Warriors address needs in recruiting
Everybody has good Christmas presents.
Every football team has a good recruiting class.
But while the 2018 recruiting class can’t be fully judged for a while, the Warriors filled areas of need, such as:
> Defensive line: They signed six defensive linemen, including five who could fill the vacancies at end. Jonah La‘ulu, who is listed as an “athlete,” can play multiple position, including edge rusher.
> Offensive line: The Warriors graduated their left side (tackle Dejon Allen and John Wa‘a) an two key utility players (Chris Posa and Matt Norman). But they signed two this past week, and the emphasis will be on blockers for the next signing period, beginning in February. But Asotui Eli, J.R. Hensley, Fred Ulu-Perry, Taaga Tuulima and Brandon Kipper will be back, and Micah Vanterpool and Emil Graves come off the redshirt list.
> Receivers: The Warriors restocked the receiver position with three written commitments.
If the Warriors add a kicker, it won’t be with a scholarship. They also want to see what Michael Boyle, who redshirted this past season, can do in expanded workouts.
It’s all about the trenches.
Merry Christmas, Tsaikos! Hope everyone has a wonderful day spent with family and friends! Go ‘Bows!
Merry Christmas ST, and thank you for your daily blog posts. I’m sure it gets to be a grind at times but the insights and tidbits of information you share are like holiday gifts all year round for us fans.
I hope Uh does land a couple more o-line players in February, as we could use the depth. Another receiver who can stretch the field and another cover corner would be good too.
“UH” not “Uh”.
We already have four other commitments: WR Panoke, DB McConin, DT Beckett and possible JC Nichols. That leaves only 3 or 4 slots … which I would save for MLB Salu (3-Star from Oregon), WR Weed (from Washington) and one of two CB’s from California (Hailassie or Gaines … both 3-Stars from Sacramento-Elk Grove Rea). That leaves one or two slots for o-line recruits … maybe Vaipulu (Corona) and/or Barth (Stockton … again both 3-Star prospects from CA).
Sorry for the misspelling of McConico and of course I understand that JC o-line recruits might have greater immediate benefit. So these were names on my wish list … although according to 247Sports, Salu, Weed and RB Wick (CA) are all 3-Star prospects warm to Hawaii.
Hope they get track stars who can hurdle tackles
and blockers and who can run a hundred yards
in ten seconds flat. Those are the guys that win
games…
Any word on coaches?
Sanchez kicked 25 kickoff touchbacks in 2016. This past season we had only 2 and had two kickoffs returned for TD’s against us.
UH Football Recruiting Fund–seeking 2500 donors @ $20 each.
As a fan, I am trying to do my part to help our team. Can you help me reach my goal by chipping in a donation to the UH Foundation Fund I created–see below link. If 2500 fans do this, we will raise $50,000 for UH Football recruiting.
After donating, text me your name (415-324-0585) so I can add it below:
Tom Kitaguchi $100
Michelle Houlihan
Timothy Ho $50
Jeffrey Domdoma
Daniel Ng $100
Dean Shimabukuro
Dave Mutter $100
Mahalo, and pls share this with all of your fellow fans.
Tom Kitaguchi, founder of our UH Football Warrior Nation Facebook group (over 3050 members).
https://www.uhfoundation.org/impact/students/warrior-nation
Great Hawaii bowl game yesterday. Fresno State looked real good against a stout Houston team.
Honestly, if a stud Kicker, who can consistently nail 40 yarders, shows interest in Hawaii, they need to remove the scholie from 1 or 2 of our current 3 FG kickers on scholie.
1 kicker was 1-4, with a long of 29
The other kicker was 3-5 with a long of 38
The 3rd kicker suited up but was never used.
This caused Rolo to go for it on 4th down on many occasions.
Totally unacceptable when we had walkons Dan Kelly & Kenton Chun, recently
#9 The new trend is for kickers not to put kickoffs into the end zone … it’s suppose to result in more returns that don’t reach the 25 yard line. I don’t know that I like this approach.
#12 I agree with you about the need for a better FG kicker … although there is another trend (supported by real game stats) for going for first downs on fourth down once you cross the opponent’s 40 yard line. Apparently, it leads to higher point production for the offense.
