play at the next level.
"We're so far away from the United States, we don't get a fair look I think," Fehoko said. "Things like this puts Hawaii on the map. My brothers got to play college football because of these kinds of camps, and I hope they can continue to have them here."
Manley working for offers
Reigning Star-Bulletin state player of the year Andrew Manley has been to summer camps up and down the West Coast.
From Seattle to Los Angeles, Manley has shown his stuff to a variety of schools and has been in contact with many Pac-10 coaches.
But so far, his only offer has come from Hawaii. He attended summer camps at Washington and UCLA, but both schools have already secured a 2010 commitment from a quarterback.
"I still only have one offer, so I'm just trying to get myself out there as much as I can," Manley said. "Hopefully I have a pretty good season and some schools start offering."
Taz bounces back
With a position change looming, spring wasn't the time for Mililani's Taz Stevenson to be slowed by injury.
Unfortunately, that was exactly the case, as Stevenson sat out much of the spring and early summer with hamstring problems.
Back on the field for the first time this week, the 6-foot-2 190-pounder ended the camp by breaking up a Manley pass on the final play of the day.
"Actually I was trying to go for the catch, but I've been rusty," Stevenson said.
Stevenson spent most of his junior year on offense, but as a senior will transition to defense, where he's getting the most looks by college coaches.
Stevenson says he has received six offers, including Hawaii, Washington and Washington State.
Now introducing ...
One name that has risen out of the shadows this week is Moanalua tight end Richard Villasenor.
The 6-1 230-pounder sat out last year as a sophomore after breaking his foot, but was impressive enough to be selected the camp's lone all-star at his position. During the scrimmage, he caught two passes over the middle from Manley, and showed decisive speed and agility.
"This is what my coaches are expecting me to do this season, so I need to show them this is how I can play," he said.
LBs lead the way in Hawaii
You could hear the pads banging throughout the island of Oahu, Hawaii, as the All Poly Football Camp concluded with a full-contact scrimmage on Wednesday. The final day epitomized the competition and intensity that was preached throughout the camp. Players flew around the football field at Kapiolani Park with tons of energy and high effort, while incorporating the basic fundamentals that were taught by a staff of highly regarded Division I coaches.
Here are some of the highlight performances of the week and final scrimmage:
Intense linebacker unit
Inside linebacker V.J. Fehoko (Kahuku, Hawaii) is Hawaii's top 2010 prospect, and he finished the camp with a strong performance. Fehoko moved well laterally from tackle to tackle, and took quick, direct angles to the football. The Under Armour All-American is simply a great football player without all the measurables.
Shaydon Akuna (Kapolei, Hawaii) was one of the more impressive looking prospects in attendance. The tall and rangy outside linebacker displayed fluid hips, and ran well all week, flashing great range and closing speed. This great athlete may have the best physical upside of any prospect in attendance.
Although ILB Tuulauena Lolohea (Kapolei, Hawaii) is an under-the-radar prospect at the position, he blended right in with Fehoko and Akuna on the first team linebacker unit. He has good size, short-area power at the point of attack and a keen nose for finding the football between the tackles.
Still flying under the radar
Quarterback Andrew Manley (Wahiawa, Hawaii/Leilehua) continued to impress. He is, hands down, the best offensive prospect out of Hawaii this year. He displayed his compact release, strong arm and good footwork in the sessions on Monday and Tuesday. He showed he could move around the pocket and buy time with his feet in the scrimmages on Wednesday, and he has deceptively good athleticism.
A switch for the best
We evaluated Taz Stevenson (Mililani, Hawaii) as a receiver this spring, but he took repetitions at safety -- the position in which colleges are now recruiting him to play -- during the camp. That was a smart decision. Stevenson had an impressive All Poly Camp showing, and looks great with his height and long, rangy frame. He covered a lot of ground from his free safety position, and broke hard on the football, supporting underneath. He needs to work on his ball skills, but we feel he has developing D-I talent.
