'Chicken-skin' day for Hawaii

26 future Warriors pleased to be finished with recruiting process

BY STEPHEN TSAI
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor

Finally, defensive end Beau Yap of Kamehameha Schools was ready to exhale.

"I feel relieved right now, getting this recruiting process off my back," said Yap, The Advertiser's co-Defensive Player of the Year, after signing a letter of intent with the University of Hawai'i football team yesterday morning. "I can be a kid again."

Yap's signing — one of 26 by future Warriors — completed a whirlwind week in which Yap committed to Baylor, de-committed to the Waco, Texas, school, and then pledged to the alma mater of his father, Boyd Yap, the 1979 state Player of the Year.

"It's terrific," Boyd Yap said. "He's going to have a great time."

Beau Yap said: "I grew up as a UH fan. I'm proud to be going there."

Yap decided on UH while traveling from Oregon State, where he took a weekend recruiting trip.

"I woke up (during the flight), and it kind of hit me: I couldn't leave home."

He added: "Nothing can beat Hawai'i. The comfort level is so high. It was hard for me to say 'no' to (Baylor), but Hawai'i is the only place for me."

Yesterday was the first day football prospects were permitted to sign binding commitment letters.

The Warriors, who began piecing together this class two years ago, encountered no surprises as commitments were faxed to the Mānoa campus.

Although a scholarship was reserved for Farrington High defensive end VJ Fehoko (signed with Utah), the third son of UH's mascot, the Warrior coaches did not anticipate his commitment and, in fact, already filled their pass-rushing needs.

Entering the offseason, the Warriors sought defensive ends, offensive linemen, cornerbacks and receivers.

They signed four rush ends, five blockers — a sixth, if they were to count grayshirt Jordan Loeffler, who is enrolled in school — two play-making corners, and four speedy receivers.

UH coach Greg McMackin dismissed talk of the lack of four-star recruits, insisting that he valued his staff's evaluation of talent over scouting-service rankings.

"I'm excited about this class," McMackin said.

The feeling, apparently, is mutual.

"It's chicken-skin time," Kapolei High linebacker Tu'ulauena Lolohea said after signing his letter. "It feels good to finally get it written down. I'm ready to play for Hawai'i."

Here's a look a the recruiting class:

quarterback

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Kevin Spain 6-2 205 Paradise Valley (Ariz.) High

Quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich: "He's unselfish. He wants to win. Physically, he's a good athlete. The best thing about him is the catch-ability of his passes. And his accuracy. He has a lot of natural tools that will make him special down the road."

Offensive linemen

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Kody Afusia 6-3 285 Ocean View (Calif.) High

David Lefotu 6-4 290 Pearl City High

Frank Loyd 6-5 275 Moanalua High

London Sapolu 6-1 295 Orange Coast College

Sean Shigematsu 6-6 255 Kapa'a High

Line coach Gordy Shaw: "Kody never came off the field. I believe he was an All-CIF defensive lineman. Based on his stature and talent, we could project that he was going to be just what we're looking for at that position (center). ...

"David is a big, physical guard-type guy who has tremendous strength. ....

"Frank is an interesting guy. Last spring, he was a little over 6-3 and 230, but very athletic. He has long arms; that wing span that they talk about. He has a lot of upside. Today, he's touching 6-5 and he's 275. That's over a nine-month period, and he hasn't lost a step. He's going to be a very good tackle-type guy for us. ....

"Initially we were looking for a tackle. As we got into camp, and saw we had enough tackle guys we thought would be OK for this upcoming season, we were looking for an inside guy. (Sapolu will) either battle for the starting center position or be a backup. Physically, he's a good player. ....

"At the All-Poly camp, Sean was the guy everybody's eyes were going to him. At the time, he was 6-5 and about 235. A great athlete. He really stood out in that camp. He's 6-6, 250 now, and starts on the basketball team, starts on the volleyball. He has tremendous upside. He's going to be one of those tackles who's played here and gone on to play in the NFL."

Receivers

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Samson Anguay 5-8 155 Campbell High

Darius Bright 6-5 225 City College of San Francisco

Corey Lau 5-8 145 Kailua High

Allen Sampson 5-8 155 Plant High (Fla.)

Rolovich: "Samson is that quick, make-a-guy-miss-type slot we've had success with in the past. I know his size is not the biggest, but he's built really well. He'll make some plays for us in the future. ...

"Corey Lau is the same type of player as Samson. He has enough straight-ahead speed to be successful. But he has the ability to make that one guy miss and get the extra yards. ...

"People will first notice (Sampson) has world-class speed. But his personality and the person he is will make him a great teammate. He's going to make an immediate impact on our kick return. We have to try to get the ball in his hands to make something happen."

Defensive ends

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Desmond Dean 6-7 215 Tyler (Texas) High

Ipulasi Eselu 6-2 215 Moanalua High

David Katina 6-2 225 Fa'asao Marist (Am. Samoa)

Beau Yap 6-2 245 Kamehameha Schools

Defensive line coach Dave Aranda: Desmond is a guy we've had on our radar for a long time. He has all of the potential in the world. He has all of the bloodlines. He has all of the ability: the length, the speed. I feel Desmond has the most potential of all of the guys we brought in. His pop is 300 pounds. His grandfather played in the (National Football) League for how many years. What people look at is the weight. He's 6-7 and 215 pounds. But if you look at his family and his genes, weight is not a problem. ...

"We like (Eselu's) aggressiveness and his knowledge of the game, with his pop being a coach, and his mentality. He's going to grow into being a defensive end, at 240 (pounds). When we saw him in the summer, he was 190. He's 215 now. He's on his way." ...

"(Yap) reminds me of a raw John Fonoti. He has a natural get-off. His explosiveness and his hips are a natural gift."

Assistant head coach George Lumpkin: "Desmond is thin now, but he runs a 4.52 in the 40 and a 10.87 in the 100. If you remember, (Ikaika) Alama-Francis was about 212 when we got him. This kid is about the same. It's a matter of putting a lot of weight on him. ...

"The most positive things about (Katina) are his work ethic, his character, and his ability to understand what is required of him. He should be an outstanding defensive end."

