Rolovich comments on signing class

Comments by Nick Rolovich on …

Marcus Armstrong-Brown

WR, 6-2, 195, Jr., Diablo Valley College (Napa, Calif.)

“He’s a good-sized wide receiver who’s a smart kid and has three (years) for two. His ability to go get the ball is impressive on film. … We think he can make an impact. If not, then he redshirts and after our seniors move on next year then it gives us a leadership role and a guy who’s been in the system.”

Eugene Ford

DB, 6-2, 190, Fr., University HS (Los Angeles)

“Eugene is probably a corner at first. He’s one that (defensive backs coach) Abe (Elimimian) was on for a long time and probably flew under the radar a little bit. Abe staying with him throughout the transition was big in getting him.”

Josh Hauani’o

OL, 6-4, 300, Fr., ‘Iolani

“We were actually junior recruiting him at Nevada. … He’s a local kid, he’s right down the street, he’ll find a home somewhere (on the line). He’s strong, he’s a bright kid, comes from a good academic school. We said ‘let’s get him.’ Surprised he didn’t have more recruitment than he did.”

Max Hendrie

ATH, 6-4, 245, Fr., The Scots College (Australia)

“He’s very agile and fast for an athlete of his size. … I think he may have an easier transition early at defensive end, but I think there may be a spot for him on offense in special situations. A big athlete like that can play a lot of places. … We may have some blood upstairs fighting for it, but he’ll find a home.”

Freddie Holly

RB, 6-0, 210, Fr., Norte Vista HS (Riverside Calif.)

“A guy who was committed to a Pac-12 school, Freddie Holly is probably as good of a back as we could have hoped for in this recruiting class and probably exceeded that. He’s a good, durable-sized back with speed. He’s got high-caliber ability. … I feel like he could be one of the biggest impact players early for us.”

Cole McDonald

QB, 6-3, 190, Fr., Sonora HS (La Habra, Calif.)

“We saw his junior film … and when you watch the film again you look at a guy who’s 6-4, 11-flat 100 (meters), 63 percent completion percentage. Over 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 1,000-yard rusher his senior year. That’s a dynamic player.”

Viane Moala

DL, 6-7, 270, Fr., Tafuna HS (Samoa)

“What you see is a (6-7), 270-pound athlete that is very passionate about playing the game of football. His effort when he plays is evident when you watch him on film. If you can find an athlete who cares about the game at that size, they’re going to find a home.”

Netane Muti

DL, 6-4, 275, Fr. Leilehua

“He’s great wrestler in the heavyweight division. Played both offense and defense in high school but we want to use him as a defensive lineman and and he wants to play defense. … He was one who was committed before I got here and we’re very fortunate to keep him committed because he’s a great player.”

Iken Okeke

LB, 6-0, 210, Fr., Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

“Doesn’t know what it feels like to lose. … A guy who’s very familiar with recruiting on the west coast said he was pound-for-pound his favorite linebacker in the class. (Former UH linebacker) Chris Brown coached him. … Ikem trusted Chris, Chris trusted (defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa), Chris trusted me. That’s how that thing flowed.”

Jeremiah Pritchard

LB, 6-0, 200, Fr., Silverado (Paradise, Nev).

“A lot of people came in late on him but in his heart he never wavered. … He’s a 6-foot athlete who runs around, likes to blitz. He’s kind of your typical local defensive player. Likes to attack likes to tackle.”

Scheyenne Sanitoa

DB, 6-0, 200, Fr., Samoana HS (American Samoa)

“Chris (Naeole) knew about Scheyenne. … Returned two interceptions in the all-star game (JPS Paradise Classic). … In him and Keala (Santiago) you’ve got two young safeties that belong on the football field, especially on the back end. Pretty instinctual. he’s tough.”

Keala Santiago

DB, 6-0, 185, Fr., Kahuku

“Somebody told me this quote, ‘Keala is a mix between (former UH safeties) Mana Silva and Richard Torres.’ I thought that was pretty good. Quiet guy, puts his head down, he’s a worker. He’s not going to say a lot, but his production, that’s where his message is sent. A guy who comes from a winning program, he was probably born to win.”

Kingjames Taylor

OL, 6-3, 270, Fr., Narbonne HS (Harbor City, Calif)

“Another high-level program in California we were able to tap into. Good athlete … I think his best days are in front of him. You get him in the weight room his body is going change very quickly. A guy who was as grateful for the opportunity as anybody in this class.”

Kalakaua Timoteo

WR, 6-3, 195, Fr., Mililani

“Competitive, he’s got a lot of swagger on the field … . He said, ‘Coach I want to play next year.’ I told him, ‘you’ve gotta earn it.’ But he’s not going to come in timid. I think when you get around him you know he’s coming here for a purpose.”

Mykal Tolliver

DB, 6-0, 180, Fr., St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif).

“Great player and we love having him. He gives us immediate competition at the cornerback spot. He’s another guy who had Pac-12 offers.”

Davine Tullis

Ath, 6-2, 195, Fr., Ballard HS (Seattle, Wash.)

“Davine played quarterback in high school. He’s an athlete. … If we need another arm he can get into the quarterback rotation, but I think he’s going to be a receiver. … One thing about recruiting high school quarterbacks they’re smart and they can do a lot of things for us.”

Fred Ulu-Perry*

OL, 6-2, 3-5, So., Saint Louis/UCLA

“When you start you want to build your team from the inside out right at the line of scrimmage. So we wanted to make sure we got some young D-linemen, we wanted to make sure we got some young O-linemen. Obviously Fred coming back was huge for us. That was one of the sparks that started off the ‘Pride Rock’ movement.”

Zack Wilson*

DB, 5-11, 170, Fr., Upland HS/Mt. San Antonio College

“We needed some athletes in the secondary. We were a little bit low on numbers and him getting here in the spring as a true freshman is a real benefit for us.”

*Already enrolled at UH

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Compiled by Jason Kaneshiro