[ UH RECRUITING ]
The latest ‘Greatest’
spanned the globeUH’s recruiting class stretches
from Samoa to South Carolina
You've heard it before. Best recruiting class ever.
Really, though, what else can a college football coach say?
Hawaii's June Jones is no exception to the rule in this case. Like Christmas, on letter of intent day the new toys are still shiny and the best ever. Every year.
Only time will tell if it's true this time around. But when Jones officially unveiled his class of 18 incoming players yesterday one thing was clear: The Warriors have expanded their recruiting grounds, and without spending a lot of money flying around the country.
"Brandon Satcher (South Carolina), Carl Stokes (Maryland) and (Andrew) Pearman and (Khevin) Peoples (Florida) recruited us. We never went there. They made the first contact. We never made a trip to their home, never met their parents until (some of them) came here," Jones said. "That's kind of what I thought would happen three or four years ago when we started throwing the ball all over the yard and got on TV. ... I kind of felt like once the nation saw us move the football all over the place and we could compete, the receivers and quarterbacks would come."
Jones said the dividends are beginning to come in for beating Alabama on national television as one of three ESPN games to end the 2003 season.
"We'd never been able to recruit on the mainland for this quality of athletes before. Usually when the big schools came in we would never get those kids," Jones said.
On the home front, though, Kahuku center Jeremy Perry continued to ponder his future: Hawaii, Arizona or Oregon State. A statement issued from the high school yesterday said Perry would make a decision next week after an Arizona-Hawaii double reverse this week.
Perry is an important recruit for Hawaii beyond his considerable strength and skill. In what is considered a down year locally, UH has only two incoming players from Hawaii high schools; getting Perry would help maintain the Warriors' home-state relations, which is important for future years.
Jones can't speak directly about individual recruits who have not signed. But when asked if a scholarship is being held open for an unnamed player, he had this to say:
"We kind of had a plan that we would just hold everything and (later) probably give it to someone on our team now or recruit someone in the spring. We may have two or three (scholarships) to do that with."
Regardless of what Perry does, the Warriors have met some immediate needs on defense and brought in a slew of potential game-breakers on offense, including Pearman. Unless something happens to his fast-twitch muscles between now and fall camp, Pearman will be among the speediest players ever to don a Hawaii uniform.
Here are Jones' comments on his new players:
Keith Ah Soon 6-2, 265, OL, Faleasao, Manua Tele, American Samoa (Tafuna HS): "He's never on the ground. A great kid. Has the chance to be a four-year starter for us. A lot depends on the competition."
Chris Cole 5-9, 226, LB, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS): "He makes every tackle. He'll do just like he did in high school. He'll make every play."
Tyler Graunke 6-0, 180, QB, Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic HS): "We just found out about him two weeks ago. He has an unbelievably quick release. Tough. Winner."
Ryan Grice-Mullen 5-10, 175, RB/DB/WR, Rialto, Calif. (Rialto HS): "Tremendous speed and ability to avoid people. I see him as a slot. I would normally put him at corner, but I feel like we're graduating some receivers and this kid is a touchdown-maker. Maybe a little faster Chad Owens once he learns what we're doing."
Taylor Humphrey 6-0, 198, QB, Orinda, Calif. (Miramonte HS): "Accurate passer and competitive winner type of guy. He's the kind of kid who works harder than anybody else."
Austin Jackson 6-4, 315, DL, Los Angeles (Mt. San Antonio College): "Good quickness. Makes a lot of plays, a big and powerful guy. He's the right kind of kid and has a chance to be a big impact player for us."
Matthew Kirschner 5-10, 175, DB, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Campbell Hall HS): "I project him as a corner for us. Tremendous athleticism."
Fale Laeli 6-2, 300, DL, Honolulu (Saint Louis School): "One of the toughest guys on the island. He plays inside physically like the game's supposed to be played."
Turmarian Moreland 6-2, 195, DB, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Los Angeles Valley JC): "The best corner that we've ever recruited. A tremendous athlete. He has ability to play bump-and-run man and he has size. He's an NFL-type body at corner."
Andrew Pearman 5-9, 175, RB/WR, Charlotte, NC (Providence HS): "He's going to be one of the most exciting players to come to the university. He can do it all. And he's a really good kid."
