[ WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Warriors land 6 recruits,
but McKinley’s Faletoi
gets awayThe defensive end opts for Utah,
where coaches have told him he
may start next year
The Hawaii football team made an impressive recruiting haul yesterday, but one of the state's two top prospects said he is firm in his commitment to Utah after completing a visit to UH.
McKinley defensive tackle Randy Faletoi visited the Utes' Salt Lake City campus before Christmas and was impressed with what he saw.
"I'm going to Utah for sure," he said yesterday. "I really like the atmosphere and the coaches and they have a great football program that is continuing to develop. Coach (Urban) Meyer is a great coach. I think we'll have a great team.
"I want to see and experience the world," he said. "I need to get off the island for a while because I know I'll come back one day and live the rest of my life here. UH has a great football team. I just gotta go."
The Utah coaches told him he has a shot at starting as a freshman at noseguard.
"They said it's up to me -- if I work hard and study hard," he said.
Sources close to UH said the Warriors are disappointed in losing out on Faletoi, but several commitments yesterday took away a lot of the sting.
Before yesterday, only one player offered a scholarship by Hawaii -- California high school quarterback Taylor Humphrey -- had accepted the Warriors' offer. But after yesterday the recruiting class began to take shape.
The gem of the group might turn out to be Domata Peko, a four-star defensive end from College of the Canyons (Calif.). A source said Peko is not a done deal, but that it is "90 percent" the 6-4, 280-pound junior college All-American will pick Hawaii over Michigan State.
Peko went to the same junior college as former UH all-conference defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga.
Sources said the following players made oral commitments to Hawaii yesterday:
>> Lawrence Wilson, a 6-1, 300-pound defensive tackle from Dixie College (Utah). Wilson is a Farrington High School graduate.
>> Keala Watson, a 6-4, 310-pound offensive lineman from Nanakuli High School.
>> Desmond Thomas, a 6-3, 185-pound high school wide receiver/safety from Oakland, Calif.
>> Carl Stokes, a 6-2, 220-pound high school line backer/running back from Aberdeen, Md. Stokes' mother is from American Samoa.
>> Khevin Peoples, a 6-foot, 205-pound high school linebacker from Tampa.
>> Fale Laeli, a 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle from Saint Louis School.
The Warriors host two more large groups of prospects in the coming weeks, including Kahuku center Jeremy Perry, who is probably the most sought-after player in the state.
Feb. 4 is the first day a player can sign a binding national letter of intent.
Faletoi is Utah's third recruit from the islands this year, joining Iolani running back Raynold Stowers and Saint Louis wide receiver Desmond Hanohano.
Also last weekend, Saint Louis quarterback Kealii Perbera chose the University of Montana-Western, an NAIA program. Perbera joins 10 other Hawaii players on the Bulldogs' roster, including former Saint Louis players Enoch McKeague, Prince Brown and Kawai Curnan.
Colorado also has three Hawaii recruits ready to sign -- Waimea running back/linebacker Jordon Dizon, Campbell defensive end David Veikune and Saint Louis defensive lineman Tavita Thompson.
Two others previously made oral commitments to Colorado -- Hawaii Prep's Max Unger (OL, Oregon) and Kealakehe's Hinano Lino (OL, Southern Utah).