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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Hawaii

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08/29/22 - Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, rSr/2024, Hawaii + More +

2022 PRESEASON WUERFFEL TROPHY (COMMUNITY SERVICE) WATCHLIST: Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, Hawaii, Sr., DL,...A fifth-year senior from Kailua, Oahu, Kahahawai-Welch has appeared in 12 career games as a back-up defensive lineman and special teams player. He joined the Rainbow Warriors after a standout career at Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama. Former UH long snapper Noah Borden was a semifinalist for the 2018 award. The award is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida. The Wuerffel Trophy honors college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world. - Hawaii Football

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OLB Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, Hawaii
News Source: Hawaii Football
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08/11/22 - Tariq Jones, rJr/2026, Hawaii + More +

Tariq Jones got his bearings playing for the University of Hawaii football team in 2021, appearing in the team's first two games while preserving his redshirt. Heading into 2022, the redshirt freshman figures to enter the defensive line rotation, vying for playing time along with other edge rushers such as Arkansas transfer Mataio Soli and Jonah Kahahawai-Welch. Jones is one of the faces of a revamped defensive line, a unit many within the program consider one of the team's most improved. "It's just really and truly a blessing," said Jones, a native of New Orleans. "I know everybody back home really just wishes to be out here and I never really thought that I would be out here but I just see this as God's blessing."

Jones' standout career at McDonogh 35 High School in Louisiana included 12 sacks in eight games as a senior, earning Louisiana Top 25 recruit status. "Props to my teammates, it was hard," Jones said of the move to the islands. "I was just 17 years old coming out here, separated from Mom but I think everybody like Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, Penei Pavihi, and really the rest of the team just taking me in and just watching them, it really helped me become who I am right now." Jones, who goes by the nickname "Showtime," hopes to do just that for years to come in Manoa. - Khon2.com

rJr/2026

DE Tariq Jones, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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08/09/22 - Jalen Perdue, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

If you sleep on Jalen Perdue, the University of Hawaii cornerback might run it back on you as he did after intercepting a pass in Wednesday's spring practice. "It comes down to the focus for him. He's one of, if not the fastest guy on the team," UH cornerbacks coach Abe Elimimian said about the senior. Perdue had one of the two long pick-6s in Wednesday's practice - the other being defensive lineman John Tuitupou's off a tipped pass - and was the second interception the former junior college transfer recorded in consecutive days. "Coach emphasizes us keeping our eyes on our man," Perdue said. "We take everything to the grass and work on it before practice starts, during practice, and after practice. That was just kind of a big play that we work on."

"One thing we've been honing on is being more focused. Being more focused on his alignment, on his assignment, and then his technique," Elimimian said. "What started happening is he's doing those things and now he's making plays on the ball. It's not been easy for him climbing a mountain and he's finally starting to understand how to play the position." Perdue is in his third season at UH after transferring from Antelope Valley College in his hometown of Lancaster, Calif. A wrist injury sidelined him for much of 2020 and in 2021, he played mostly as a backup cornerback before breaking out as a kick returner in the final two games of the season, totaling 148 yards over seven returns. "I've always wanted to showcase my speed and that I could hold the ball and be an offensive player too," Perdue said about fielding kicks in fall camp. "I'm honestly excited to show that side too." - Honolulu Advertiser

rSr/2023

CB Jalen Perdue, Hawaii
News Source: Honolulu Advertiser
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08/03/22 - Jordan Murray, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

Astonishingly, the 2022 Hawaii football team features 53 newcomers, the same amount of players allowed on an NFL regular season roster. The amount of new faces in Manoa is larely due to the mass exodus of players following the 2021 season under former coach Todd Graham, where 17 starters departed either due to graduation or the NCAA transfer portal. Despite losing names such as Chevan Cordeiro, Darius Muasau, Khoury Bethley and Nick Mardner to the NCAA transfer portal, new head coach Timmy Chang and his staff did some transfer portal digging of their own, pulling in a total of 18 FBS and FCS transfers. Additionally, the 'Bows signed seven junior college transfers and one player each from the NCAA Division II (former Colorado School of Mines kicker Scott Marshall) and Division III (former Minnesota Morris defensive back Billy Mitchell III) levels. - Khon2.com

rSr/2023

TE Jordan Murray, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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08/02/22 - Mataio Soli, Sr/2023, Hawaii + More +

On Thursday, Mataio Soli explained what he and some of the approximate 25 newcomers on defense could bring to the University of Hawaii football team as it looks to replace nine defensive starters from 2021 before its Week 0 game against Vanderbilt on Aug. 27. "All of us bring our own different uniqueness to the team," Soli said. "As long as we stay together like we have been all summer and right now, fall camp as you can see, I think we're going to have some good results this fall." Soli, a 6-foot-4 defensive lineman from Douglasville, Ga., and a transfer from Arkansas, is one of 18 players on the team's fall camp roster who transferred from FBS schools.

