Te‘o not getting much attention

With letter-of-intent day approaching, this weekend has been a busy one for college football prospects and recruiters alike.

Perhaps the most surprising news is that Kahuku's explosive running back, Malosi Te'o, has just one scholarship offer so far. UNLV stands to benefit from being the lone suitor for the 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior.

Maybe even more surprising was Oregon State's offer to Te'o's teammate, quarterback Kaulin Krebs. The conservative nature of Kahuku's offense last season didn't allow Krebs to display his arm often.

The Beavers, though, like Krebs' efficiency and reliability. Krebs will grayshirt before joining Oregon State on the field in the spring of 2007.

Here's a look at some top prospects:

Quarterbacks

Brad Padayao's oral commitment to Air Force on Thursday was a relief for the Kapolei basketball team. The team has struggled when Padayao has been away on football recruiting visits.

"The way I heard of how they lost games, being up and giving up comebacks. We've gotta put it together," he said.

Air Force was interested in the 5-10, 185-pound speedster early, but Navy joined the chase toward the end of the season.

Navy, which also runs the option, has strong Hawaii connections. Head coach Paul Johnson was the offensive coordinator at UH under then-coach Bob Wagner. Former UH quarterback Ken Niumatalolo is an assistant with the Midshipmen and the point man on their local recruiting effort.

"Coach Ken (Niumatalolo) told me first and foremost, they were recruiting me as a quarterback, but he said there's a history of them moving quarterbacks to other positions," said Padayao, who said the presence of former Kapolei quarterback Kaipo Kaheaku-Enhada wasn't a deterrent.

"I mean, like, it's no problem for me. It's D-I football. That's my dream," Padayao said.

Another factor in choosing Air Force was Padayao's game plan for life.

"I like the career opportunities better there. I want to go into business. And I want nothing to do with war, and if I'm in the Navy, there's more chance of that," he said.

Like Kaheaku-Enhada, Padayao will enroll in prep school first.

"Then I'll enter the academy as a freshman next year," he said.

Iolani senior Kiran Kepo'o (6-2, 220), the Star-Bulletin All-State first-team passer, is visiting Hawaii this weekend. So is Castle's Bryce Kalauokaaea (6-2, 190). Both are left-handers.

Saint Louis' Cameron Higgins (6-0, 162), a playmaking scrambler, visited Weber State recently.

Commits: Padayao to Air Force, Krebs to Oregon State.

Running backs

Radford Raquedan (5-8, 195) of Kapolei is drawing interest from Air Force and Navy, but has no scholarship offers yet.

"Kealoha Pilares is in the mix at both schools. Radford is more of a battering-ram type, and Pilares is such an unbelievable talent," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said.

Pilares (5-9, 175), who rushed for 1,900 yards at Damien, is leaning toward Air Force. The Star-Bulletin offensive player of the year has scholarship offers from Hawaii and Boise State as well.

Radford's sturdy runner, Alex Daniels, has interest from Utah State. The 5-7, 165-pound senior may move to slotback or cornerback at the next level.

Wide receivers

Jon Santiago (5-8, 160) has scholarship offers from Air Force and Navy.

"He's still hemming and hawing," Hernandez said. "He would love to play with his buddy (Padayao) at Air Force."

Offensive linemen

Ramsey Feagai (6-2, 330) of Radford visited New Mexico State this weekend. Feagai, who has a 3.5 grade-point average, also has offers from Hawaii and UNLV. Hawaii coach June Jones told Feagai he had the best footwork of the linemen in the HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl.

Feagai's teammate, Ian Scheuring (6-5, 300), has an offer from New Mexico State. The two have been involved with Radford's graphic-arts program, and NMSU offers graphic arts as a major.

Whitley Fehoko has kept a string of colleges waiting. Utah has a soft commit from the 6-1, 290-pound Farrington lineman, but he has visited a number of schools. Utah, Washington and UNLV still have offers out to Fehoko, though Boise State pulled out last week.