Keith true, but not when you have an offense that can’t score TD in the red zone, even 1st & goal within the 5.
Maybe if Tuiasoa was used more?
Otherwise if we had a a reliable kicker, we wouldn’t be in the hole some much before halftime.
Also wondering why they Redshirted Boyle? Was he worst the the other 2? Isn’t the goal to play the best players that can help you win a game? June once burnt Kenny Estes’s redshirt by putting him in for 1 play.
Bigwave. If you’re saying that Kenny Estes played in only one play and lost his redshirt for the year, that may not be accurate. Looking at his bio in a old UH media guide, the least amount of games he played in was two in his freshman year and he did redshirt the following year.
Changing the subject, going back to the Hawaii Bowl. A lot was written about Houston’s DT Ed Oliver, so I expected him to blow-up Fresno’s passing attack. But I thought Fresno’s center, #77 Aaron Mitchell, won the battle for most of the day. Granted, Oliver was double-teamed often, but even on a one-one match-up, Mitchell won the battle. Fresno’s O-line was impressive. So was their secondary. The Mountain West is on the rise. Hawaii has to get on board or get left behind.
Back to today’s subject – recruiting needs. There will be only 14 O-line players with the addition of Levao, Manning and Border (and that’s a stretch). In contrast the D-line will have 20 players with the new additions. The secondary will have 19 players available. The O-line is thin; dangerously thin. Recruiting need? I say spend all available scholarships to get to 18 O-linemen.
At some juncture, Houston had to abandon the run. And also take more shots at the end zone.
Worst onside kick ever. The PK on the sideline must have been thinking: l’m the place-kicker, you’re the punter.
Kanoa Leahey, I don’t know the guy, but I always feel a sense of pride being Hawaii-born whenever he does work for ESPN. He had excellent chemistry with Brooke Weisbrod, who seemed to genuinely like him. She was good; she raised his game. She was a lot nicer than Kara Lawson. I got a “do you know who I am” vibe from Lawson.
Lori Santi is underrated. She could do softball or women’s basketball for ESPN and not kill the art of sports broadcasting.
Just about every recruiting year, you read that our Warrior football team full filled their need. When the season starts, and they start losing games, you also read, we just don’t have the skill players. Huh?? Is it really the lack of skill players, or coaches who are not experienced to coach Division one football?
Fresno State look physically strong with very good coaches in beating a good Houston Couger team at yesterday’s Hawaii Bowl. If Hawaii, even won the needed two or three games to be eligible in this year’s Hawaii Bowl, they would “again” embarassed Hawaii on National television by being blowned out by the Houston Cougers. A very stubborn Nick Rolovich and his Nevada Wolfback playbook that resulted in a very very bored games with a strong of 9 straight losses. Blame it on injuries or penalties, but in reality we have a Hawaii Warrior head football coach who could not make common sense decision as a division one coach should have. His coaching staff are not experienced, most especially the Defensive side.
The 2017 is gone, but we have the number one Hawaii High school quarterback of 2017, St Louis Crusader’s Chevan Cordeiro who comes from a “Run and Shoot” offense school. If Rolo would have a little common sense, could see that he needs to resurrect the Run and Shoot offense that lighted up the Aloha Scoreboard during Coach June Jones era. Rolo himself threw 8 touchdowns in our Warrior football team crushing BYU.
So you have Coach Nick Rolovich, and his two surviving coaches on staff (forgot their names) who all three played for June Jones Run and Shoot offense. But most Warrior fans says Rolo is very stubborn to any changes. If this is true, were in for another year of Warriors staying in the celler in their MWC Division.
#16 – I’m counting 16 O-Line if all come back.
#18 – if you think Rolo is stubborn, that’s fine, but no speak for me.
13. At the end of the 2016 season, Sanchez was kicking kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, 1 vs. Fresno, 4 vs. UMass and 5 vs Middle Tennessee. All victories for UH.
You can kick directionally to the left or right side into the end zone.
UH was 2nd to last in kickoff yds per kickoff and 2nd highest in opponents return yards allowed in the MW.
———————————————————————————————
12. Alex was 4 for 6 if you include one FG that was taken away due to UH accepting a penalty when the opposing player ran into him.