Defensive tackles

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Calen Friel 6-2 260 Kailua High

Moses Samia 6-2 250 Saint Louis School

Aranda: "Moses has unbelievably long arms and unbelievably big hands. He's 250 pounds right now, and doesn't look it. We recruited Moses as a defensive tackle. ...

"Same thing with Friel. At the (UH coaches camp), he was 220 pounds. He's 260 right now. Both of those guys, in a year, will be 280. We feel they're active, tall, longer than some of the tackles."

Linebackers

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Dustin Elisara 6-2 245 Kapolei High

Tu'ulauena Lolohea 6-2 240 Kapolei High

Zachary Quines 6-3 210 Mililani High

Dominick Sierra 6-1 205 La Habra (Calif.) High

T.J. Taimatuia 6-3 225 Artesia (Calif.) High

Defensive coordinator Cal Lee: (Elisara) is very athletic. He has a great sense for the ball, and he has a motor. He's a big and strong athletic guy who can go out there and control the middle, and make sure nobody runs up the middle. ...

"What Tu'u brings on the field are what you look for in a linebacker. What he showed on his visit was the leadership qualities that he had, the take-charge qualities that you need on the defensive side of the ball. He's like a quarterback guy who's going to make people play hard. His actions speak louder than his words. He's not only an action guy, but he's a motivator. ...

"Zach is another one who can run to the ball. He's 6-3, a long, rangy kind of guy. The thing about Zach is he can make tackles in the open field. He's like a DB playing linebacker. He has great speed, great range. If we blitz, he's the kind of guy who can come off the edge. ...

"Dominick has great potential. He can make plays. He started off at defensive back, but because of his size, he'll become a good linebacker. He's got great closing speed. ...

"T.J. is another tall, rangy kind of player, like Zach is. He's not afraid to make contact. Defensively, you want guys who like to make contact. He wants to get there, and put a helmet where you want to put it. He has all of the skills and athleticism."

Safety

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Marcus Umu 6-1 190 Saint Louis School

Safeties coach Chris Tormey: "We had Marcus in (the coaches) camp last June, and we were really impressed with his ball skills. He must have had eight or 10 interceptions in the three days we worked with him. He has good instincts, and he showed good toughness. He has excellent size. He has great growth potential."

Cornerbacks

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

John Hardy-Tuliau 6-1 165 Visa Murrieta (Calif.) High

Dee Maggitt 5-10 175 Lakes (Wash.)

Aranda: "I think John can help us right away, in terms of blocking kicks. Everywhere John has been, he's won. Everything that John has wanted to do, he's done. He's one of those guys. He has a magic touch to him. He has the height we want at corner. Our conference is a running conference, no doubt about it. We have to load the (tackle) box to play the run. Every team has that one receiver who has jump-ball possibilities. I think height at corner was a need, and he fits that need."

Tormey: "Dee was the top cornerback prospect in the state of Washington this past year. He was highly regarded. He comes from one of the very best high school programs in the state of Washington. They're going to be top-5 in the state every year, and they have Division I players every year. Great background there. He played at a high level. Fundamentally, he's very sound. Good feet. Good hands. Breaks on the ball well."

Athlete

Name Ht. Wt. Last School

Siaki Cravens 6-3 240 Long Beach City College

Christian "Bubba" Poueu-Luna 6-0 175 Great Oak (Calif.) High

Aranda: "Cravens is a great athlete. He played tight end/receiver out of high school. A great basketball player, very athletic. We feel outside back on the line of scrimmage is a great position for him. He's 6-3, 240 pounds, but at this point, he's one of our faster players. He's a 4.5 guy. The issue with him is he's going to be raw. In terms of the tools and the mentality. That's there. ...

"Bubba is a great athlete. He can play receiver or DB. He played quarterback this past season. He's really in a similar mode to Siaki. He's a super, super athlete. He's a force with the ball in his hand. As a junior, he played safety. We're going back and forth on him in the office. He's a guy who can go either way."

Mouton, 3 others with isle ties drafted

Perhaps the anticipation made the waiting even harder.

Ryan Mouton had a pretty good idea he'd hear his name called when the Tennessee Titans' turn rolled around in the third round of the NFL Draft.

Still, the former Hawaii cornerback was "holding my breath," as the draft inched toward pick No. 94.

Then ...

"They called and asked how'd I like to be a Tennessee Titan," Mouton said yesterday from Houston. "I was overwhelmed. I really didn't know what to think."

Mouton was the second Warrior selected -- following defensive end David Veikune's second-round selection by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday -- and led a group of four players with Hawaii ties taken on the second day of the draft.

Veikune will be joined in Cleveland by Baldwin graduate and former USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava, the Browns' fourth-round pick.

Former Oregon State safety and Kahuku product Al Afalava was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round.

Former Hawaii long snapper Jake Ingram waited eight picks after Afalava before getting a call from the New England Patriots' special teams coach, who eventually put head coach Bill Belichick on the line.

"He said, 'We're about to turn your name in and welcome to the New England Patriots,' " Ingram said. "I'm trying to listen and just then everybody in my house started yelling and screaming."

Mouton's selection was the highest for a Hawaii defensive back since Jeris White was picked by Miami in the second round in 1974. He's the first since the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Kent Kafentzis in the ninth round in 1986.

Mouton had been hampered by a hamstring injury in the East-West Shrine Game, the NFL Combine and Hawaii's pro day. Officials from the Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers flew to Houston to meet with Mouton and watch a workout on Friday at Katy High School. Mouton said the Titans indicated they would take him with the 94th pick if he were still available.

"(Tennessee's) not too far from Houston and we play the Texans twice a year, so my family will get a chance to watch me at home," Mouton said. "The Tennessee Titans used to be the Houston Oilers, so they're still kind of the hometown team."

Maiava was the fourth USC linebacker taken in the draft and was caught a bit off guard by his pick. After watching some of the early-morning coverage, he had just jumped in the shower when his phone rang.

"It's a lot of stress off my shoulders," Maiava said. "My foot's in the door and like I told Coach (Eric) Mangini, I'm ready to go to work."

Maiava, a versatile linebacker with the Trojans, said he hadn't been told what his role in the Browns defense will be, and will leave Maui on Wednesday to report to a mini-camp that runs through Sunday, where he'll meet up with Veikune.