Sleeper emerges
Defensive end Beau Yap (Pearl City, Hawaii/Kamehameha) was nearly impossible to block on the camp's final day. He impressed us with his motor and initial, quick feet off the ball as a speed-rusher. He also displayed good strength on his bull rush. On several occasions, he was able to turn into the blocker, deliver a blow and push him back into the quarterback. Hungry for his first offer, he went to the University of Hawaii's camp as a linebacker, and returned later to compete as a defensive end. He is now getting looks from Arizona and Washington.
In the trenches
Center Jase To'Omalatai (Kahuku, Hawaii) impressed at the All Poly Camp in Utah, and To'Omalatai had another solid performance on his home turf, showing flashes of good upper-body strength.
Defensive tackle Foi Foi (Kapolei, Hawaii) played a bit stiff throughout the scrimmage. Still, he displayed strength and leverage at the point of attack. He may develop into a situational run defender at the next level.
Defensive tackle Veteson Sauni (Kahuku, Hawaii) stood out to us on the last day. He had a stout, tank-like build, and used his leverage well. He showed power and quickness off the ball, combined with a high-motor pursuit down the line of scrimmage. He was one of the more disruptive defensive linemen at the scrimmage. Sauni said programs like Hawaii and Wyoming want to see senior film, and are ready to offer.
Defensive tackle Sani Fuimaono (Honolulu/ Punahou School) lacks ideal size, but is an active and versatile defensive end. He showed quickness off the ball and strong hand technique. As he focuses on football and gains weight (a state champion wrestler), he should be a versatile swing man at the next level.
Defensive end Graham Rowley (Waialua, Hawaii) looked a bit straight lined at times, attacking off the edge, but he was quick off the ball, and active to the quarterback throughout the final day's scrimmage.
Corner Tomas Vaughn (Honolulu/Farrington) showed good fluidity, for a taller, lengthier corner, and good ball skills all week.
A Look to the future
Safety Elijah Lagafuaina (Mililani, Hawaii) is a thicker 2011 defensive back, who certainly passes the eyeball test for a rising junior. Lagafuaina took direct angles to the ball on run support, and displayed range and closing speed.
Offensive tackle Paulay Asiata (Honolulu/Word of Life), one of the biggest linemen on hand at the All Poly Camp, didn't disappoint. He flashed down-blocking strength and agility, chipping up to the second level. He's a rising junior to keep your eye on.
Tight end Richard Villasenor (Moanalua, Hawaii) does not have the height just yet to attract a lot of college attention, but the 2011 prospect showed reliable hands, and was a complete load for smaller defensive backs to try to take down.
Offensive tackle Jess Saussa (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Campbell) is a 6-foot-3, 290-pounder. He got called up to varsity last fall as a true freshman, and we can understand why. The massive 2012 lineman needs to work on his footwork and athleticism, but he has impressive upper-body strength and raw power as a run blocker for such a young guy.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Coaching rivalries put aside at All-Poly Camp
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
VIDEO: Polynesian college coaches and prep players gather for All-Poly football camp
In the midst of college football's increasingly intense, dog-eat-dog world of recruiting wars exists an ohana-like fraternity that willingly shares secrets about diamonds in the rough.
While sometimes in the running for the same coveted prospects, they also tip each other off on hidden gems and make suggestions on how to get them on campus.
They also serve as mentors, job counselors and friends-in-need.
"It's a great brotherhood," said
Nowhere is that more evident than at the nationally renowned "All-Poly Camp," which is being held in
The three-day camp — featuring more than 300 mostly local high school players instructed by coaches representing more than 20 colleges — wraps up today at Kapi'olani Park with a full-pads scrimmage followed by an awards ceremony and barbecue lunch.
There are several, maybe dozens of NCAA Division I prospects attending the camp, and no doubt some will receive added recruiting attention after it is over.
But since its inception eight years ago, with only eight coaches and about 40 athletes attending the inaugural event, the All-Poly Camp is not so much about "who will go to what college" but more about all of them continuing their education, period.
