[ RECRUITING ]
Dixie adds Tuifua to list
of Hawaii recruits
Kailua defensive lineman Sione Tuifua gave an oral commitment to play for Dixie State College of Utah last week, Surfriders coach Darren Johnson said over the weekend.
The 5-foot-10, 280-pound Tuifua joins two Kapolei players who previously committed to Dixie -- linebacker Drake Kula and defensive lineman Warren Simanu.
But Tuifua, a hard-hitting run-stopper, is just one of many Kailua players being recruited by various colleges.
Surfriders defensive back Derek Mailau is drawing interest from Tuskegee, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Troy State, Idaho State, Western Oregon and Western Washington.
"Derek doesn't know where he wants to go yet, but I have a feeling he's going to pick Western Oregon because it seems to suit his personality the best," Johnson said. "He's a low-key kid that likes the quiet, scenic places and not the rah, rah, rah places."
Kailua offensive lineman Kea Crowell, a first-team all-state selection, is being looked at by some of the same schools as Mailau, while linebacker Keoki McCabe is getting looks from Western Oregon and Montana-Western.
Surfriders offensive linemen J.D. Puli and Ko'o Kamalamalama, linebacker Jermaine Se'i, defensive backs Imai Mattos and Bronson Kamaka, and defensive linemen Kalae Meagher, Keoua Whitlock and Zach Meredith are being recruited by one or more smaller schools such as Menlo, Avila, Lincoln University, Los Angeles City College, College of the Sequoias and Arizona Western.
Puli and wide receiver Dylan Linkner may walk on at the University of Hawaii, Johnson said.
Carvalho to Vikings: Kamehameha offensive lineman Brennen Carvalho orally committed to Division I-AA Portland State, according to Warriors coach Kanani Souza.
Souza said two other Warriors are also heavily in the recruiting game. Columbia, Princeton and Navy are pursuing defensive end Keola Kaluhiokalani, while offensive lineman Elwen Freitas has been offered a financial package to play at St. Mary's (Calif.).
Idaho has been in contact with Kamehameha defensive back Gabriel Spencer, Souza said.
Plenty of time: Standout Saint Louis kicker and punter C.J. Santiago, a first-team all-state pick the past two years, said he won't make a decision on a college until the spring.
Air Force Academy, Oregon State and Hawaii are among his top choices, but he hasn't had any solid financial offers because most Division I schools don't offer scholarships to special teams players.
"I've got a lot of thinking to do," he said. "In order to get into Air Force, I would need to bring my SAT scores up, but not by much."
Santiago said Oregon State is interested in him as a punter and that Hawaii and Air Force would want to see where he fits best -- as a punter, a kickoff specialist or a place-kicker, or some combination of those positions.
Saint Louis defensive back Keao Monteilh said he and linebacker Dylan Moss and former Kaimuki defensive lineman Soloni Taumololo have rescheduled previous plans and will take a trip to Alcorn State this weekend.
Crusaders defensive lineman Tavita Thompson visited Arizona over weekend.
Finding his wings: Kapolei all-purpose player Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada visited Air Force this weekend, according to coach Darren Hernandez. He'll be deciding between Air Force, Hawaii, Washington and Navy.
Utah has inquired about Damien offensive lineman Keoni Steinhoff, while St. Mary's has contacted Monarchs running back Ranson DeCosta, according to Damien co-head coach Dean Nakagawa. St. Mary's is also in the hunt for Waipahu offensive lineman Curtis Masaniai, Marauders coach Sean Saturnio said.
Recruiters from several colleges, including Western Washington, Idaho and Menlo, visited the Damien campus and showed interest in defensive lineman Soane Sevelo, safety Fehi Sevelo and quarterback Tevita Williams, along with Steinhoff, DeCosta and others.
Kahuku quarterback Waika Carvalho is probably going to pick Dixie, according to one source, but Idaho State is also interested. Red Raiders center Jeremy Perry, who many top D-I schools are after, is one of about nine players from around the country who visited UH this weekend.
Hilo offensive lineman Abe Medeiros has been offered a scholarship from San Jose State, but not for this fall. The coaches would want him to attend a community college for a semester and transfer in January to start playing football in the 2005 season.