Khevin Peoples 6-0, 205, LB, Tampa, Fla. (Blake HS): "I cannot believe he was not recruited by more schools. We project him as an outside linebacker, but he probably could play up-the-field rush guy if he gains some weight. Athletically, he looks to me like he could play strong safety. Size-wise right now he is that of a free safety."
Bryce Runge 6-1, 245, LS, Anaheim, Calif. (Fullerton College): "You have 85 guys. What the heck, get a long snapper. That's one phase of the game you don't want to worry about. This kid is probably going to snap in the NFL. It just makes sense."
Brandon Satcher 6-1, 195, QB, North Augusta, SC (North Augusta HS): "He looks like Chad Owens playing quarterback, which is quite a feat, being able to move like that. He's got versatility and he's got that look in his eye."
Carl Stokes 6-2, 205, LB, Aberdeen, Md. (Aberdeen HS): "He's only played football for three years. He makes every play. He can run, he's everywhere. We see him as a defensive player, and that's where he wants to play."
Desmond Thomas 6-3, 175, WR, Vallejo, Calif. (Vallejo HS): "He's a great kid, great family. I told him he can play what he wants, he said receiver. He looks like a big-time hitter at safety. I would anticipate that before he leaves here he might want to give that a shot."
Lafu Tuioti-Mariner 6-0, 275, DL, Corona, CA (Corona HS): "He's very solid, makes plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Tremendous first step. Great leverage and balance."
Keala Watson 6-4, 310, DL, Nanakuli (Nanakuli HS): "Very athletic guy. Tremendous upside and a great family."
Lawrence Wilson 6-1, 300, DL, Honolulu (Dixie JC/Farrington HS): "We recruited him out of high school. He makes a lot of plays with an unreal first step. Kind of like Lance (Samuseva), but he's bigger and taller. He's an every-down player who's real excited about coming home."
Mainland-bound playersfrom Hawaii
Player Pos Ht., Wt. School College Rocky Alo RB 5-11, 200 Kailua/L.A. Harbor JC Indiana St. Frank Bracewell WR 6-1, 190 Kahuku Tusculum (Tenn.) Brennen Carvalho OL 6-1, 275 Kamehameha Portland St. Waika Carvalho QB 6-1, 180 Kahuku Dixie St. College of Utah (JC) Isaiah Dela Pena OL 6-0, 264 St. Louis Montana-Western Jordon Dizon RB 6-1, 210 Waimea Colorado Randy Faletoi DL 6-3, 290 McKinley Utah Tevita Finau TE 6-5, 224 Kahuku Oregon St. Elwen Freitas OL 6-2, 285 Kamehameha St. Mary's (Calif.) Afa Garrigan DB 6-2, 190 Kahuku Utah Desmond Hanohano WR, TE 6-6, 220 Saint Louis Utah Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada QB 6-1, 185 Kapolei Navy Drake Kula LB 6-2, 220 Kapolei Dixie State College of Utah (JC) Hinano Lino OL 6-1, 275 Kealakehe Southern Utah Jesse Mahelona DL 6-2, 295 Kealakehe/ Tennessee Orange Coast CC Curtis Masaniai OL 6-3, 292 Waipahu St. Mary's (Calif.) Abe Medeiros OL 6-5, 275 Hilo Northern Colorado Kealii Perbera QB 5-7, 189 Saint Louis Montana-Western Tautua Reed DL 6-3, 245 Saint Louis/Moorpark JC Northern Arizona Warren Simanu DL 6-5, 230 Kapolei Dixie State College of Utah (JC) Caleb Spencer WR 6-0, 185 Kamehameha/ Nevada Palomar JC Raynold Stowers RB 6-1, 200 Iolani Utah Soloni Taumololo DL 5-11, 260 Kaimuki/Yuba JC Minnesota State-Mankato Cornelius Thomas OL 6-6, 300 Farrington/ Nebraska City College of San Francisco Tavita Thompson DL, OL 6-5, 267 Saint Louis Oregon St. Sione Tuifua DL 5-11, 280 Kailua Dixie State College of Utah (JC) Max Unger OL 6-5, 280 Hawaii Prep Oregon Paea Vaimoui RB 5-11, 200 Kahuku Tusculum (Tenn.) Walker Vave LB 6-2, 198 Kahuku Oregon St. David Veikune DL 6-3, 270 Campbell Colorado Shosei Yamauchi DL 6-2, 225 Kahuku Troy State