Signing Day

The Warriors welcome:

> Ilm Manning, OL, Apollo HS (Arizona)

> Eric Rooks,WO, The Taft School (Conn.)

> Jeremy Moussa, QB, Eleanor Roosevelt HS (Calif.)

> Kamuela Borden, OL, Iolani

> Jeffrey Keene, DE, Fort Scott CC

> Cedric Byrd, SB/PR, Long Beach City College

> Khoury Bethley, OLB, Don Lugo High (Calif.)


> Blessman Ta’ala, DL, Faga’itua High )(American Samoa)

> Mason Mata’afa, DL, Orange Coast College

> Zach Ritner, DE, Capistrano Valley High

> Chevan Cordeiro, QB, Saint Louis

> Kai Kaneshiro, DB, Saint Louis


> Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, DE, Kamehameha

> Jonah La’alu, ATH, Centennial High (Las Vegas)

COMMENTS

  1. al December 20, 2017 6:08 am

    Here we go


  2. al December 20, 2017 6:10 am

    Here we go


  3. al December 20, 2017 6:11 am

    Ilm Manning looks like a great catch?
    OL/DL?


  4. Stephen Tsai December 20, 2017 6:17 am

    OL


  5. azwarrior22 December 20, 2017 6:23 am

    Apollo HS is only a couple miles from my house.


  6. al December 20, 2017 6:39 am

    His clips remind me of “blindside”.


  7. al December 20, 2017 6:41 am

    20-25 lbs away from the playing field.
    Nice athletic dude.


  8. Haka December 20, 2017 6:54 am

    Yes! Welcome & Mahalo for wanting to be a Warrior!!!! It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…..


  9. jeezy33 December 20, 2017 6:55 am

    DE Jeffrey Keene and WR Cedric Byrd should be signing today. Byrd is electric. Immediate starter at KR and PR. Should work in slot.


  10. papajoe2 December 20, 2017 7:26 am

    jeezy33~I don’t think UH returns punts. Haven’t in a while.


  11. Haka December 20, 2017 7:30 am

    And that is why you recruit a guy that can fly like a Byrd.


  12. islandman December 20, 2017 7:32 am

    QB Moussa signs.
    Updates :
    http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2017/12/19/2018-football-early-signing-day-live-updates.aspx


  13. Mitchhawaii December 20, 2017 7:43 am

    Showing them Aloha via Twitter! It’s a good day!


  14. tommui December 20, 2017 8:11 am

    GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!

    Anything from the signing-ceremonies? Who were the locals that signed?


  15. jeezy33 December 20, 2017 8:13 am

    Big time DL Mason Mataafa commits to Hawaii


  16. H-Man December 20, 2017 8:58 am

    Just saw on Hawaii Prep that Jonah Welch decommitted from Navy. Maybe Hawaii?


  17. al December 20, 2017 9:18 am

    The Byrd is the Word”

    https://youtu.be/aPrtFxd9u9Y

    Great pickup!


  18. Unko December 20, 2017 9:18 am

    Does Cordeiro & Kaneshiro sign today?


  19. KOH I NOR December 20, 2017 9:20 am

    Good. Hawai’i players still sign on February 7, 2017. Wednesday. Sheraton Waikiki hotel. I think.


  20. al December 20, 2017 9:20 am

    #9 well does 6 returns count averaging 5.0 ypr.


  21. al December 20, 2017 9:21 am

    #17 Some will sign today my friend.


  22. KOH I NOR December 20, 2017 9:26 am

    Who are they? Serious.


  23. al December 20, 2017 9:27 am

    #14. Huge get. Loving these “hide n seek” recruits coming in.
    Very wise decision to keep these guys under wraps.


  24. chipwalker15 December 20, 2017 9:31 am

    Adam Boyd expected to join the staff on defensive side of the ball. Prior stops at ASU and UCLA.


  25. chipwalker15 December 20, 2017 9:33 am

    Boyd’s profile can be found here https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-p-boyd-04a66522/


  26. Na Alii Pride December 20, 2017 9:34 am

    How come the St. Louis guys not signed yet? Hope nobody wavering.