"He texted me this morning," Maiava said. "It's definitely going to be fun."

Afalava was taken with the 190th pick of the draft after recording 36 tackles and two interceptions with Oregon State last season. He had a visit with the Bears after his pro day.

"I had a feeling that I was going to come back to Chicago after my visit," Afalava said on the Bears' Web site. "I really enjoyed it. I got along with the coaches. I had that feeling. It's going to be a pleasure being a Bear."

Ingram will make his first trip to the Northeast this week after being picked by the Patriots, who have been to four Super Bowls since 2001.

"I thought if I got good at long snapping I might be able to get into a camp," said Ingram, who became a full-time snapper in 2005. "For this to happen is unbelievable."

Among those who went undrafted, former Hawaii defensive end Josh Leonard said he was headed to the Houston Texans as a free agent and will report in May. Cornerback Jameel Dowling is heading to the Arizona Cardinals mini-camp this week.

NFL ISLANDERS: THE NEXT GENERATION

Six players with Hawaii ties were taken this weekend in the NFL Draft, and two others signed free-agent contracts.

Player (school)	Pos.	Team	Round	Pick
Max Unger (Hawaii Prep/Oregon)	C	Seattle	second	49
David Veikune (Campbell/Hawaii)	DE	Cleveland	second	52
Ryan Mouton (Hawaii)	CB	Tennessee	third	94
Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin/USC)	LB	Cleveland	fourth	104
Al Afalava (Kahuku/Oregon State)	DB	Chicago	sixth	190
Jake Ingram (Mililani/Hawaii)	LS	New England	sixth	198

Free agents
Jameel Dowling (Hawaii), CB, Arizona; Josh Leonard (Hawaii), DL, Houston; Tavita Thompson (Saint Louis/Oregon State), OL, New York Jets

Veikune, Unger get the call

David Veikune put the phone down and lined up his shot on the 13th hole at the Mililani Golf Club yesterday.

Trying to get his ball onto the green, he shanked his shot way off to the left.

And with that, his professional football career was under way.

The former Warriors defensive end was selected by the Cleveland Browns yesterday in the second round (52nd overall) of the NFL Draft.

Center Max Unger, a 2004 Hawaii Prep graduate, was also drafted yesterday in the second round, by the Seattle Seahawks with the 49th overall pick.

Veikune got the call while playing golf with his father and his girlfriend.

"I'm excited that I'm going to be playing with Cleveland and relieved that this whole draft process is finally over," he said.

Veikune, who describes his golf game as "pretty bad," was just thankful he got picked so he didn't have to go back out on the course again today.

"I was thinking, 'Man, I'm going to have to golf two days in a row if I don't get picked,'" said the Campbell High School graduate.

At 6-feet-2, 257 pounds, Veikune impressed scouts at the NFL Combine by bench-pressing 225 pounds 35 times, the third-most among defensive linemen.

Veikune said he spoke with Cleveland coach Eric Mangini before the draft.

"They definitely were one of the teams I thought where I'd go, but you never know until you get that phone call," he said.

As the 52nd overall pick, Veikune is just the 10th former UH player to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft and the first to be chosen that early since Travis LaBoy was taken by the Tennessee Titans with the 42nd overall pick in 2004.

Ashley Lelie remains the only UH player to be picked in the first round.

Veikune heads to Cleveland for the first day of Browns rookie camp on Thursday.

Unger was a two-time All-Pac-10 offensive lineman at Oregon, where he started 50 consecutive games

The Seahawks traded their third- and fourth-round picks to the Bears to get Unger, who can play anywhere on the offensive line.

Players with Hawaii ties expected to be drafted today include former Warriors Ryan Mouton and Jake Ingram and Southern California linebacker Kaluka Maiava, a 2005 graduate of Baldwin High on Maui.

Former Warriors selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft

Name	Pos.	Year	Team	#
Golden Richards	WR	1973	Dallas	46
Jeris White	DB	1974	Miami	52
Walter Murray	WR	1986	Wash.	45
Adrian Klemm	OT	2000	N.E.	46
Ashley Lelie	WR	2002	Denver	19
Pisa Tinoisamoa	LB	2003	St. Louis	43
Travis LaBoy	DE	2004	Tenn.	42
Samson Satele	C	2007	Miami	60
Ikaika Alama-Francis	DE	2007	Detroit	58
David Veikune	DE	2009	Clev.	52

Cleveland Browns: David Veikune

The Browns completed their work on Day One of the NFL Draft by selecting a pass rusher, David Veikune of Hawaii, with the 52nd overall pick.

Veikune (6-foot-2, 257) had 16 sacks in his final two college seasons, 7 for Hawaii's Sugar Bowl team in 2007 and 9 as a senior last fall. He probably will play outside linebacker in the Browns' 3-4 defense.

He had 73 tackles last season, when he started all 14 games. He also had 3 pass breakups and 11 quarterback pressures last fall.

Veikune (pronounced Vay-koo-nay) was born in Alaska to a military family. He also lived in Arizona and New Mexico before settling in Hawaii. He has uncles and cousins from the Tongan Islands.

Browns General Manager George Kokinis said Veikune "is a guy we did some homework on. He's got a big-time motor. When you look at the tape the thing really jumps out is the way he finished plays and ran to the football. He can get to the quarterback."

"I love the guy's motor," head coach Eric Mangini said. "He has toughness, aggressiveness and I like his ability to change direction. There's a smoothness to the way he changes directions."

Motor-vated

Growing up, David Veikune was a young man on the move.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Veikune spent time in Arizona and New Mexico before moving to Hawaii in high school.

Then came a post-graduation odyssey that led him from Campbell High to Colorado to Fresno City College and eventually back to the islands.

With a productive three-year stay in the Warriors football program complete, Veikune will soon be relocating again. His next stop determined by this weekend's NFL Draft.

"The main thing is it's always been my dream to play in the NFL, so moving to do that is going to be another journey and I'm going to enjoy it," the former Warriors defensive end said.

"It's been a crazy road. I'm just thankful for everything I've gotten."

The first two rounds of the draft will be held tomorrow in New York City. The third through seventh rounds will be completed on Sunday.