But i notice that 6 of the MW teams had .800 or above FG Pct.
UH Football Recruiting Fund–seeking 2500 donors @ $20 each.
As a fan, I am trying to do my part to help our team. Can you help me reach my goal by chipping in a donation to the UH Foundation Fund I created–see below link. If 2500 fans do this, we will raise $50,000 for UH Football recruiting. So far, I got 30 donors, 2470 more to go!
After donating, send me your name so I can add it below:
1. Tom Kitaguchi $100
2. Joel Gushikuma
3. Michelle Houlihan (mom of Ben Scruton #36)
4. Timothy Ho $50
5. Jeffrey Domdoma
6. Toni & Chris Martines
7. David Ng
8. Tom Mui
9. Glenn Okada
10. Jay Sakai
11. Wendell Stallworth
12. Daniel Ng $100
13. Dean Shimabukuro
14. Dave Mutter $100
15. Aaron Avilla
16. Tammy Hadden (mom of former K Tyler Hadden)
17. Eric Hananoki
18. Scott Isara
19. Curtis Kobashigawa
20. Joe Nanya
21. Daniel Ng
22. Glenn Okada
23. Mike Perry (brother of Fred Ulu-Perry’s grandpa)
24. Daniel Rutt
25. Erin Scott
26. Keith Sherman
27. Elaine Stallworth
28. Hal Takahashi
29. Elaine Stallworth
30. Rick Santana $50
Mahalo, and pls share this with all of your fellow fans.
Tom Kitaguchi, founder of our UH Football Warrior Nation Facebook group (over 3050 members).
https://www.uhfoundation.org/impact/students/warrior-nation
My list of returning linemen:
Seniors (1): Asotui Eli
Juniors (5): Emil Graves, J.R. Hensley, Kohl Levao, Fred Ulu-Perry, Austin Webb
Sophs (4) Stephen Bernal-Wendt, Brandon Kipper, Alesana Sunai, Taaga Tuulima
Frosh (5): Ramsey Aviu, Kamuela Borden, Ra Elkington, Micah Kanterpool, Ilm Manning
I shouldn’t have said returning … the list also includes recruits and grayshirts.
ST, is there any possibility of KingJames Taylor returning to the team?
22. Haven’t heard whether Austin Webb is returning. That leg infection was serious, he couldn’t even walk a few months ago. I’m just hoping he makes a full recovery. Being able to train and compete for a roster spot would be gravy.
I haven’t heard anything about Austin Webb returning. His staph infection required the removal of muscle tissue from his thigh. I wonder if he is physically able to return to football. Kingjames Taylor’s return will be a blessing.
Think I saw a while back that King James might have committed to Cincy.
Our Head coach is not necessarily stubborn, it looked like he was bewildered many times. He also is apparently not a rah rah ! type coach, sometimes it helps to kick butt. Also think all DC’s should be on the field with assistants pointing out opponents changes and he making necessary adjustments and motivating players. With that all being said, we also looked like we lacked much needed experience. Perhaps with 2 years under our coaches belts, life will be good. ( I hope! )
So, Warrior Tom, if we want to give $20 to your group
but don’t want to do it on line, we should mail a check to:
The University of’ Hawaii Foundation
2444 Dole Street
Bachman Hall 105
Honolulu Hawai‘i 96822 ???????????????????????????
Payable to: UH Football Recruiting Fund ???????
Tom-Warrior nation-I’m in for a hundred! Personally challenge my Warrior brothers-Football Alumni-don’t let me beat you at this! Join the team and help all of us enjoy Warrior FB! So thankful for the education and friends! GoWarriors!
#16, #22 – I also have Wesley Faagau who played on special teams. He’s listed as LB but ST mentioned that he moved to OL.
Speaking of OL, whatever happened to Josaiah Maama? Is he a grayshirt?
Ipuman:
Make it out to:
UH Foundation Warrior Nation Fund
Thanks!
tom:
please email your mailing address to our A-House email address.
thanks!
Is Josaiah Maama on an LDS mission? I don’t even know his religion but his Twitter site suggest a religious side to him and there isn’t anything about football or college.
site
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