  27. al December 20, 2017 9:38 am

    On another note…
    There should be a rule or bylaw regarding any coach who was actively recruiting a prospect at his recent most former institution of employment may not recruit said prospect to his new place of employment.
    i.e. Hynson/Jesiah Irish

    The punishment;
    1. Said coach is placed on a one year immediate suspension of the recruiting process.
    2. Said coach’s New/current institution of employment forfeits one full scholarship for the same year and pays a fine of $100,000 the approximate cost of a scholarship.

    That’ll work.


  28. Stephen Tsai December 20, 2017 9:48 am

    Crusaders will have a news conference at 11 am


  29. tommui December 20, 2017 10:08 am

    Stephen:

    I assume there is no longer a big signing ceremony at some hotel for all LOI signees?


  30. tom-warriornation December 20, 2017 11:01 am

    Great news and a very nice Xmas gift to all Warrior fans!

    Sounds like Cedric Byrd, SB/PR, and Mason Mata’afa, DL, are impact players who can make our team much better!

    Keep them coming until Feb!


  31. tom-warriornation December 20, 2017 11:05 am

    Who are the other impact players?

    Ilim Manning, OL, Jeremy Moussa, QB, Khoury Bethley, OLB, & Zach Ritner, DE?


  32. H-Man December 20, 2017 11:12 am

    I don’t see any OTs and no Tristan Nichols yet. Fingers crossed.
    And where is Cordeiro?


  33. Coach DB December 20, 2017 11:19 am

    Focus on Defensive linemen, if the Defensive linemen don’t work out put them on the offensive line. Get some SPEED at skill (aka Pookies & Junebugs). We Need DAWGS if we want to Win!!!


  34. Hank December 20, 2017 11:48 am

    I cannot remember being as excited about a recruit as I am about Cordeiro in the longest time.


  35. z December 20, 2017 11:57 am

    Wow. Jonah. Nice. Dline looking better. More depth. Rolo filling the pukas. I am just hoping for more speed at the skill positions.


  36. HawaiiMongoose December 20, 2017 11:58 am

    ST, what happened to Derek Thomas? You reported just a week ago that he planned to sign today.


  37. Da Punchbowl Kid December 20, 2017 12:01 pm

    Keep it coming! Like the big guys, skills look good too!


  38. Jonj December 20, 2017 12:04 pm

    Wow! Almost filled the whole class. I expect another 2 or 3. Hopefully ammon bailey signs and another offensive linemen.

    Tsai you said blessmen and borden count towards this class??


  39. 808 December 20, 2017 12:11 pm

    What happened to Panoke? Did we lose him?


  40. Kazuthekid December 20, 2017 12:29 pm

    This is the early signing period so some of the other verbals that didn’t sign today could be signing in February.


  41. Lowtone123 December 20, 2017 12:44 pm

    #15 Jonah Welch has committed to Hawaii


  42. H-Man December 20, 2017 12:51 pm

    Fourteen. Looks like that’s about it. Pretty good haul. Welcome all new Warriors !!!


  43. BigWave96744 December 20, 2017 1:08 pm

    Mitchell Quinn
    Jonah Panoke
    Baraka Beckett
    ?????


  44. Sangamon Keith December 20, 2017 1:14 pm

    #32 Scholarship for Welch might have cost Thomas an assured his. Unexpected availability of superior athlete at the same position could cause a problem … remember that MacMakin withdrew a juco qb’s scholarship offer when Greg Alexander suddenly came available. I hope I am wrong since the more pass rushers we pick up, the better for our defense. Oh yeah, Thomas might be reconsidering when he got wind of Welch’s possible switch to UH. Either way, I hope we see his name on the signee list at the end of the day!


  45. jeezy33 December 20, 2017 1:39 pm

    Nichols isn’t coming. So people can stop worrying about him. Quinn was never a Hawaii commit. It is said he is going to pursue track in college. Hawaii doesn’t have track so not likely coming to Hawaii. Maybe he can come back later when he misses football. Similar to Tuileta.


