Hawaii paper reports Makaula to transfer

Posted by Bob Condotta

Sorry --- had to take advantage of the nicest day we've maybe had here all year, so I was out of communication range most of the afternoon and night.
I see that some of you have already posted a note found in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today that UW fullback Kimo Makaula of Kailua, Hawaii is transferring to Idaho State (where he would be immediately eligible since it's an FCS school). There has been no confirmation yet from UW.
Makaula will be a redshirt sophomore in 2011, after redshirting in 2009 and then not playing in 2010. He was part of the first recruiting class for UW coach Steve Sarkisian, assembled in two months after he took over as UW coach in Dec., 2008.
Makaula played QB (among several other positions) in high school but was attempting to make the transition to fullback. However, he ended the spring third on the depth chart behind Jonathan Amosa and Zach Fogerson, and rarely saw the field during scrimmages. He would have faced more competition in the fall with the arrival of 2011 signee Dezden Petty.
If Makalua is leaving, it would obviously create one more opening for a scholarship for the Class of 2012. It already appeared as if UW wouldn't have any trouble fitting in the 21 signees from last February who are due to arrive in the fall into the 85-man limit.
UW had 66 scholarship players listed on its spring football roster, a total that included the walk-ons who were placed on scholarship a year ago such as Amosa and Daniel Kanczugowski. UW coach Steve Sarkisian also said at the end of the spring that the futures of OL Nick Wood and DT Chris Robinson, each battling injuries throughout the spring --- Wood missed the spring after having hip surgery while Robinson suffered another knee injury --- were in doubt.
UW has been recruiting JC linebacker Robert Atiga of Snow (Utah) College, who would be eligible for the 2011 season, and it appears the Huskies would have had room to fit him in. However, Atiga told Scout.com this week he is now considering only Arkansas and Oregon State after taking a recent visit to Arkansas. He visited UW last month.