The Rainbows already have received verbal commitments from wide receivers John Kirby and Wesley Morris, tight end Jimmy McClain and defensive end Mark Mollner. Just how many more the Rainbows sign over the next two weeks is anybody's guess.
"We might get some guys to commit, but that doesn't mean they will be eligible to play for us," vonAppen said. "We have several guys who want to come, but aren't academically sound.
"We would like to get all 10 guys we offer scholarships to, but that's probably not realistic. Some of the guys we're interested in have scholarship offers from other universities. Others want to come, but might not be able to get in."
That is apparently not a problem for Morris of Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif., Kirby of City College of San Francisco, McClain of Monterey Peninsula College and Mollner of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., who will all probably join Hawaii next semester.
McClain is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound tight end, who originally walked on at Oklahoma. When that didn't work out, the 27-year-old decided to join the Marines. When transferred to Monterey, Calif., his commanding officer allowed him to return to school and compete for the Lobos.
Kirby competed for the Rams at San Francisco City College. He was recently named to the all-region junior college team in Northern California.
City College head coach George Rush said the Rainbows are interested in several other players from his school, but academics and competition from other universities could keep them from landing any of them.
"I know they have an outstanding running back that everybody wants," vonAppen said. "But he's not interested in coming here."
Such is not the case for Mollner, who is the second player from Orange Coast College to join the program since vonAppen became head coach. Top middle linebacker Stephen Gonzales, who UH wanted to redshirt this season, competed with Mollner last year.
The Rainbows also will welcome back linebacker Punahou Aina and running back Franklin Saunders next month. Aina was academically ineligible last summer and Saunders left the team last year in a dispute with former head coach Bob Wagner.
Defensive back James Polk, who was ruled academically ineligible last spring, could join the team in January if his grades are in order.
Like Polk, offensive lineman Akoni Sandoval was recruited last year, but wasn't academically eligible. VonAppen said yesterday the former Waianae High standout wouldn't be back until the fall.
Former Farrington High running back Isaac White also paid a visit to the UH campus. He is currently enrolled at Snow College in Utah. He was originally recruited by Brigham Young, but was an academic casualty as well. UH coaches are studying film on him, but can't commit to him until academic advisors review his transcripts.
Former Punahou School running back Afatia Thompson also is expected to join the team in the spring.
"There are so many different scenarios that it's tough to say who will be with us and when," vonAppen said.