  46. MattyBoy December 20, 2017 1:44 pm

    Jeezy,

    You think Thomas will sign? Or did Hawaii stop pursuing him?


  47. jeezy33 December 20, 2017 1:46 pm

    I think he will.


  48. isleboy December 20, 2017 1:49 pm

    3 local recruits doesnt make it. Rolo predicted 8 local recruits a month ago. Need more
    Hawaii players. Remember this is the University of Hawaii football team. Representing Hawaii.
    So far give ROLO D+ for this recruiting class.


  49. Braddah B December 20, 2017 1:52 pm

    4 local recruits


  50. Inyoface December 20, 2017 1:55 pm

    We need a D-line! Haven’t had one in years!


  51. jeezy33 December 20, 2017 1:55 pm

    43. Keeping locals is great, but it’s quality over quantity. Cordeiro, Welch, Kaneshiro, Panoke, and Borden are 5 locals. Panoke should be signing in Feb. There’s a few targets still being looked at.


  52. Willie December 20, 2017 2:22 pm

    #46 jeezy33, if Panoke was a verbal from the Crusaders, do you know why he didn’t sign along with Cordeiro & Kaneshiro today, and waiting till February? Wondering as he is a WR and the UH position coach is now at OSU.


  53. clyde December 20, 2017 2:28 pm

    Beckett and Thomas. Today? Tomorrow? Gone?


  54. Coach DB December 20, 2017 2:28 pm

    Don’t worry about getting Locals, worry about getting players that CAN PLAY!!!


  55. Sangamon Keith December 20, 2017 2:38 pm

    Ilseboy … what are you thinking. Accept that most local kids actually prefer to go away for college. We occasionally pick up a few good recruits from the islands, but if you want the UH to be competitive, you need to lose this local bias. There are plenty of great Mainland kids who want to go away for college … for which the UH is a great choice.


  56. isleboy December 20, 2017 2:41 pm

    Isnt that the REAL problem. Too many of the recruits past 5 years CANT PLAY !!! Look
    at team win-loss record.


  57. Ron December 20, 2017 2:45 pm

    How can anyone think they know so much about football and enough about this years recruits to give Rolo a D at this point, is beyond me. Its like if you gave someone enough money to buy a Yugo and they came back with Toyota, you would complain that they didn’t get a Mercedes.


  58. isleboy December 20, 2017 3:07 pm

    All the successful Hawaii Head Football coaches agree on one thing. Majority of recruits
    must come from Hawaii if team is to be successful(winning record). Ever Since Norm Chow
    took over majority of recruits do not reside in Hawaii. That’s a problem !!!!


  59. islandman December 20, 2017 3:15 pm

    Billy Ray, WR coach ? someone speculates that.


  60. Big Fan December 20, 2017 3:18 pm

    Seems like we filled most of the critical needs but what about DB’s?


  61. Haka December 20, 2017 3:34 pm

    Love the signees so far. Talent, athleticism and the want to be a part of the programs growth. The immediate help added to last years group that will be in the mix next year is exciting. The edge rush presence will be a welcome sight. The QB’s can make you dream. Did someone say Hawaii POY?!! On to recruiting…phase two! And, about those coaching positions…


  62. DaveLetterMan December 20, 2017 3:41 pm

    Howzit Tsaikos!
    Panoke will sign.


  63. DaveLetterMan December 20, 2017 3:42 pm

    #55 Big Fan
    Signed Kaneshiro out of St. Louis School.


  64. DaveLetterMan December 20, 2017 3:46 pm

    Also have RS DBs on roster.


  65. AllG December 20, 2017 3:51 pm

    Like how many DEs we have signed so far! I think that was our #1 need. Hopefully a couple of them pan out. We need to add more speed at the WR and CB positions. Also keep building the depth and size at OL. I think those should be our main focus for the next signing period. Maybe we should start targeting the small fast WR that the big schools pass on. As the Patriots and Antiono Brown have showed you don’t need tall receivers to win. Speed kills! We can add height at the TE position.