"The bottom line is we want all of these kids to go to college," said
The PCA network extends from coast to coast and beyond — from Annapolis, Md., (Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo) to Louisville, Ky., (Louisville graduate assistant Abu Ma'afala) to Jonesboro, Ark., (Arkansas State defensive backs coach Corey Batoon) to Logan, Utah (Utah State defensive line coach Chad Kaha'aha'a).
Continue at HA
Pads pop at Hawaii All-Poly Camp
As was the case on Monday, Tuesday followed the trend of dominating defensive play. Players continue to perform well and give added depth to an already talented defensive unit. Where the players seem to be most steadily emerging is on the defensive line and at linebacker.
One of the most dominating players at the camp has been defensive end Calen Friel. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has used a great first step off of the snap, good instincts and rare athleticism for a player with good size to be virtually unblockable. Friel came to camp with an offer from Hawaii that he earned after a similarly dominating camp performance.
Handsome Tanielu out of Waianae High School is still waiting on his first offer but has been similarly dominating at the All-Poly camp. Tanielu plays on the interior of the defensive line. Like many of the Hawaiian prospects, Tanielu is probably two inches away from having offers from around the Pac-10. He is still close to 6-2 and 270 pounds and incredibly productive. Tanielu has some of the most active hands and feet of all of the defensive linemen in attendance and is certainly a Division I prospect regardless of his size.
Continue at Rivals
DEs saying aloha to the quarterback
The North Shore on the campus of BYU-Hawaii is the setting for the annual Game Plan Football Academy. It is a four-day event that allows prospects from the island to receive instruction from college coaches as well take part in padded competition.
This year's camp had a little over 150 players taking part and included college coaches from all levels, from JUCO to FBS. The camp has been around for five years and is based on football instruction and college academic preparation. Executive Director Asai Gilman said the purpose of the camp was to help kids "understand the process of going to college, graduate, and then contribute back to society."
While on-field instruction is the key element for the kids hoping to improve their football skills and fundamentals, educational guidance is also emphasized. Players enrolled are able to participate in an eight-month process called "Chalk Talk" which offers help in such areas as SAT prep and the NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse).
Defensive Line Impressive
It didn't take long to see there was a lot of defensive line talent at the Game Plan Football Academy. Three defensive linemen stood out against the offensive line in the one-on-one competition, and in both the base blocking and pass-protection drills it was these three who dominated the opposition and refused to be blocked:
Hauoli Jamora, DE, (Kahuku, HI)
Jamora was extremely impressive in his overall performance. He was consistently quick out of his stance and immediately struck a jarring blow with his hands into the frame of the blocker. He played with great leverage and was able to press every opposing lineman into the backfield on run blocks, extending his arms and churning his legs while maintaining inside pad control.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was equally successful during pass-rush competition. He did a good job of mixing up his techniques and counters by using the short swim and power rip moves, among others, to make penetration and defeat the man across from him. It's not surprising that this guy is coming on strong on the recruiting front and already has been offered by BYU and Wyoming.
Jamora can develop into a very solid player once he adds some bulk. We look forward to further evaluating him, but based off his performance at the camp he is certainly a serious sleeper at the end position in the 2010 class.
Kona Schwenke, DE, (Kahuku, HI)
Schwenke was identified early as one of the highest-ranked players on the island of Oahu. He is a tall athlete with exceptional range and his long arms help him separate and disengage from the opponent. At the Game Plan camp he was solid when playing run defense, but even more dominant in the pass rush drills. He is a true speed rusher off the edge who can get to the outside before the offensive tackle can set back and anchor down. Active with his hands, Schwenke would often chop the outside hand of the pass blocker as he accelerated upfield practically untouched.
He also proved he could mix it up by setting the offensive blocker up to the outside with his first two steps then slant back underneath by using the short swim technique. Schwenke comes out of his stance a little high and needs to improve his overall strength, but he has the athleticism, size and quickness that has attracted over half-a-dozen offers.