Veikune's high-revving motor powered him to 73 total tackles, including a team-high 16.5 for losses, in his senior season with the Warriors. He finished his career with 18 sacks and earned invitations to the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, where he made his case for a spot in the draft.

After participating in Hawaii's pro day on April 2, Veikune's schedule of team visits kept him on the go as he criss-crossed the country to Philadelphia, Denver, Tennessee and Miami.

"At least I got some frequent-flier miles off of it," Veikune said. "It was pretty tiring, plus the time change. I tried to stay in shape. I'd always try to run and lift everywhere I went."

Veikune's name has popped up as a possible third- or fourth-round pick, and he said he's received calls from most of the teams in the league making sure they have his contact information for the weekend.

As for his preference of destination ...

"Who doesn't like to be in a warm place?" Veikune said. "But if I'm in the cold, hey, I'm going to embrace it."

Veikune's size and athletic attributes could dictate a move in position depending on what team selects him. His agent, Kenny Zuckerman, said Veikune has drawn interest both as a defensive end in a 4-3 system or as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. He went through linebacker drills for the scouts at pro day, demonstrating his ability to drop into coverage.

As the draft stretches over the weekend, Veikune doesn't intend on staying stationary through the process.

"I'm not completely sure what I'm going to do, maybe golf or something like that," he said. "Just get my mind off stuff."

Josh Leonard, another former Warriors defensive lineman, could also get a call this weekend. Leonard put together an impressive pro day performance -- including 41 repetitions in the bench press -- to elevate his profile leading up to the draft.

"Before (pro day) I still had a good amount of teams interested," he said from his home in Sacramento. "The pro day helped solidify me hopefully as a late-round pick or a free agent."

Leonard said he's heard from about 20 teams since pro day and could play tackle in a 4-3 alignment, as he did at Hawaii, or end in a 3-4 front.

Veikune rough and ready for big day

The National Football League draft is this weekend, and David Veikune will be thinking about the greens.

"I'm going to go golfing," said Veikune, a former University of Hawai'i defensive end who might be selected as early as the third round.

Veikune has drawn strong interest from several NFL teams. The Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins brought him in for personal workouts.

The Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys have had face-to-face interviews with Veikune.

Where Veikune will play is a two-fold question. The team and position will be known, most likely, on Sunday, when the third through seventh rounds will be conducted.

Veikune is an intriguing prospect. He was named to the 2007 All-Western Athletic Conference first team despite not starting any games that season.

He was one of the strongest Warriors, once bench pressing 500 pounds.

He played well in the Senior Bowl in January. He also had impressive numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

At the combine, he bench pressed 225 pounds 35 times, fourth-highest total among all participants.

He was officially timed at 4.87 seconds in the 40-yard dash, ninth-best among defensive linemen. But that was the slowest of the recordings by the three timers. One clocked him at 4.79 seconds.

Veikune also completed the L-drill, which was not recorded on the NFL Web site, in 4.20 seconds.

A common strategy is to take the best scores from the combine and pro day. Each NCAA team is permitted a pro day, in which its players go through several drills in front of NFL scouts.

Veikune decided to rest on his combine results, opting to only run the 40 and perform position drills at UH's Pro Day in Carson, Calif.

He ran the 40 in 4.81 seconds. Best of all, he impressed scouts with his agility, lateral speed and good hands during linebacker drills.

The Titans and Cardinals run 4-3 defenses, and envision Veikune as a defensive end.

The others that have shown interest run 3-4 defenses, and they view him as a linebacker.

Veikune said that at 260 pounds, he is at a middle weight. He believes he would need to weigh at least 270 to play end in a 4-3 alignment. He said he probably could play linebacker at 255.

"I can say that he's got first-day talent, but where he gets drafted depends on how teams draft players at his position," agent Kenny Zuckerman said.

Zuckerman said scouts like Veikune's potential. The Campbell High grad attended Colorado for a year and then Fresno City College for a semester. He was at UH for three years.

"He's only been a one-year starter," Zuckerman said. "His best football is ahead of him."

Veikune said he has no preferences, although his father is a fan of the Cardinals. Veikune lived in Arizona from the second through sixth grades.

Veikune said he is not nervous, and has no plans for a draft party.

"Why have a party when you're not sure where you're going to go?" he said.

Veikune said he will relax on the golf course. His handicap?

"Severe," he said. "The first time I played was on Friday. I'm not very good, but I had fun."

Digging deep

While their teammates headed toward the locker room after practice, the Hawaii linebackers were still sweating through a set of sprints on the turf at Ching Field.

The extra running wasn't punishment so much as preparation."Coach Cal (Lee) said the LBs have to be the most in-shape guys on the field," Mana Lolotai said.

"Coach expects a lot out of us as linebackers so we have to make sure we push ourselves."

Lolotai put in a solid day's work last Saturday and alternated with senior Brashton Satele at middle linebacker in yesterday's practice.

Lolotai has been working primarily with the second unit during the spring, but got a few repetitions with the first unit after an impressive performance in last Saturday's scrimmage.

"We have to know how to play with each other," Lolotai said. "Playing with the ones, I get that more fast-paced tempo."

Lolotai (6-foot, 240 pounds) grew up in Kahuku and attended Hawaii Pacific University after graduating from Kamehameha in 2006.

He transferred to Hawaii before the 2007 season, seeing action in four games his first season. He registered four tackles while getting into 13 games last year and could push for more playing time in the fall with his showing this spring.

"They're two of our best players so we just have to find a spot for them," UH head coach Greg McMackin said of Satele and Lolotai. "They're probably two of our top five players this spring."

Both middle linebackers will probably have to be in shape for Saturday's Warrior Bowl at Aloha Stadium. McMackin said the coaches will divide the team evenly for the spring game, which probably means Satele playing for one team with Lolotai on the other side and not many breaks for either.

Lolotai's conditioning was tested last weekend when he didn't get many breaks in the Warriors' offense vs. defense scrimmage played under a draining afternoon sun.

"It was a mental gut check, you have to dig deep," Lolotai said.

While he gets more repetitions in practice, Lolotai has enough to keep his hands full after he leaves the locker room.

When Lolotai's not in classes, meetings or practice, keeping track of 2-year-old daughter, Zaiah, fills his time away from the field.