  66. AllG December 20, 2017 3:54 pm

    I thought Bethley was a RB? They gonna use him as a LB? Seems undersized for the position.


  67. Kaimiloa December 20, 2017 3:56 pm

    53… Not that anyone should be concerned about your crazy ideas… Just a sampling that shows that # of local players has no bearing on Win/Loss record. Also, in none of these years was there a Majority of local players on the roster.

    2001 = 51 local players. 9-3
    2007 = 40 local players. 12-1
    2012 = 46 local players. 3-9
    2017 = 41 local players. 3-9


  68. Coach DB December 20, 2017 4:04 pm

    53 isleboy you can’t make kids play here that don’t want to! Kids go to college to play football for many reasons, and when Marcus goes to Oregon that’s where he wanted to go! Hawaii doesn’t have very many ELITE players, as a matter of fact they sorely lack when it comes to SKILL POSITIONS sorry but the kids on the mainland have MORE TALENT! What used to work dosen’t anymore so if Hawaii is to succeed it MUST ADAPT so put away your 8 track and pick up your smart phone and open up an INSTAGRAM account so you can communicate with the BALLER’S on the mainland. Tell them (DM) how great it is to go to school and play football in Hawaii, THAT’S HOW IT WORKS NOW!!!


  69. al December 20, 2017 4:13 pm

    Well, nice looking core of recruits.

    14 down with 8 more to go.


  70. al December 20, 2017 4:16 pm

    be Nice if we could get…
    2 OL
    1 RB
    2 CB
    1LB
    2 BEST ATH AVAILABLE @any position


  71. amela December 20, 2017 4:20 pm

    Nice start and some hidden gems. Welch was a surprise catch love that he’s staying home.


  72. Sangamon Keith December 20, 2017 4:23 pm

    Who is the new 6-6 wide receiver from Canada who just committed to Hawaii?


  73. suckkabooya December 20, 2017 4:24 pm

    Defensive commits look terrific. Kahahawai-Welch looks so explosive. Mataafa looks like he can shed blocks and blow up runners. And with Keene he makes contact with chest squared, slides to legs and then wraps them up old school style, you don’t see that technique too much nowadays. Love seeing that. They should make our coverage guys look better. Combined with the redshirts they waited on last year I’m excited to see what the new coordinator does with all the pieces. Go Warriors!


  74. Old School Dave December 20, 2017 4:28 pm

    Hats off to Coach Rolo and his staff. They’ve been dealing with a negative attitude and belief among local recruits and their families that UH is a “second-rate university” along with the old island missionary mentality that you’re not good enough unless you “get off the rock” and go to the mainland. The UH coaches have also been competing against schools with all of the fancy facilities and resources. Sure, UH has it’s share of problems, but what universities don’t? Much more than “….And us guys, we still stay hea” mentality as you’re getting your college education paid for. The proof is in the puddling in UH signing 5 local players, including the POY after batting 00 last year. It will always be an uphill battle for UH against schools with more resources, not just P-5 schools, but including those in the MWC. More to come in February.


  75. Old School Dave December 20, 2017 4:29 pm

    Hats off to Coach Rolo and his staff. They’ve been dealing with a negative attitude and belief among local recruits and their families that UH is a “second-rate university” along with the old island missionary mentality that you’re not good enough unless you “get off the rock” and go to the mainland. The UH coaches have also been competing against schools with all of the fancy facilities and resources. Sure, UH has it’s share of problems, but what universities don’t? Much more than “….And us guys, we still stay hea” mentality as you’re getting your college education paid for. The proof is in the puddling in UH signing 5 local players, including the POY after batting 00 last year. It will always be an uphill battle for UH against schools with more resources, not just P-5 schools, but including those in the MWC. More to come in February.


  76. Old School Dave December 20, 2017 4:35 pm

    CSU’s Mike Bobo has to replace his entire Defensive staff, partly due to the DC retiring and the DBs coach taking another job at Tennessee, but the others have been let go.

    http://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/football/2017/12/20/csu-football-coach-mike-bobo-replacing-his-entire-defensive-staff/971227001/

    Kevin Clune or Chad Kauhaahaa resurfacing there?