Charles Tuaau, DT, (Leilehua, HI)
Tuaau is the most raw of the three defensive ends, but has a huge upside due to his aggressive attitude and affinity for physical play. A University of Hawaii commit, Tuaau has the build and strength to play defensive tackle, which is where he will likely end up in college.
He gets off the ball quickly for a 275-pounder and usually handles the man across the line of scrimmage. He needs to use his hands better and not give up his chest to the blocker, though he often simply overpowers the opposition. Tuaau is big and strong in the lower body and should be a very solid player, once he better channels his aggression and fine-tunes his skills and fundamentals.
Manley, Fehoko shine early
HONOLULU, Hawaii --After its first two days, the inaugural All-Poly football camp in Hawaii appears to be living up to its billing of becoming a productive camp on the island each year. With its impressive showing of more than 200 players, the camp has provided a stage for prospective student-athletes to showcase their athletic prowess while learning about college life away from the field.
What makes the All-Poly camp unique is its focus on academics, standardized and entrance tests, core curriculum requirements and other topics needed to prepare and qualify student-athletes for college. On Monday, before any on-field workouts, each participant and some family members took part in a four-hour workshop outlining the aforementioned areas of off-field importance.
The focus of the All-Poly camp is not only football, but also informing these young men about the importance of what is necessary off the field to continue their college careers.
"This is an opportunity to educate kids of Polynesian descent on what it takes to become a prospective college football player not only on the field but off," said UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, a former Hawaii resident who attended high school on the island of Oahu.
Chow was one of 20 Division I and II coaches on hand to instruct, mentor and in many cases give back to their roots. Staff members from Colorado, Oregon State, Utah, UNLV, Boise State, Washington, UCLA, Texas Tech, Louisville and BYU, among others, were in attendance to organize, coach and educate an impressive group of collective talent.
The on-field workouts mirrored classroom education with regard to laying the foundation of the basic principles of the game. Prospects took part in individual drills and group work and eventually were divided into teams that would compete and practice against each other throughout the first two days. Before the workout Monday, athletes were led through dynamic stretching and warm-up routines. The speed training was led by Tom Shaw, a highly regarded strength and conditioning coach with an NFL pedigree.
Shaw was not the only representative on hand with NFL ties. Newly appointed New York Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine lectured on the importance of playing the game fast, physically and with a lot of energy. Pettine talked about his coaching days with the Baltimore Ravens and the motors and chase speed encompassed by that defense led by All-Pro defenders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Pettine made a reference to his prior defense by saying the Ravens' motto was "Play like your hair is on fire." The players at this camp have certainly kept that type of intensity going.
The coaches and instructors were teaching the concept of "thud" (making contact but staying off the ground) the first two days, but with players like these, there's only one speed: 93 octane.
As we scouted the various position groups, the linebacker unit appeared to have the best depth and overall talent thus far. It was led by V.J. Fehoko (Kahuku, Hawaii), a 2010 Under Armour All-America Game selection. After an impressive showing at the All-Poly football camp in Utah last month, Fehoko continued to show why he's considered the top prospect on the island this year. While he's not the biggest or fastest on paper, he simply found the football quickly during nine-on-seven drills, showing reactive athleticism as well as great physicality and strength filling at the point of attack.
Not to be overshadowed on the offensive side, quarterback Andrew Manley (Wahiawa, Hawaii/Leilehua) physically warrants far more recruiting interest than he has received to date. Given his impressive measurables, arm strength, quick release and velocity, it's staggering that this young man only has one offer so far, from WAC member Hawaii. At this stage, Manley is clearly worthy of lower-tier BCS conference offers and multiple non-BCS offers. Manley is not of Polynesian descent but is a Hawaii resident who, based on physical tools alone, is flying under the radar.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Football camp offers high exposure
Advertiser Staff Writer
The nationally renowned "All-Poly" high school football camp made its
And with it came coaches from over 20 NCAA Division I programs, representatives from three major recruiting Web sites and the promise of unprecedented exposure for about 300 local football prospects.
