One was thrown into the fire on Day 1.

The other patiently waited his turn.

Oregon's Max Unger and Southern California's Kaluka Maiava have had two very different college experiences. But both are glad to be where they are now as the Star-Bulletin's choices as the best offensive and defensive college football players from high schools in Hawaii.

Unger, a finalist for the Rimington Award (best center in the nation), has started 50 consecutive games for the Ducks. After redshirting in 2004, he started the first game of the season a year later and hasn't missed one since.

“;It just kind of happened,”; he said. “;I didn't think I'd necessarily start as a freshman. I was very surprised.”;

Growing up in Kona, Unger never touched a football until his freshman year at Hawaii Preparatory Academy.

He didn't expect football would carry him to the next level, until a surprise scholarship offer came from the Pacific Northwest his senior season.

“;Big Island football is pretty competitive within ourselves, but not too many guys even played D-I football from there,”; Unger said. “;When I got the scholarship offer from Oregon, it was pretty shocking.”;

It was the only offer he got, and he jumped on it immediately. With little fanfare and no expectations, the kid from a small town on the Big Island headed for the bright lights of the Pac-10.

Four years later, Unger will play his final game in the Holiday Bowl. He plans to stay in San Diego to prepare for the NFL combine and pro day.

From a one-star recruit in high school to twice being selected to the Pac-10 first team, Unger is projected as a first-day NFL Draft pick, with at least one mock draft and one scout saying he could be a late first-rounder.

“;I was lucky to come up here and play in a system that fits me real well,”; Unger said. “;I've already graduated so I'm going to stay in San Diego with my aunt after the bowl game and just keep working hard and see what happens.”;

While Unger has risen from obscurity to get where he is, the light has always shone bright on Kaluka Maiava.

The 2004 Star-Bulletin defensive player of the year from Baldwin had more scholarship offers than he could count.

Knowing he could be a three- or four-year starter almost anywhere he went, Maiava chose the one place finding playing time would be the hardest.

“;I chose USC because I wanted to compete with the best,”; Maiava said.

The 6-foot, 230-pound weakside linebacker waited three years behind Keith Rivers, selected ninth overall in last year's NFL Draft, before cracking the starting lineup this season as a senior.

He's third on the team with 62 tackles, part of a Trojans defense that allowed more than 10 points in just two of the team's 12 games.

“;I could have had more tackles and more picks, but I ... have no regrets,”; Maiava said of his senior season.

“;I feel like I played up to the standard set here and helped out our defense.”;

Maiava will head to the Rose Bowl again as USC makes its fourth straight trip to the New Year's Day game, facing Penn State this time.

From there, he'll begin his NFL Draft preparations by playing in the East-West Shrine Game, where he hopes to raise a few eyebrows.

“;That gives me a front-row seat with the NFL guys looking at me,”; Maiava said. “;Hopefully that slingshots me into playing on Sundays.”;

Of the 24 players selected to this year's All-Hawaii Grown team, six play for the University of Hawaii. Seven played in the Pac-10, including quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who barely beat out Saint Louis School teammate Cameron Higgins of Weber State for the nod.

Skill positions were the toughest choices. But ventures into Division II and Division III find Western Oregon's Shaun Kauleinamoku, Chapman's Chris Shiramizu and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps defensive back Landon Patoc.

There was no shortage of candidates on the offensive and defensive lines however, as Oregon State's Tavita Thompson, Hawaii's Keala Watson and UCLA's Micah Kia were just some of the big names left off the team.

The Offense

The Defense

DB (#22) Chris Shiramizu
Chapman, Sr. Punahou '04
Led the team in INTs for the second straight year with 4.

 

ST (#23) Kama Bailey
Idaho, Fr. Damien '08
Had 1,041 all-purpose yards; set a school record with 955 kickoff return yards.

 

ST (#24) C.J. Santiago
BYU, Sr. Saint Louis '04
Averaged 42.1 yards per punt with a long of 62; 16 of 38 downed inside the 20.