UH linebacker Penei Pavihi - a former teammate of Soli's from youth league football in American Samoa - was Soli's host on his recruiting visit. The program's Island Day spring game also contributed to his decision to commit to Hawaii. "It was a great experience for me, I seen how (it) brought in everybody," Soli said. "I seen how close the team was. It really brought everything together." "I love this defense. I feel like our defense is going to surprise a lot of people," Soli said. "I like how we're seen as the underdog because a lot of people probably don't expect a lot out of us, but they're going to see this fall." - Honolulu Advertiser

Sr/2023

DE Mataio Soli, Hawaii
News Source: Honolulu Advertiser
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07/29/22 - Jordan Murray, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

The University of Hawaii football team kicked off fall practice ahead of its 2022 season on Wednesday. Wednesday marked exactly one month before the Rainbow Warriors' season opener at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The Rainbow Warriors lost the vast majority of their 2021 production due to the NCAA transfer portal and discontent with former head coach Todd Graham. Wednesday was also the first fall practice for Timmy Chang as the team's new head coach. Among the many position battles, none seem more intriguing than the quarterback competition, where the team is looking to fill the void left by the departure of two-year starter Chevan Cordeiro to San Jose State. - Khon2.com

rSr/2023

TE Jordan Murray, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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07/28/22 - Joshua Jerome, rSr/2024, Hawaii + More +

2022 PRESEASON BIG SKY FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM: DT Joshua Jerome (EWU),...Jerome, a redshirt junior defensive tackle, has played in 35 career games (20 as a starter), and has 143 tackles with 11 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, a pass broken up, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Jerome was in the opposing offense's backfield all season long in 2021, leading EWU in sacks (seven) and tackles for loss (13 1/2). He racked up 61 total tackles, six quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery, and he forced three fumbles. - Eastern Washington Football

rSr/2024

DT Joshua Jerome, Hawaii
News Source: Eastern Washington Football
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07/25/22 - Jordan Murray, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

No members of Hawaii's football team were selected to the Mountain West preseason All-Conference team on Thursday. The only member of the preseason All-Mountain West team with Hawaii ties was San Diego State offensive lineman and Punahou alumnus Alama Uluave. Additionally, San Diego State defensive lineman Jonah Tavai is the brother of former Rainbow Warriors Jahlani and Justus Tavai. "We've been motivated, we've been had a chip on our shoulder. What's new?" - After being picked last in preseason poll, @HawaiiFootball shut out of preseason Mountain West All-Conference team. - Khon2.com

rSr/2023

TE Jordan Murray, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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07/25/22 - Micah Vanterpool, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

University of Hawaii offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool did not have time for the pain. That sharpness near his abdomen? It probably was a stomach ache. Vanterpool bit his mouthpiece and played in last year's road game against UNLV. But four days later, the pain intensified, and he notified the Rainbow Warriors' trainer. Vanterpool was told he was at risk for a ruptured appendix and needed immediate medical attention. "We get to the hospital, and I'm kind of having an attitude," Vanterpool recalled. "I'm like, 'man, that's not my appendix.' They were making me drink this nasty drink that was like chalk. I'm really mad. I'm like, 'it better be my appendix if I'm sitting here doing all (these tests).' I remember the doctor running in through the door saying, 'oh, my goodness, we're about to prep you for emergency surgery.' I was like, 'I can't do this later? I've got a game this week. Can we work this out?' They said, 'no, we've got to do this now.'" Three incisions were made near his navel - one for a micro camera, the other two to remove the appendix. "It was all crazy," Vanterpool said. The operation was successful, but Vanterpool was not cleared to play in the final two games of the 2021 regular season.

Vanterpool was at full health this spring, where he competed as the No. 1 right tackle. At 6 feet 6 and 315 pounds, he weighs 75 pounds more than when he was a member of the scout team in 2017. In 2020, he started four games as an injury replacement for left tackle Ilm Manning. Last year, he started 11 games at left guard. The Warriors are reviewing several combinations, including one with Vanterpool starting at right guard. "I'll play anywhere," said Vanterpool, who represented the Warriors at Thursday's Mountain West media day for football. - Honolulu Advertiser

rSr/2023

OG Micah Vanterpool, Hawaii
News Source: Honolulu Advertiser
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07/23/22 - Penei Pavihi, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

With a new head coach and 73 percent of its statistical production gone from a season ago, the University of Hawaii football team was predicted to finish last in the West division according of the Mountain West Conference preseason media poll released on Wednesday. The poll was revealed at the start of the MWC media days, which is held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The predicted order of finish had Fresno State leading the West, followed by San Diego State, San Jose State, Nevada, UNLV and the Rainbow Warriors. All the latest sports news from Hawaii's sports station Hawaii's last-place position marks as the first time UH was placed at the bottom of the preseason media poll since 2016, back when Nick Rolovich was preparing for his first year as UH head coach. The 'Bows ended up placing second in the West with a 4-4 conference record and finished 7-7 overall. - Khon2.com

rSr/2023

ILB Penei Pavihi, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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07/18/22 - Ilm Manning, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

The Mountain West announced its new football schedule rotation for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons. Last month, the conference announced the elimination of the two-division format. The new three-year rotation ensures the Rainbow Warriors will play the 11 other Mountain West teams at least twice during that span including San Diego State and UNLV, whom UH will meet all three years.