"This is the biggest thing we've had here," said former Kealakehe High School coach Sam Papali'i, who also had stints as an assistant at the University of Hawai'i, Utah, Nevada-Las Vegas and Iowa State. "There hasn't been anything better for the prospects of this state."
The three-day camp at Kapi'olani Park features such notable instructors as UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Colorado assistant head coach Brian Cabral and Brigham Young defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi, along with several others with strong Hawai'i ties, like Oregon State defensive line coach and Radford High graduate Joe Seumalo, Utah State defensive line coach Chad Kaha'aha'a (Baldwin) and Central Arkansas defensive backs coach Corey Batoon (Saint Louis).
Since its humble origin in
(The camp is rooted in the aim to help high school athletes of Polynesian ancestry, but is now open to students of any ethnic background.)
Top Prospects Compete at Hawaii Camp
The roster of players alone was enough to set the stage for a phenomenal three days of work at the camp but the roster of coaches on hand to work with the prospects only raised the bar.
Among the colleges represented at the camp were UCLA, Washington, Oregon State, BYU, Louisville, Arkansas State, Utah, Utah State, Boise State, Texas Tech and a host of other programs. UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin and New York Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine were a few of the notable coaches that made the trip to evaluate and coach up the talented but under-exposed prospects in Hawaii.
While the first day of work, consisted of a heavy dose of installation, technique work and teach periods, the talent that the coaches came to work with did not disappoint, particularly the linebacker group. Linebackers of Polynesian descent such as Lofa Tatupu, Rey Maualuga and most recently Manti Te'o have been making a name for themselves on the national stage of late and the class of 2010 in Hawaii looks to be poised to continue that trend.
Continue at Rivals
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Husky recruit Pulu has standout game
Pulu's team came up on the losing end of the 13-12 outcome, but it would be difficult -- foolish, actually -- to fault him for the defeat. In a game of standouts, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Pulu clearly stood out.
He finished with seven solo tackles and was the only player on either team to reach double digits in total tackles with 12. He also helped clog the line of scrimmage, which allowed teammates to make tackles, and he even swatted down an East pass in the fourth quarter.
"He is an awesome football player," said West head coach John Ondriezek, who coaches at Mariner High School. "He's an anchor on that defense. He knows where the ball is, and he goes and gets it.
"He plays very aggressively, but he's also a very disciplined football player. He's always going to be where he's supposed to be."
Moreover, Ondriezek said, "he's about as tough as anybody I've ever coached."
Pulu, a graduate of Federal Way High School, is headed to the University of Washington, where he will be part of the first recruiting class of new Husky coach Steve Sarkisian. Pulu previously committed to former UW coach Tyrone Willingham, and then reaffirmed his commitment after Sarkisian was hired in early December.
This summer, Pulu is spending four days a week in Seattle, working out informally with his new Husky teammates. He will be on campus for freshman orientation in July and later the start of preseason practices in August.
"I'm excited," said Pulu, who was the only UW scholarship recruit in Saturday's game. "I just want to get started. I'm ready for the season."
Linebacker recruits, along with freshmen in general, tend to redshirt in their first seasons at a Division I program. Most likely, that's what awaits Pulu, though UW coaches "are just telling me to work hard, and if I'm good enough I'll see some playing time," he said.
Physically and mentally, Pulu seems to be the prototype of a major-college middle linebacker. He certainly has the size and toughness to take on blockers and running backs, and he has the instinctive knack for always being around the football.
"He has great football sense," Ondriezek said, "and he covers ground from sideline to sideline. The Huskies have a great football player coming up at inside linebacker."
Pulu knows the Huskies have struggled in recent seasons -- the team went 11-37 in Willingham's four seasons, including 0-12 in 2008 -- but said he is confident of brighter days ahead.
"The program is going to be turned around," he said. "There's a new atmosphere around the whole team. Everybody is pumped up. Everybody is ready to get it turned around and get back to bowl games."