"It keeps me more grounded, I have to be more focused," Lolotai said of balancing family life with school and football. "Not only do I have football, but I have responsibilities at home, too. It kind of works hand in hand."

Sapolu speaks, Warriors listen

Moments after San Francisco defeated Chicago, 28-3, in the 1988 NFC Championship game, 49er center Jesse Sapolu approached Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and said: "This is payback for all of those years." Sapolu added: "He started laughing."

The true measure of a Hawai'i football player is his feelings toward longtime rival Brigham Young. Sapolu's teams never beat BYU (twice led by McMahon) in his four seasons as UH center.

"BYU will always be my rival," said Sapolu, who gave a pep talk to the Warriors during yesterday's spring practice.

Sapolu recalled the BYU quarterbacks his teams faced were Marc Wilson, McMahon and Steve Young — all record setters. Young is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sapolu joked about how the BYU players were more mature as collegians.

"They were four years older than us when we played," Sapolu said, smiling. "I played with (BYU graduate) Bart Oates with the 49ers, and he was a good four years older than me. We were seniors together."

Most of the current Warriors were in elementary school when Sapolu retired in 1997 after a 15-year NFL career, all with the 49ers.

Still, he drew respectful awe as he spoke about the importance of team unity.

"I look up to the man," left tackle Aaron Kia said. "He was a beast when he played."

Kia said Sapolu's message had special meaning for the blockers.

"He was coming from the offensive linemen's perspective," Kia said. "I liked when he told us that the (49er) linemen only needed a head nod (to communicate calls). You want to get to that level where it's automatic, no static."

Center John Estes said his parents grew up in Redwood City, where the 49ers used to hold training camp.

"We were all 49er fans, all the way through my grandparents," Estes said. "We knew everything about them. It was really cool to see him out here."

Sapolu enjoyed his nostalgic visit. He pointed to the small grass hill bordering the Warriors' practice field.

"We used to run up these hills," Sapolu said. "Back then, it was dirt. Hard dirt. Now everything is so nice and manicured."

Sapolu, who works in the 49ers' organization and coaches a high school team, said he still considers himself to be a "shy kid from Kalihi."

"When I think back, it's, how did I get here?" he said. "There were some twists and turns. It it weren't for certain people who helped me, I could have gone the wrong way."

He said he received guidance from Al Espinda, his head football coach at Farrington High, and Gordon Miyashiro, the offensive line coach.

He recalled Miyashiro "not screaming at me, but talking to me. 'These are your possibilities if you straighten up and believe in yourself and go to class and do the right things.' It was one of the first times I played for a coach who was really positive with me."

Sapolu has two sons playing football. London Sapolu is at Orange Coast Community College. Roman Sapolu is at Edison High in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Sapolu said both sons have received offers from the Warriors.

"I would like one or both of my sons to come here," Sapolu said. "It would be nice to hear that name here again. It's been a while. I would be proud to see one of my sons be a Warrior.

"That would be the closest way for them to feel what I felt when I played here," he added. "Times are different, but we can still talk about things that are the same, like the dorms."

Former Hawaii Weightlifting Champion Prepares Local Football Players for the NFL Draft

Personal Trainer and NFL Prospects Have Strong Ties to Hawaii

Scottsdale, Arizona (April 3, 2009) –Chad Ikei is a 5-time National Weightlifting Champion, World Record Holder and personal trainer to many NFL Players. But his passion for developing young NFL prospects lies close to his heart as does his island home of Hawaii. On Thursday April 2, four of his athletes participated in the University of Hawaii NFL Proday Workout at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA where they impressed NFL Scouts with their performances.

Former UH Warrior players Josh Leonard, Francis Maka and Jacob Patek along with former Colorado Buffalo and Maui-boy Vaka Manupuna have been training with Ikei for the past 3 months in preparation for the proday. Both Leonard & Manupuna put up record setting marks with 41 repetitions in the 225 lbs bench press test. “It felt real good to put up those numbers,” states Leonard. “Vaka and I have been really pushing each other during every training session, some days he beats me and some days I beat him but the intensity at Ikei’s is exactly what I needed and the results speak for itself.” Leonard’s performance sparked interest from many NFL teams. “Miami called me while I was at the airport on my way home and told me that I had a really good workout and that they liked what they saw.”

Proday Results are as follows:

Josh Leonard, DT – Height: 6’3”, Weight: 283 lbs, Vert: 31.5”, Broad: 8’10”, Bench: 41, 40-yard Dash: 4.93s, 20-yard Shuttle: 4.31s, 3-Cone Drill: 7.35s

Francis Maka, DE - Height: 6’2”, Weight: 257 lbs, Vert: 34”, Broad: 9’4”, Bench: 26, 40-yard Dash: 4.81s, 20-yard Shuttle: 4.45s, 3-Cone Drill: 7.31s

Jacob Patek, S - Height: 5’11”, Weight: 210 lbs, Vert: 34”, Broad: 9’6”, Bench: 22, 40-yard Dash: 4.58s, 20-yard Shuttle: 4.21s, 3-Cone Drill: 6.72s

Vaka Manupuna, DT - Height: 6’3”, Weight: 287 lbs, Vert: 31”, Broad: 9’3”, Bench: 41, 40-yard Dash: 5.09s, 20-yard Shuttle: 4.43s, 3-Cone Drill: 7.23s

Former Kahuku Red Raider Alumnus Al Afalava and Jeremy Perry of Oregon State Beavers also trained out at Ikei. Earlier in March Afalava impressed scouts with his 4.47s forty-yard dash and blazing agility drills. Perry is scheduled for a private workout at Oregon State later this month.

