Kapolei’s Padayao headed to Air Force

A Hurricane is en route to the Air Force Academy.

Kapolei quarterback Brad Padayao gave the Falcons an oral commitment yesterday to play there next season.

Air Force was interested in Padayao early on, but Navy made a run at the 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior in the late going. Navy is where former Kapolei quarterback Kaipo Kaheaku-Enhada has emerged as a leading candidate to start next fall.

"Making the decision was hard. Both schools have good things that I liked. Air Force has never had a Hawaii quarterback, so it's an opportunity to be the first," said Padayao, who also plays basketball. "I got along really good with their coaching staff."

Assistant coach Anthony Butler recruited Padayao.

"I have uncles and some aunties in the military. I'm not too familiar with that life, but it's something I can get used to," he said.

After mastering Kapolei's hybrid of spread option and run-and-shoot schemes, the speedy quarterback is a good fit for Air Force's flexbone option attack.

"He talked to me about it. I told him to weigh all the costs and benefits, and write it all down," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "What I'm excited about is that two quarterbacks at the service academies are from Kapolei."

Padayao will go to the Air Force prep school in the fall.

"Then I'll enter the academy as a freshman next year," he said.