He also has scholarship offers from LSU and Nebraska, according to his mother, Linda Fehoko.

Damien center Eddie Williams (6-0, 280) has an offer from UH, though Arizona is interested in him as a defensive lineman.

Commits: Walter Kahaiali'i, Kamehameha-Maui to BYU; Micah Kia, Mililani to UCLA; Ryan Pohl, Kamehameha to Oregon State.

Extra point: Radford's Michael Goodman (6-5, 270) has a standing offer from New Mexico State, but is a baseball prospect. The lefty throws a 93-mph fastball.

Defensive tackles

Damien's Lolomana Mikaele (6-2, 260) visited Arizona last week and Utah State this weekend. He also has a scholarship offer from Hawaii.

Colorado met with Damien defensive tackle Michael Sipili (6-1, 240), Saint Louis defensive tackle Kamalu Umu (6-2, 280) and Punahou defensive tackle-end Jonathan Overton (6-3, 245) on Wednesday.

Sipili is visiting Colorado this weekend. He committed to Oregon State on Dec. 16, but has offers standing from Boise State and New Mexico State.

Kapolei's Alasi Toilolo (6-4, 230) will visit Hawaii.

"He's a late bloomer who's only played for two years, but he could grow into a real force," Hernandez said. "He could easily fill into 260 or 270. If we had bigger linemen, Alasi might have played linebacker."

Isaac Tuilaepa (6-5, 290) of Aiea has widespread interest from a host of prominent schools, but is not yet a qualifier. Hawaii is among more than a dozen interested schools.

Commits: Joseph Faifili, Kahuku to Utah; Peni Fiuangaihetau, Lahainaluna to Weber State; Kawika Shook, Kamehameha to New Mexico State; Sipili to Oregon State.

Defensive ends

Russel Fisher (6-1 1/2, 251), Pac-Five's Star-Bulletin All-State first-team defensive end, received a visit from Boise State this week.

Farrington defensive end Tanner Fetui (6-2, 245) also received a visit from the Broncos.

B.J. Beatty (6-2, 220) committed to Colorado last week, but visited Boise State this week.

Commits: Beatty, Kahuku to Colorado.

Linebackers

Devin Unga (6-1, 201) and Kevin Unga (6-1, 222) gave Oregon State oral commitments last week, but are visiting Utah this weekend. Devin Unga was a first-team All-State pick as a tight end. Kevin Unga was a first-team selection at linebacker. Both play basketball for Kahuku.

Micah Wily (6-0, 226) of Kahuku has an offer from New Mexico State.

Kapolei's Pookela Ahmad (6-2, 210) is visiting Hawaii this weekend.

"He was our best cover 'backer. He's more versatile and can do more things," Hernandez said.

Mana Lolotai (6-0, 215) of Kamehameha committed to Oregon State, but considered visiting Boise State this weekend. He's not yet an academic qualifier.

Commits: Lolotai, Kamehameha to Oregon State; Elliott Purcell, Saint Louis to New Mexico State; Kapono Rawlins-Crivello, Kamehameha to Boise State; Dylan Rush, Konawaena to UCLA; Jared Silva, Saint Louis to Nevada; Quinton Tang, Moanalua to Hawaii; Russell Wantowski, Radford to New Mexico State.

Defensive backs

Jensen Somera (5-10, 145) of Baldwin gave his commitment to Weber State. Somera, who finished fourth in the 100 at the state championships last year, had some interest from UH.

Somera joins Fiuangaihetau and wide receiver Cody Nakamura as recruits to the Division I-AA school by former Baldwin head coach and Weber State assistant Chad Kauhaahaa.

Commits: Kenny Estes, Waimea to Hawaii; Stanford Leti, Moanalua to Hawaii; Somera, Baldwin to Weber State; Suaesi Tuimaunei, Kahuku to Oregon State (soft commit).