“Hawaii is and always will be my home,” expresses Chad Ikei who owns and operates Ikei Performance, an exclusive sports & fitness training center in Scottsdale, AZ. “The islands have made me who I am today, from the culture to the food but most importantly my Ohana. Sometimes people forget where they come from and what opportunities were provided for them, and for me the islands gave me everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my family, friends and the people of Hawaii that helped encourage me to follow my dreams.” Ikei now works with hundreds of athletes from High School to the Pros. Some of the notable athletes he has trained are Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Wilson, Demeco Ryans and Tommie Harris all who’ve been to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

But it’s not these Pro Bowl caliber athletes that inspire Ikei to continue what he does, it’s what the islands has to offer that drives his passion for success. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to work with such great athletes like Fitz, but for me I have a soft spot for raising the level of performance with island athletes. Hawaii has so much potential on the island but sometimes athletes just don’t realize what it takes to get to the top. Now that I’ve been able to work with some of the island’s best, maybe I can inspire more young island athletes to reach beyond the horizon and see what’s on the other side.” Ikei has built a reputation for training players with ties to Hawaii or Polynesia as some notable players include: Aaron Francisco, Reagan Mauia, Deuce Lutui, Naufahu Tahi, Travis Laboy, Tala Esera and Timmy Chang. Some of the islands young college players also spend their summer in Arizona to prepare for their college season. “Some day I’ll move back to Hawaii and open a performance center, but for now I’m just going to have to do what I can from the hot desert and hope that I can make a difference in some of the lives of our young islanders.”

For more information contact Chad Ikei at 480.570.5438 or via email at chad@ikeiperformance.com.

About Ikei Performance

Ikei Performance is an exclusive sports & fitness training center that trains numerous professional, college and high school athletes as well as serious fitness enthusiasts. The private 9,300 square foot facility has an indoor field turf area, outdoor 3-lane 70 yard turf track, strength training area including Olympic lifting platforms and medical offices. Under the direction of 5-time National Weightlifting Champion and World Record Holder, Chad Ikei, the Ikei Performance team has proven time and time again to produce fast and effective results. Personal Training, Sports Performance Programs, Naturopathic Medicine, Chiropractic care, Active Release Technique, massage therapy and the Ikei Performance Nutritional Center are available to interested fitness enthusiasts, junior athletes as well as professional athletes in training. Chad Ikei was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from Kaiser High School. He has been training numerous Professional and Collegiate Polynesian athletes from Hawaii and across the mainland. Visit Ikei Performance on-line at www.ikeiperformance.com.

Warriors' Watson has come of age

Keala Watson, a defensive tackle for the Hawai'i football team, always has been ahead of his time

He weighed 10 pounds at birth.

In the fourth grade, he was 5 feet 10 and 200 pounds.

He was banned from using the playground swings.

"I broke a swing when I was in elementary school," he said, sheepishly. "It's a tragedy."

As a student at Kaumualii Elementary on Kaua'i, he was assigned to a special section.

"Everybody had a little orange chair," Watson said. "I had a big brown teacher's chair at my desk. I guess there were perks. It was nice to have a big chair."

In the sixth grade, he was 6 feet.

As a freshman at Kaua'i High, he was 6-2 — and shaving regularly.

"I was a man-child," Watson said.

"When I was a freshman, everybody thought I was a senior," he said.

He transferred to Nanakuli High, where Leona — his classmate and future wife — also thought he was a senior. She realized he was younger when they were in the same world geography and Hawaiian classes the next year.

As a Nanakuli senior, he grew out his sideburns. Then he grew a goatee.

"I had more facial hair than my teachers," he said, smiling.

The perception did not change when he went to UH.

"My freshman year, on senior night, everybody's parents were giving me leis," Watson said. "They thought I was a senior. It's happened every year since I've been here. I always get a lei on senior night from random people."

Even teammates were fooled.

"The first time I saw him was my first day of training camp (last year)," defensive tackle Josh Leonard said. "I thought he was, like, 25. I didn't find out he wasn't a senior until our first game (of 2007)."

Continue to HA

Warriors add RB to recruiting class

Sula originally signed letter with Boise State, but never enrolled

By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor

The University of Hawai'i football team has landed a highly regarded running back from California.

Jack Sula, who had signed a letter of intent with Boise State in February but never enrolled in that school, yesterday accepted a UH football scholarship.

"I have a second chance," Sula said, "and it's with Hawai'i."

Sula said he will enroll at UH in January. He plans to participate in the offseason conditioning program and compete in spring training.

He will have five years to play four seasons.

"Hawai'i is the perfect place for me," Sula said.

Sula, who is 6 feet and 210 pounds, played running back and linebacker at Carson High School. Although Boise State had recruited him as a linebacker, he will compete at running back for the Warriors.

"That's one of the reasons I picked Hawai'i," Sula said. "I wanted to play running back. That's my priority."

Sula overcame a tough gang-associated background, which was featured in an ESPN The Magazine story. His parents were teenagers when he was born.

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UH lands Keli'ikipi's brother

By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor

It is the University of Hawai'i football team's belief that talent is relative.

At least when it involves the Keli'ikipi family from Wai'anae.

Yesterday, the Warriors received a verbal commitment from Wade Keli'ikipi, an imposing defensive tackle from Wai'anae High and the younger brother of former UH running back West Keli'ikipi.

Wade Keli'ikipi has made a name for himself as a punishing interior defensive lineman. Keli'ikipi, who is 6 feet 4 and 273 pounds, projects to play at 290 pounds, his weight at the start of the 2008 season.

"I guess I lost some weight," he said.

He certainly did not sustain any loss in strength. Keli'ikipi can bench press a maximum 405 pounds.

He also can bench 225 pounds 30 times.

What's more, he is capable of running 40 yards in 5.0 seconds.

By committing to the Warriors, Keli'ikipi is turning down an offer from Oregon.

"It's close to home," he said of his college choice. "I want to play in front of my family."

Leaning on Pisa

September 21, 2008 -- Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (left) nearly intercepts a pass intended for tight end John Carlson. (Chris Lee/P-D)

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/18/2008

LEANING ON PISA

As the Rams' defensive coordinator, Jim Haslett tried to coax linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa into more consistent performances. "He gets one or two plays every game that he doesn't play real well," Haslett explained.

Things are different now. Haslett is the head coach, following the dismissal of Scott Linehan on Sept. 29, and Tinoisamoa is putting together his best season since 2005.
Citing a marked improvement in Tinoisamoa's mechanics and technique, Haslett said, "He's doing everything right for the first time since I've been here."

Tinoisamoa has amassed a team-leading 46 tackles — including a season-high 13 in last Sunday's 19-17 triumph at Washington. He also had a sack and another stop for lost yardage vs. the Redskins.

