Santiago will be a Falcon

His coach once compared him to former Hawaii All-American receiver Chad Owens.

Kapolei slotback Jon Santiago could well live up to the expectation, but it will be in the blue and white uniform of Air Force.

Yesterday morning, Santiago gave the Falcons an oral commitment to play football next season. Santiago, a 4.0 student, will enter the academy rather than attend prep school.

"His grades are too good," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez explained.

The 5-foot-6, 160-pound senior caught 35 passes at more than 20 yards each this season, including eight touchdowns. He chose the Falcons over Navy.

"He doesn't have the prototypical Division I size by any means, but his strength, speed, quickness are all off the charts," Hernandez said.