Kaiser’s Nic Tom set to join Warriors
One of Hawaii’s most versatile high school athletes — Nic Tom of Kaiser High — will be joining the Warriors as a walk-on this summer.
“I felt like UH was the better option,” said Tom, who also received offers from Air Force and two Division II schools.
Richard Torres, Kaiser’s defensive coordinator and a former UH co-captain, praised Tom as “one of the hardest workers I know.”
“The kid trains seven days a week,” Torres said of Tom, who is 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds. “He’s one of the strongest guys I know. He benches more than 315 (pounds). He ran a 4.4 in high school. He’s a smart kid. He could play any position on the field.”
Tom has played cornerback, safety, wide receiver, punter, punt returner and kickoff returner.
“He made the sacrifice of playing quarterback his senior year instead of DB, where he would have had a great shot (at receiving a scholarship), because we needed him,” Torres said. “He’s a team guy. He puts the team above himself.”
Tom completed 64.8 percent of his passes in 2015.
He also competes in track, and is the Cougars’ starting point guard in basketball.
Tom has drawn comparisons to Torres, a Kahuku High quarterback and wrestler who joined the Warriors as a 140-pound defensive back and developed into a 180-pound tackling machine.
“He’s more athletic than I ever was,” Torres said. “Where he’s at now is 10 times where I was at this point in time.”
Tom is expected to compete at slotback for the Warriors.
He said he has followed the Warriors since he was a “young kid.”
“You can say I always liked UH,” Tom said.
Torres said Tom has “great parents. That’s why I know he’s going to be successful.”
Ekahi !!
Way to go Nic Tom !!
#stayloyaltothesoil
Alright Nic!
Sounds like he may be a real sleeper at slotback.
Can never have too much speed!
Go Warriors!
UH is filling the roster.
Why is Gary Dickman on the front page of Hawaii Warrior World?
aloha everyone !! happy aloha friday !!
Sounds like Nic Tom will be a good player for the Warriors. Welcome and thanks for choosing Hawaii.
Just wondering. Are there any local high schools who have never had a player on a UH football roster?
Z– interesting question!!
If we are just considering Oahu HSs then, that answer is no. But, outer islands??
Anyone…
Hmmm… a walk on from Kaiser?
We had some great luck with one of those before. 😉
Great news, good luck to Nic! Mahalo for being loyal to the soil.
Garsh! I was just thinking about Boola and there he is. Wassup Bool?
Boola is like the 0’opu, always hiding between the rocks and shady areas….
#8
Saint Francis HS?
Ponojr….well I consider them an outlier, as their program is just three years old. That said, my little birdie says they got some pretty big sole kids that are sophs that will get serious UH attention.
UH is filling the roster-with NFL measurable type of athletes
Why is Gary Dickman on the front page of Hawaii Warrior World?
Connections….Connections….Connections
Walk on with 4.4 speed, strong, athletic and “one of the hardest workers”, coming from Richard Torres. He can play QB, CB, Safety, WR, Punter and returner. Sounds like a hidden gem that everyone except Air Force missed. Lucky for UH football. Many walk ons with characteristics like Nic’s have become play makers for UH.
I hope to see him working his way on to the field and earning a scholarship one day.
Cal-State Fullerton upset #18 Fresno State 6-4 in the UCLA Regional, a Fresno State team featuring two former Hawaii softball players, infielders both. After watching our defense struggle all year, I am a little gleeful.
Z:
I believe UH never had a player from Konawaena or Lahainaluna (?) or Kau or Hawaii Prep [ they have a football team? ] or Molokai
Mento’s ‘biggest Filipino in my life” is from Molokai, but did he prep on Oahu?
I’m trying to recall all the local players that stayed in our dorm in the early 60’s
dang, brain is falling alseep!!!
Nic Tom shares many attributes of Chad Owens out of Roosevelt.
another”mighty might”?
A-House: Kimo von Oelhoffen (Molokai) started his career at UH, but finished at Boise State and went on to NFL. Not sure about the other schools, but, yes, HPA has a football program that has produced the likes of Max Unger, Shane Brostek and another lineman who also went to the Pac-12 and NFL (forgot his name).
Friday Pau Hana! Oh Yah.
Last check Bows were beating Titans.
Smug Titans announcers.
Lococo triple to right.
Had the pleasure of meeting and talking story with Nic with his pops at a few Saturday UH Spring Football practices.
Very humble kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ohbisvJXWg
Andrew Faaumu went to Lahainaluna as well as Kaniela Tuipolutu though he transferred and graduated from Kahuku HS.
Mr. A-House,
Konawaena – Billy Stephens, RB
Ka’u – AJoe can answer that one
Lanai, Hana – ??
Pahoa, Laupahoehoe, Kohala – ???
Haleakala & burro sabio:
I knew some other Tsaiko would have information on outside island players
good job guys!!
burro – the last 6 schools on your list did not have a player at UH not unless it happened before 1959.
clyde — no HPA football players to UH tho’ – guess much like the “private”schools were the star players all go to the mainland.
here in the valley, another month has gone by without seeing the moon – cloudy all the time – tonight I notice a full moon again — that’s my “yard stick” for the moon cycle
Warrior fan trivia…Hawaii prep had a few I think Damian Arafiles and Bully Fergerstrom being the last 2.
Mr. A-House, Ka’u had at least one but A-Joe might know of others so I’ll defer to him.
HPA grads think they’re too good for UH. 🙂
Lui Fuata was from Lahainaluna also.
Charlie Araki and Henry Ariyoshi who were on the team that beat Nebraska were from Lahainaluna, too.
Add: Kenji Kawaguchi, Rowland Maielua and Michael Bates to the list from Lahainaluna. I’m sure there’s more..
Add a true frosh safety walk-on……
http://www.scout.com/college/hawaii/story/1671608-hicks-walk-uh#.Vr0zzwGNKHk.twitter
clyde- you were trying to think of Daniel Te’o Neshiem. burro sabio – where did you grow up? Certainly not on the Big Island.
snowmantoo: yup, that’s the guy.
Wow a lot of info. Thanks.
Claxton Fernandez back in ’76
Although he spent his formidable years growing up and playing ball in Ka’u, Rashad Galimba eventually graduated from Waialua HS in 1980.
Grant Sumida ’81 and Kerry Tapia ’82
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=37571