Kahuku’s Garrigan to Utah
Kahuku safety Afa Garrigan, one of this year's prize Hawaii high school football recruits, made an oral commitment to play for Utah yesterday.
Garrigan is joining his friend, defensive end Randy Faletoi of McKinley, who pledged to the Utes on Sunday. Iolani running back Raynold Stowers and Saint Louis receiver Desmond Hanohano also committed to Utah last month.
"The head coach (Urban Meyer) was telling me that I can start at strong safety because the senior starter is graduating. He wants me to get bigger and faster," Garrigan said.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Garrigan plans to work out hard to try and get to Salt Lake City in the best possible shape.
"The focus is all football," he said. "I've got to be lifting, big-time, and I'll be doing a lot more running during track season this year and not as much of the shot and discus."
Garrigan said he and Faletoi have been friends for many years and that they'll try to room together.
Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai is proud of the Red Raiders' track record of supplying colleges with safeties.
"We've had Hyrum and Leonard Peters (Hawaii) and Aaron Francisco (Brigham Young) come through here. Among them, speed-wise Afa is second-fastest to Leonard Peters, and he might be the hardest hitter in the group," Livai said.
Garrigan was a first-team Star-Bulletin All-State selection and helped lead the Red Raiders to the state Division I championship.
Meanwhile, Saint Louis defensive lineman Tavita Thompson has softened on the commitment he made to Colorado last month.
He has offers from Oregon State and Utah, and is getting attention from Arizona.
"I really don't know what I want to do right now," Thompson said last night.
The 6-foot-5, 287-pound Star-Bulletin All-State player will likely compete on the offensive line in college.
Also, Nanakuli lineman Keala Watson, one of several players who committed to Hawaii on Sunday, said he doesn't know yet if he will play offense or defense for the Warriors.
"They didn't really tell me, but I've talked to both coaches," the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Watson said. "Right now they've lost a lot of defensive linemen, so I might be needed there. But (offensive line coach Mike) Cavanaugh has talked to me about offense, too."