The new format was created based on work of a subcommittee of MW athletics directors. It guarantees each team will play two guaranteed opponents annually and face six other conference teams. During the cycle, each team will face nine of the 11 opponents at least twice, once at home and once on the road, and two opponents in each of the three years. The top two teams with the highest conference winning percentage will compete in the MW Football Championship Game on Dec. 2, 2023. The upcoming 2022 season will be the final year of the two-division format, which was created in 2013. - Khon2.com

rSr/2023

OG Ilm Manning, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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06/28/22 - Quentin Frazier, rSr/2022, Hawaii + More +

The XFL, with new ownership involving Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, took its show to the islands on Saturday. McKinley High School was the site of the 2022 XFL Hawaii showcase, one of six showcases the league is holding across the country this summer. Over 100 players competed in the showcase, including many with Hawaii ties. Former University of Hawaii defensive backs Daniel Masilfilo, Ikem Okeke, Quentin Fraizer were present, as well as former UH linebackers Solomon Matautia and Benetton Fonua, defensive lineman Pita Tonga, quarterbacks Bryant Moniz and Cole McDonald, and receiver Cedric Byrd.

Other notable Hawaii ties at the showcase included but were not limited to former Kamehameha and Oregon linebacker Kaulana Apelu, Kahuku alum Tigi Hill, former Kaimuki and Washington defensive lineman Sama Paama and former Kapolei and Vanderbilt offensive lineman Toleafoa Mcmoore. XFL scouts and coaches were in attendance, including Seattle Dragons offensive coordinator June Jones. Every station at the showcase included cameras for XFL personnel to review afterwards. As for the players who put their talents on display, the next step would be the XFL Draft, which takes place in November. The 2023 XFL season is set to begin on Feb. 18, 2023, the Saturday after the Super Bowl. - Khon2.com

rSr/2022

SS Quentin Frazier, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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06/08/22 - Malik Hausman, rSr/2023, Hawaii + More +

Six years after being offered a scholarship, defensive back Malik Hausman is joining the University of Hawaii football team this summer. "It's been a long wait for me," said Hausman, who is making the move as a graduate transfer from the University of Arizona. While Hausman is expected to compete at cornerback and nickelback this coming season, the Rainbow Warriors also have secured three pledges for next year's recruiting class.

Quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele of Punahou School, wideout Mason Muaau of Saint Louis School and offensive lineman Josiah Timoteo of Waianae have accepted 2023 scholarship offers. In 2016, UH assistant coach Abraham Elimimian recruited Hausman, who was a junior at Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High at the time. Hausman eventually committed to Arizona. After the 2021 season, during which he played in nine games, Hausman entered the NCAA transfer portal. Ikem Okeke, a former linebacker at UH and Bishop Gorman, encouraged Elimimian to reconnect with Hausman. - Honolulu Advertiser

rSr/2023

CB Malik Hausman, Hawaii
News Source: Honolulu Advertiser
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05/17/22 - Jared Smart, rSr/2022, Hawaii + More +

After earning an invitation to rookie minicamp, former University of Hawaii receiver Jared Smart has signed a free agent deal with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Smart was not selected in April's 2022 NFL Draft but was one of a handful of players with Hawaii ties to earn a minicamp invite. After a standout career at Laney College in California, Smart signed with the Rainbow Warriors prior to the 2019 season and immediately earned a starting spot. In his debut season with the 'Bows, he caught 87 passes for a total of 1,129 yards and five touchdowns. - Khon2.com

rSr/2022

WR Jared Smart, Hawaii
News Source: Khon2.com
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05/04/22 - Luke Felix-Fualalo, rSr/2025, Hawaii + More +

The University of Hawaii football team's 2022 recruiting class now includes a protection plan. Offensive tackle Luke Felix-Fualalo, who grew up in Australia and played high school football in California, is transferring from the University of Utah and will join the Rainbow Warriors next month. "In all honesty, it's much closer to home," said Felix-Fualalo, noting Hawaii and Australia "share a lot of similarities - the fauna, the beaches. Speaking to the coaching staff, I felt (the team) was a family. And I actually have family in the islands. I know a few people on the team. Putting it all together, it felt like the best move." Felix-Fualalo is 6 feet 7 and 310 pounds. He was named after Luke Skywalker of the Star Wars series. He has three seasons of UH eligibility. - Honolulu Advertiser

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