Kansas State finished their season 5-7 and bowl ineligible following a 45-29 loss at
Fresno State. Junior College transfers
Alesana Alesana (
CCSF/Samoa) and
Ben Liu (Sacramento CC/Burbank HS,
Sacramento, CA) started all season at left and right tackle respectively.
The Wildcats will return 4 starters on the offensive line next season and eight total starters on offense as a whole.
Moses Manu (El
Camino CC/
Morningside,
Inglewood, CA) finished the season with 34 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss from the defensive end position.
Butkus Award finalist Jordan Dizon (Waimea HS, Kaua’i, HI) led Colorado with 18 total tackles, 14 of which were solo in the 65-51 win over Nebraska. Baldwin High’s Kealakai Maiava (Wailuku, Maui, HI) started at left guard as a true freshman. In addition, freshman linebacker Nate Vaiomounga (Corona HS, CA) had 3 tackles in the win.
Nebraska true freshman running back Roy Helu of San Ramon Valley (Danville, CA) played in 7 games this season and finished with 209 yards on 49 carries. Helu will await athletic director Dr Tom Osborne’s decision on who will be the next coach at Lincoln. If the Cornhuskers return to a run oriented coach Helu may have more opportunities next season to run the ball.
Michael Ho’omanawanui (Central Catholic, Bloomington, IL) finished the regular season with 5 receptions and 2 touchdowns at starting tight end. Ho’omanawanui and his Illinois teammates will wait to see what post-season bowl they play.
Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (Kapolei HS, HI) leads Navy at option quarterback into their annual game versus Army in Baltimore. Kaheaku-Enhada leads in both rushing and passing. For the season he has 755 yards rushing and 11 TDs while passing for 823 yards and 6 TDs. Blockers for the Navy quarterback include starting right guard Ben Gabbard (Broadneck HS, Arnold, MD) and backup center Reyn Kaupiko (Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama, Honolulu, HI). Navy is bowl eligible and will play in a post-season game. The Army-Navy game will for the first time in the 108 years will have Samoan coaches on both sides of the ball—Navy Assistant Head Coach Kenny Niumatalolo and Army Offensive Line Coach Saga Tuitele. American Samoa will also be represented by Tafuna High and Army defensive end David Kava and South Pacific Academy and Navy nose guard Penetekoso Peau.
UTEP finished the season at 4-8 and 2-6 in conference. Defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe
will return starting defensive end Ja-Boy Leomiti (Fullerton CC/Boulder HS, CO) and backup defensive end Brandis Dew (Hemet HS, CA). Nu’uese Punimata (Mt SAC/Samoana HS, Pago Pago, AS) returns at linebacker and will contend for a starting position.
Defensive tackle JT Mapu (Kahuku HS, HI) and Tennessee head into the SEC Championship game versus LSU. For the season Mapu has 20 tackles and 1 sack.
Iowa starting tight end Tony Moeaki’s (Warrenville South, Wheaton, IL) season ended early due to medical reasons. In 4 games he had 14 receptions and 3 touchdowns. Moeaki was a preseason John Mackey Watch List, awarded to the nation’s top tight end. He will apply for a medical redshirt and have 2 seasons to play.
Louis Murphy (Lakewood HS, St. Petersburg, FL) caught two touchdowns for 32 and 14 yards from Heisman Trophy Candidate Tim Tebow in Florida’s rout of Florida State 45-12. The junior wide receiver finished the game with 4 receptions for 58 yards. For the season 36 receptions for 544 yards and 5 TDs.
Brendan Pahulu (Trinity HS, Euless, TX) and his Houston teammates finished the season 8-4 and will play in the Texas Bowl against an unnamed opponent. Starting at outside linebacker, Pahulu has 41 tackles for the season, with 10 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions.
Alabama-Birmingham starting linebacker Jacob Tauanu’u (Helix HS, San Diego, CA) finished his first season with 48 sacks, 30 of which were solo. The Grossmont JC (CA) transfer will have 2 more seasons to play at UAB.
Duke linebacker Michael Tau’ili’ili (Taylor HS, Houston, TX) had 7 tackles in a 20-14 overtime loss to arch rival North Carolina. Tau’ili’ili was second on the team with 108 tackles, including 53 solo, and also had 12 tackles for loss including 4 sacks. He was also tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions. Tau’ili’ili will likely be named to the ACC post season team after finishing fourth in the conference in tackles per game with 9.8.
Sophomore right guard Nedward Tavale (Cretin-Derham Hall, St Paul, MN) of Minnesota will return for his junior year with the Gophers. Junior college transfer Logan U’u (Laney College/Skyline, Oakland, CA) will also have two seasons to play after sitting out this past season due to injury.
Texas A&M linebacker Misi Tupe (Dixie State/Bonneville HS, Ogden, UT) had 5 tackles in A&M’s 38-30 upset win over Texas. Tupe is second on the team with 89 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.
