Jones excited Every year since his arrival as Hawaii coach in 1999, June Jones has proclaimed his latest recruiting class as his best ever.
about new crop
The Hawaii coach stays true
Top prospects
to form and calls it his best everBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comYesterday was no exception as Jones introduced 22 new Warriors.
"Overall this is the best group of kids we've ever attracted and they join a pretty good football team," Jones said. "As a whole this is probably the best class we've ever had since I've been here. There are a number that if they work hard enough they won't only have a chance to play for us, but also after they leave here at the University of Hawaii."
Players like cornerback Ray Bass, safety Viliami Nauahi and wide receiver Jason Rivers do have the raw talent to become professionals some day -- as do six offensive linemen.
But before then, can they and their classmates help keep the momentum going that Jones has built with three winning seasons in four years at UH, including 9-3 and 10-4 records in 2001 and 2002?
Contributions from this class won't make or break the Warriors in 2003. But the following year, they could. And that's when UH's failure to secure the services of defensive linemen Amani Purcell, Wilson Afoa and Tolifili Liufau could come back to haunt a front four that will be seriously depleted by matriculation. Travis LaBoy, Isaac Sopoaga, Lance Samuseva, Houston Ala, Kevin Jackson and possibly Lui Fuga are done after this fall.
Last year's freshmen, Abu Ma'afala and Tala Esera, should be able to start by 2004, and Mel Purcell could become a force. But who else will play? It's more than just adding another player or two; UH, like most college teams, rotates players on the defensive front.
Hawaii's recruiting class includes three players listed as defensive linemen: Quin Ah You from Kahuku, Daniel Tautofi of Kaimuki and JC transfer Elijuawon Thompson. The Warriors are also hopeful that JC transfers Darrell Tautofi and Matt Faga will be academically qualified by fall camp; that wasn't the case last year.
At any rate, the flashy names from the UH class of 2003 are Bass, Nauahi and Rivers. The most important ones, at least in 2004, could very well be Ah You, Tautofi and Thompson.
Jones' assessments of his incoming recruits follow:
Quin Ah You, 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, DL: Good quickness and size and great genes.
Ray Bass, 5-11, 165, DB: Big-time corner. An NFL-type prototype corner. Some of the kids from other schools said he was unbelievable at the Nike Camp. When he ran his 40s, the whole place stopped to watch. That tells you he can run.
Lenny Boatner, 5-11, 170, WR: His highlight tape is one of the most amazing I've looked at. He makes a lot of plays. He contacted us. A little bit of a 'tweener, but we have success with those.
Chris Cole, 5-9, 226, LB: He was defensive player of the year for a reason. He makes every play on defense. He's got toughness. He'll find a spot on the field.
Dejuan Gatling, 6-3, 250, OL: A little bit of a project, but he's got long arms and he's a great kid. He's going to get bigger and stronger and we think athletically he can do it.
Xavier Ho'olulu, 6-4, 290, OL: He's got great feet. He's going to be a great pass protector if he takes care of his schoolwork and gets into the weight room.
Jeremy Inferrera, 6-3, 270, OL: Looking at the tape, he's probably got a chance to compete (for playing time). He's very athletic and he's big and a very smart guy.
Michael Lafaele, 6-1, 280, OL: He's a little smaller than Vince (Manuwai). But he's got a motor, he's strong, and he's got good instincts.
Reggie Maldonado, 6-5, 250, DL: We've known about him for four years. He's a defensive lineman and we need one.
A.J. Martinez, 6-0, 185, DB: He's got great quickness and acceleration. We'll put him at corner. He's a heckuva baseball player who might get drafted.
Viliami Nauahi, 6-2, 200, DB: He's a big-time safety who has everything you look for at that position.
Timo Paepule, 6-0, 210, LB: A tough guy and a smart guy with good quickness.
George Perry, 5-10, 175, DB: (Jones could not comment on Perry, whose signed letter of intent did not arrive until late yesterday morning).
Ernest Powell, 5-9, 170, DB: He has quickness and awareness. He reminds me of Nate Odomes, who played at Wisconsin and in the NFL. He's got a lot of football savvy.
Jason Rivers, 6-2, 193, WR: Has the kind of skills that he's going to get better and better and better. He reminds me of Ashley (Lelie), acceleration and speed. He has a chance to be a great player.
Jack Rolovich, 6-3, 207, QB: He looks a lot like Nick and he talks a lot like Nick. That's a good start right there. He's got a really good arm, probably a little stronger than Rolo. He's got a lot to learn, but he's got four years to do it.
Hercules Satele, 6-3, 250, OL: Athletic, big-time player. Probably would start at any Division I school. Very, very good kid. Smart. Tremendous upside in our offense.
Larry Sauafea, 6-3, 260, OL: Almost identical to Hercules. Great feet, going to get real powerful when he gets into offseason conditioning. Larry's going to be special.
Daniel Tautofi, 6-2, 230, DL: Very athletic. Lots of great upside. Just looking at him and his brother, once he gets serious on weights and progresses in age will probably go to defensive line.
Elijuawon Thompson, 6-2, 250, DL: Great first two steps. He gets off the ball quickly.
Tu Tui, 6-1, 195, DB: He's the best unknown player. Has the kind of ability Vili has. Will probably end up at linebacker.
Tim Wright, 6-3, 215, P: A good punter. The best available for right now. A junior college kid who can come in and do it now.
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The Star-Bulletin's top 20 college football prospects from the Hawaii high school class of 2003 were ranked by Jason Kaneshiro and Dave Reardon after consultation with coaches and recruiting analysts (a player's "recruitability" in the academic sense was not a consideration in the rankings). Hawaii's top prospects
No. Player Pos. School Ht. Wt. College 1. Tolifili Liufau DL St. Louis 6-3 310 Washington St. 2. Jason Rivers WR St. Louis 6-2 193 Hawaii 3. Viliami Nauahi DB Kahuku 6-2 200 Hawaii 4. R.J. Willing OL Kamehameha 6-5 300 Brigham Young 5. Pat So'oalo OL Kailua 6-6 285 Oregon 6. Brandon Rodd OL Aiea 6-5 275 Arizona St. 7. Wilson Afoa DL St. Louis 6-3 260 Washington 8. Michael Lafaele OL Farrington 6-1 275 Hawaii 9. Jeremy Inferrera OL St. Louis 6-3 270 Hawaii 10. Timo Paepule LB St. Louis 6-0 210 Hawaii 11. Quin Ah You DL Kahuku 6-3 310 Hawaii 12. Xavier Ho'olulu OL Kailua 6-4 290 Hawaii 13. George Perry DB Kahuku 5-11 165 Hawaii 14. Bobby George QB St. Louis 6-0 185 Undecided 15. Frank Fernandez OL St. Louis 6-2 275 Harvard, Yale or UC Davis 16. Joseph Napeahi OL Kahuku 6-3 320 Hawaii 17. Taase Jennings OL McKinley 6-3 345 Fresno CC 18. Tu Tui DB Kahuku 6-1 195 Hawaii 19. David Alisa LB Kahuku 6-1 230 Hawaii 20. Blake Wong DB Iolani 6-1 190 Air Force
Other Division I signees from Hawaii
Player Pos. School Ht. Wt. College Naymon Frank DE Roosevelt 6-5 226 Oregon State James Kamoku LB Kealakehe 6-2 200 Wisconsin Reyn Kaupiko OL Kamehameha 6-0 265 Navy Keola Loo OL Orange Coast 6-1 295 Washington State Reggie Maldonado DE Saddleback 6-5 260 Hawaii Daniel Tautofi LB Kaimuki 6-2 230 Hawaii
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