  77. Sangamon Keith December 20, 2017 4:40 pm

    #61 Bethley is going to be used as a hybrid linebacker-safety. With 3-3-5 defensive schemes being used more frequently, he may be a rover or nickel type player. It has been said that coaches might also use him on offense in certain situations. However, it has been made clear from the start in one of his interviews that he would be used on defense. Only fans and recruiting services kept talking up his running ability.


  78. Kaimiloa December 20, 2017 4:43 pm

    67.. Looks like Nick Mardner, but I haven’t found any confirmation. Here’s his Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7603972/59f7dcc7ab92f91920bc4956


  79. Paniolo December 20, 2017 4:55 pm

    I thought I read that this is a “3 days signing days” for December. If that’s the case, will there be anymore recruits committed to Hawaii?

    I am wondering who Rolo is now considering for the Offensive line coach and the Defensive Coordinator positions? Except for Greg MacMakin, who was Coach June Jones DC for our Warrior football team, all the DCs afterwards were all failures.


  80. Maddog50 December 20, 2017 5:04 pm

    Cordeiro and Welch put a smile on my face after a tough week. I like the group overall and figure at least 8 to go


  81. kahuna December 20, 2017 5:17 pm

    #74…I agree. I watched a lot of HS football this season and both Cordeiro and Welch were big time. The Welch kid is probably more sought after that some of us know. I read that he not only got offered by all the academies but also got offer from Nevada, Syracuse and Vanderbilt so this guy was not some under the radar guy. He was well recruited and I super stoked he decided to stay home and represent Hawaii.


  82. islandman December 20, 2017 5:28 pm

    70. Clune is not the type of guy for Hawaii, i think. He took off after one year here in 2014, despite a 2 year contract.


  83. al December 20, 2017 5:36 pm

    Jonah Kahahawai-Welch was offered by all these teams Navy, Syracuse, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Air Force, Army, Nevada, Boise State, Oregon, San Diego State, Central Florida, Washington, and Utah.

    The total may have been as I am sure a lot of teams tossed their names in to the hat soon after he decommitted from Navy.


  84. al December 20, 2017 5:42 pm

    You really can’t blame a young assistant coach from accepting a promotion, DC in this case. That’s just the ladder progression.

    Especially when most contracts are for just a year.


  85. Na Alii Pride December 20, 2017 6:25 pm

    I’m hoping Chad Kauhaahaa comes to UH. Maybe a long shot, but who knows. Make him DC and give him 2 or 3 year contract. Maybe the lure of coming back home will do the trick.

    Recruiting looking good. Is Panoke having trouble with grades? Still possible for February?


  86. burro sabio December 20, 2017 6:42 pm

    #43, #51, #53 – I thought Steve was banned from this blog. (not talking about SteveM)


  87. DaveLetterMan December 20, 2017 7:05 pm

    Panoke not grades.


  88. burro sabio December 20, 2017 9:34 pm

    #67 Nick Mardner is listed on UH website as signing.


  89. ai-eee-soos December 20, 2017 11:31 pm

    Nick Mardner’s video from UH Athletics – his LOI came in late in the evening.

    hope that the link works.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfMUaCTdTSA&feature=youtu.be


  90. Maddog50 December 21, 2017 4:50 am

    The class looks solid. Would still love a half dozen OL/DL split 4-2. Would really love some of those slots filled by local kids who can contribute as freshman. Becket and Maama are yet to surface. Some kids will string this out but outside of the top 300 or so you can be replaced. Some kids are big timing and are gonna wind up with less than desirable options. This early signing has increased the pressure and allows programs to meet needs take a breather and search for under the radar prospects who pay off. Hopefully we get just a few more while the window is still open-


  91. PONO December 21, 2017 6:45 am

    Looks like ST fell asleep before the last signee


  92. Stephen Tsai December 21, 2017 7:44 am

    New post: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=45203


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