A second-round draft pick in 2003 out of Hawaii, Tinoisamoa topped the Rams in tackles in each of his first three years, piling up totals of 121, 145 and 134. He didn't miss a game until six weeks into his fourth NFL season, a span of 54 contests.

But when the injuries began to arrive, they came with a vengeance. Tinoisamoa missed five games in 2006 when five different injuries — two broken hands, two dislocated elbows and a sprained shoulder — ultimately landed him on injured reserve. He finished with just 47 tackles.

Last year, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound weakside linebacker played in only nine games before he again wound up on IR, this time because of knee problems. He had 79 tackles.

Finally healthy and at peace in his personal life, Tinoisamoa, 27, is returning to form. He said he spent his offseason re-dedicating himself to his family — wife Shannon, sons Kaleb and Ryder, and daughter Mylie.

"Not to say I was a bad guy off the field (before), but I spent a lot of time with my family, realizing what's important to me, realizing that I like my lifestyle, the way I'm living," Tinoisamoa said. "And in order to maintain that, I'm probably going to have to play good ... especially when they're firing people around here."

Weekend of big football games draws fans, UH scout

by Brian Vitolio

Fans came in numbers over the weekend to watch the powerhouses of local high school football take on one another with Samoana facing off against Tafuna and the Lions playing in a repeat of the last two title games against the Vikings last Saturday.

Among those fans was Ikaika Malloe, a University of Hawaii defensive tackles coach, special teams coordinator and also football recruiter, arriving in American Samoa last Thursday for his first ever visit expressly for last Saturday's games.

"I couldn't have come on a better weekend," Malloe said at Veterans Memorial Stadium while awaiting the varsity match between the Fa'asao/Marist Crusaders and Nu'uuli Voc-Tech Wildcats by taking in the junior varsity game between the Vikings and Wildcats last Friday. "This is the reason why I came this weekend and I will probably leave here with 10 to 15 players to evaluate of each perspective position."

He left the territory last night and will be back for possibly two more trips within the current school year. NCAA rules bar any scout or recruiter from revealing names of high school players that are of interest to them.

Because he is of Tahitian and Hawaiian lineage Malloe was naturally selected by his former employers - UTEP for four years and Western Illinois for two - and Hawaii to recruit from "any areas that are heavily populated with Polynesians."

Some of these areas include Sacramento and Fresno, California, Samoa, New Zealand, American Samoa and his home state of Hawaii.

"There's no secret to recruiting," Malloe said. "I'm the reflection of the program so it's my job to sell the school to them and create a good relationship with the player and their coach."

His ethnicity is a plus with parents also.

"For the most part parents are always excited when a Polynesian coach is recruiting," he explained, "that's one of the advantages."

Malloe said that "over 85%" of their players are of Polynesian descent and there are five coaches on the University of Hawaii football staff.

"The one thing about Polynesian players is their toughness and playing with a lot of heart," the coach said. "I believe that comes from their upbringing, you never have to question their toughness. Size for us is huge, especially for the offensive linemen and linebackers. This is what (American) Samoa can provide for us."

The UH coach said he plans on keeping tabs with the coaches for updates on the players of interest to UH, and on his next trip he said he will be doing "some home visits with the families."

Malloe is a graduate of Kamehameha High School and according to his bio on the UH football page (www.hawaiiathletics.com), he lettered in football and basketball. As a senior in 1992 he helped guide his basketball team to the state championship as its point guard.

He went on to the University of Washington where he was a starter at the free and strong safety positions as well as outside linebacker and also did time with the special teams unit. It also states in the bio that he "was recognized Huskies' hardest hitter from 1994-96" and led the team his junior year with six interceptions.

Malloe told Samoa News that he tore his ACL during his college career and soon after that started his coaching career as a student assistant with his alma mater, working with the linebackers. From 1998-99, as a graduate assistant, he helped out with the defensive line and special teams and later, said his bio, became the "program coordinator and was involved with recruiting evaluation and computer breakdown for defense and special teams.

After his stints at UTEP and Western Illinois, Malloe joined the UH's coaching staff last January.

Malloe said that he was supposed to have come with the UH group of coaches that were part of the June Jones Football Camp held in the territory this past June. However, he had just returned to Hawaii from a long recruiting trip to the mainland and begged off of it so that he could spend some time with his wife Tara, also from Hawaii, and their three children - daughter Taylor, 8, and sons Jordan, 7, and Isaiah, 4.

He went on to say that he felt at home here in the territory in this first visit of his and on his next one he plans on bringing his wife Tara.

"The last time someone from here came up was Larry Sauafea and we have to come out here and keep the tradition going," he pointed out. "The coaches have been very welcoming and the reception here has been awesome. I feel very much at home here."

They are not limited to recruiting only football players, added Malloe, but also to give "opportunities for other sports."

"We will be working with the Purcells (Melila & Moana) in that area," he explained.

He went on to say that UH can also use its networking to send players to other places such as junior colleges.

"That's one of the advantages with this because we have a lot of friends in other programs and for me, I would love to spread the word or whatever the case may be."

The Warriors had a bye weekend and so far are 1-2, having lost to fourth ranked Florida 56-10 and Oregon State 45-7, led by quarterback Lyle Moevao. Their lone win came against Weber State, 36-17.

This week they begin defense of their WAC title, hosting San Jose State at Aloha Stadium.

Versatile Radford DE Malepeai commits to Hawaii

By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

Marcus Malepeai is open to trying new things.

But when it came to picking a college, the Radford High School senior stuck to the familiar.

Malepeai is anticipating continuing his football career at Aloha Stadium - within walking distance down Salt Lake Boulevard from the Radford campus - after accepting a scholarship offer from Hawaii.

"My parents were a big part in the decision," Malepeai said. "I wanted to stay home and play in front of them and my friends."

Malepeai (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Rams last year, but is locked in at defensive end this season.

"He's solid all the way around. He's very quiet, very respectful. He doesn't say much but usually leads by his actions," Radford coach Fred Salanoa said.

"I just think the University of Hawaii is getting an awesome player. He's going to get bigger, and he's going to get stronger and faster."

Malepeai carries a 3.2 grade-point average and is interested in studying engineering.