Amosa Amosa has always effected change, beginning with his prep days at Campbell
By Mike Wise / Special to the Star-Bulletin
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 28, 2009
n early 1984, Dick Tomey lured an 18-year-old lineman from Campbell High School into the memorabilia room of his house. Amosa Amosa, attending a recruiting barbecue held by the University of Hawaii's coach at the time, looked in awe at the gleaming trophies, signed footballs and yellowed newspaper clippings.
When Tomey plucked a jersey from a shelf and held it up -- Jesse Sapolu's old No. 76 -- the kid from Campbell was sold.
"You come here, this is your number," Amosa was told by Tomey, who clearly did his homework more than 25 years ago.
See, you leave Western Samoa at age 12 and your athletic hero isn't Joe Montana or Walter Payton. It's someone who looked like you, a future Pro Bowler of Samoan ancestry, who would block for Montana and Steve Young and win Super Bowls for Bill Walsh's 49ers.
"Jesse Sapolu was my idol, I was almost shaking," Amosa recalled. "I called home that night and said, 'Dad, I think I'm going Hawaii already.' "
Condolences were quickly sent to BYU, Utah, Washington and Portland State, which, now it can be told, was never in the running.
"As a senior at Campbell, I didn't even know where Portland was," Amosa said. "I was like, 'Portland, is that a state?' "
We laughed over the phone, catching up for the first time in more than two decades. Once my teammate on an inglorious Campbell football team in 1982, Amosa, two years behind me, would succeed me as the Sabers' starting center on the basketball court and become the school's most accomplished student-athlete of his era.
While I crisscrossed the mainland to finish school and start a journalism career, Amosa stayed home -- becoming one of the 100 greatest players in the annals of UH football, an accolade that has genuinely humbled him.
"All those great players, I just didn't know if they would put me on that incredible list," he said. "I am so honored, I can't even tell you."
His football accomplishments -- first-team All-Western Athletic Conference, named twice to the prestigious Warrior Club and to the 1988 Hula Bowl, member of the first all-Polynesian line in NCAA history -- cemented his credentials for UH's top 100. If he wasn't snapping the football and then nimbly using his 6-foot-2, 285-pound frame to pull his blocks in a triple-option offense -- if he didn't play on a UH team that knocked off No. 9 Iowa his senior season and was probably the best 9-3 squad never to go to a bowl game -- Amosa doesn't join honorees ranging from Larry Price to Colt Brennan, from Tommy Kaulukukui to Jason Elam.
Continue at HSB
Not even cancer can put Uperesa on defensive
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 28, 2009
He sounds strong.
But how does he feel?
And how do you ask that question of a man who fended off prostate cancer, only to get hit by diabetes and then, just a few weeks later, another form of cancer -- this time in his throat, his thyroid?
In the end, you just do it. How are you feeling?
"How am I feeling?"
A fluffy conversation icebreaker on most occasions now bears the weight of total relevance.
Keith Uperesa pauses before speaking again. Not an awkward pause, but a thoughtful one.
"If you ask each day, it's different each day. Mostly up and down."
The former Punahou and NFL football player sounds strong and optimistic. He speaks clearly and confidently, just as he did four years ago when I sat with him in his office at UNLV, where he coaches the offensive line.
This time it's his health we discuss, not how the Rebels look, not how he balances his religious beliefs with raising a family in Vegas.
"It's a very aggressive form," he says. "A cyst and two nodes. After biopsies and an MRI, it was determined I needed surgery."
It went 7 1/2 hours.
"It turned out well. They didn't have to crack my chest open. That would've constituted waking up with a tracheotomy tube."
The next step is rehab, including radiation treatment, starting next week.
IF THERE'S fear, I can't hear it. Frustration, though, abounds. Uperesa is supposed to be here today, getting ready for the first All-Poly football camp in Hawaii that starts tomorrow. This is his baby, nine years and going strong on the mainland -- now, finally here in Hawaii, his home.
"My doctor told me, flat-out. No travel for three months. I'm going to miss being at the camp, but more so not being there with the family, for my nephew Dane's wedding. There's enough coaches for the camp, but family, that's a whole different matter."
Continue at HSB