With his college future settled, Malepeai is looking to help the Rams build on a 3-0 start in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Division. Radford faces Kalaheo for the top spot in the conference tomorrow night.

While he still has a few games left in his prep football career, Malepeai is still looking for new avenues to pursue in his senior season. Already a member of the Radford basketball and track and field teams, he's planning to try out for the Rams' volleyball team as well.

"Just wanted to try something new," said Malepeai, whose older sister, Marlena, was a volleyball standout at Radford and is now attending Gonzaga.

"It's my senior year, so my friends and I just decided to try it."

Continue

Oregon State-Hawaii: A surprising, growing -- and personal -- rivalry

Posted by Paul Buker, The Oregonian September 10, 2008 16:24PM

Categories: Football

CORVALLIS -- It was the final regular season game of 2006, and Oregon State was playing in front of 50,000 frenzied fans at Aloha Stadium against quarterback Colt Brennan and No.24 Hawaii.

Beavers coach Mike Riley watched as his best offensive lineman, Jeremy Perry, came charging out of the tunnel before kickoff, waving his arms to incite the crowd.

No one, ever, had seen Perry run that fast.

Oregon State UniversityBeavers players perform the haka -- a traditional Polynesian dance -- before the 2006 Sun Bowl. The Beavers' ties to the South Pacific, and Hawaii in particular, make this week's Oregon State-Hawaii game especially meaningful.

Perry, who went to Kahuku High School on Oahu's North Shore, said later he would sooner die than lose to Hawaii on national television, in front of his mom and dad, his brother and his sister and his aunts, uncles, and cousins.

This was personal to Perry and to all of the players from Hawaii on the OSU roster.

Welcome to the Hawaii-Oregon State rivalry.

Following the Beavers

What: Hawaii at Oregon State

When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Where: Reser Stadium

On the air: TV on FSN NW, radio on KPAM (860)

Bragging rights take on a different meaning when the players are not only familiar with one another, but in some cases know one another's families, too.

"It was bigger than I realized for those kids," Riley said, remembering the wild 35-32 Oregon State win. "The atmosphere that night was just awesome."

When Hawaii (1-1, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference) meets Oregon State (0-2, 0-1 Pacific-10 Conference) on Saturday at Reser Stadium, expect more of the same. It will be the first time the two schools meet on the mainland.

Perry won't be playing -- he's injured -- but he will be on the sidelines, urging his teammates on. There will be extra emotion on both sides.

"It should be a great game," said Hawaii free safety Keao Monteith, who said he and his teammates were looking forward to the 2,683-mile trip. "A high-intensity game."

Must-win, on two levels
It is a rivalry, even though the two schools have played only seven times, including the 1999 Oahu Bowl, when June Jones was the Hawaii coach and Dennis Erickson was at OSU.

Erickson's Ken Simonton-led Beavers made their first postseason appearance in 34 years, losing 23-17. That was the last OSU-Hawaii game until 2006, which Riley counts among the most satisfying wins of his career.

Saturday's game is a must-win for OSU, with No. 1-ranked USC and No. 22 Utah next up on the horizon.

But for the Oregon State players from Hawaii, it is a must-win, times two.

"I ain't flying home if we lose. I don't want to hear about it from everybody over there," said OSU safety Al Afalava, another former Kahuku star.

This is anything but a routine nonconference game. Not when the Beavers have 16 players from Hawaii on their roster, including six from powerhouse Kahuku. Not when four of Riley's assistants have coached at Hawaii, including offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, who spent six years there.

"I have a lot of friends over there," said Cavanaugh, whose job on the Hawaii staff used to be keeping in-state players on the island and away from the likes of Oregon State.

Monteith -- once a high school classmate of Cavanaugh's son Shane -- was teammates with Oregon State offensive lineman Tavita Thompson at St. Louis High, which lost the 2003 Hawaii state championship game to Perry and Afalava's Kahuku Red Raiders.

There are similar stories on both sides, coaches who have known one another for years, or players who know other players either by direct contact, reputation, or because they know someone in his large family circle.

Continue

The Strength of Samson

Check out the link to the Mid-Week Magazine article on former UH Warrior and current Miami Dolphins' center Samson Satele.

MW Link

UH Center John Estes named to Outland Trophy Watch List

By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

Center John Estes' return to practice this week signaled a marked improvement for Hawaii's offensive line.

"We've had him out there the last two days and it's the best we've looked," Warriors head coach Greg McMackin said of Estes, who had missed several practices with a tight hamstring. "He really solidifies things with his leadership and his abilities."

Estes' abilities haven't gone unnoticed on the national scene. Yesterday, the junior from Stockton, Calif., was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior lineman in college football.

Two Hawaii prep products were also named to the 70-player list: Oregon senior center Max Unger (Hawaii Prep '04) and Oregon State senior guard Jeremy Perry (Kahuku '04).

"We're really excited about John being on the Outland list -- it's well deserved," McMackin said. "We've been very happy to have him back in practice, but we're being careful with him because of that tweaked hamstring."

Estes and other potential starters will see limited action in today's practice, which begins at 3:30 p.m. at the UH practice field. Following the first 45 minutes, there will be a controlled scrimmage where McMackin said he would hold out most of the starters on defense while he and his staff evaluate other players.

The event is free and open to the public, as is next week's spring game at Aloha Stadium. Hawaii will practice Monday, Wednesday and Thursday leading up to next Saturday's Ohana Festival.

Today's agenda includes a coaches clinic open to youth and high school coaches. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the clinic going from 9 a.m. until practice begins.

"We're expecting a good turnout," McMackin said. "It's a chance for us to share and exchange ideas. Yes, it will be a long day, but I'm really excited about interacting with coaches from around the state."

Dizon & Rivers invited to NFL Scouting Combine

Former University of Hawai'i and St Louis School (Honolulu) wide receiver Jason Rivers and Colorado and Waimea High (Kaua'i) linebacker Jordon Dizon have been invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis this month. Also selected was West Texas A&M and former Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama tight end Kolomana Kapanui.

Lawrence Wilson selected by Texas (AAFL)

Lawrence Wilson formerly of the University of Hawai'i was drafted by the Texas franchise of the AAFL.