UH football: Leilehua DB mulling options

If Leilehua High defensive back Charles “Moku” Watson had to make a college choice right here and right now, he said: “It would be UH.”

“I built a real strong bond,” Watson added. “For the most part, staying home and rebuilding the process is something I want to do.”

But Watson, who lives with relatives in Wahiawa, said he won’t make a decision until after he returns from a three-week trip to California on June 28.

“I know I’m always going to keep my options open,” said Watson, who will be a senior this coming academic year.

He also has received scholarship offers from Colorado, Fresno State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Vanderbilt and Washington State.

“I talked to my family, and I think I have a commitment date set in the summer,” Watson said. “Before the season, I want to commit to where I want to go.”

Aug. 1 is the first day of Leilehua’s fall semester.

Watson has impressed recruiters with his size (6 feet 2 1/2 and 183 pounds), speed (hand-timed 4.4 seconds and laser-timed 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash), and athleticism (34-inch vertical jump and 32 1/2-foot kneeling-powerball toss). He was named to the Star-Advertiser’s 2015 All-State second team.


Watson said he was told he could compete at cornerback at UH. Vanderbilt projects Watson as a outside linebacker/strong safety.

“Certain schools want me for certain things,” Watson said. “I don’t have a problem playing any position as long as I get used to it and can work on my craft.”

Watson, whose ancestry is Samoan and African-American, goes by Moku, which is derived from his middle name of Moutonu.

He was born in Hawaii, then moved to Vallejo, Calif., when he was 3. A little more than six years later,he moved to Wahiawa. He began playing padded football when he was in middle school, although he has played some form of football most of his life.


Watson said he has an interest in acting, and “I always wanted to be a real-estate agent.” He helps an uncle sell T-shirts at the Aloha Stadium swap meet.

“I try to keep busy,” Watson said.

COMMENTS

  1. Da Punchbowl Kid May 22, 2016 9:55 am

    First!


  2. Boolakanaka May 22, 2016 9:58 am

    Second…DPK, I’m always right behind you, uncomfortably so—wink.

    If does not opt for UH, I endorse Vandy….he will have no shortage of job options upon graduation.


  3. Da Punchbowl Kid May 22, 2016 10:01 am

    Looks like Moku’s a quality recruit. Maybe he could play receiver too, with those measurables.

    Stay home Moku – if you feel like Hawai’i is your first choice, that’s probably the right choice.


  4. Da Punchbowl Kid May 22, 2016 10:03 am

    Boola – no wonder I was getting chicken skin up and down my spine, you slippery lil o’opu you. 😉


  5. Boolakanaka May 22, 2016 10:07 am

    Haha….brings back warm memories wen we took up dancing at the Carvalho School of Kachi-Kachi Dancing located conveniently deep in Kalihi Uka. Man, we so nailed the Fafa chacha……


  6. al May 22, 2016 10:12 am

    Moku boy. Read estate eh? Did you know that two of the top Realtors in Hawaii are former UH athletes? Sean Takamori and Artie Wilson.


  7. al May 22, 2016 10:14 am

    Er…Boola and DPK let’s keep the “personals” out of this family blog.


  8. Boolakanaka May 22, 2016 10:17 am

    Al–sorry, we caught up in the moment and sharing our joy.


  9. Stephen Tsai May 22, 2016 10:57 am

    DPK managed to blend spine-tingling with chicken skin.


  10. Stephen Tsai May 22, 2016 11:03 am

    Al:
    I’m pretty sure I covered Takamori when he played high school baseball. Can time stop flying?


  11. Stephen Tsai May 22, 2016 11:07 am

    Never mind. I didn’t cover him.
    But I did cover Gib Arnold when he played at Punahou. Nothing like ILH quadruple headers at the Blsisdell.


  12. al May 22, 2016 11:14 am

    Itʻs okay, Boola. But if I wanted to read about your personal life stories, I would read your geocities blog. Iʻm here for the football.


  13. John Rambo May 22, 2016 11:15 am

    l


  14. John Rambo May 22, 2016 11:16 am

    Always good to see Leilehua kids getting opportunities to succeed. A lot has changed in the high school scene since I was playing.


  15. Bryson May 22, 2016 11:30 am

    Moku has some good size already I could see him transitioning from a corner to s or even and olb in the new defensive scheme


  16. al May 22, 2016 11:46 am

    ST…more old is being a classmate of Sean’s father and mother.


  17. al May 22, 2016 11:52 am

    The most difficult position to play and to perform with efficiency is cornerback. So, if Moku can hang at CB, then that’s where he should hang his hat.


  18. islandman May 22, 2016 12:41 pm

    For historians, Gib graduated from Punahou in 1987 or 29 years ago, per internet.


  19. Stephen Tsai May 22, 2016 12:52 pm

    Islandman:
    Gib didn’t play his senior season because of the age-limit rule.


  20. Da Punchbowl Kid May 22, 2016 1:09 pm

    Stephen #9 –

    I forgot to that the chicken-skin spine pulastes too.


  21. Da Punchbowl Kid May 22, 2016 1:10 pm

    pulsates even*


  22. Da Punchbowl Kid May 22, 2016 1:30 pm

    Okay – not enough coffee too little sleep.


  23. NorthShoreFan May 22, 2016 1:48 pm

    Guud Afternoon Tsaikos…Bootiful Day!
    Seems Coach Rolo is sending the message and it is being received. Looking forward to watching the keiki o ka aina competing.

    Guud to see Akamai and his princess last night. Good talking with you guys…looking Guud!…was it a family reunion?…lol


  24. Haleakala May 22, 2016 4:48 pm

    Moku is getting an early start in the sales profession by helping his uncle sell T-shirts. It is a credit to him that he already knows that he wants to go into real estate sales. It can be a very lucrative profession for the person with personality, drive and smarts and he seems to have that. If he wants wants to go into real estate in the future in his home state then he should play for the home team as his name will be easily recognized by his future clients as is successful realtor Artie Wilson. Going elsewhere will not help.


  25. st. anthony trojan May 22, 2016 5:45 pm

    Haleakala… good advice… in 4 years the team be in way better position then when Is was under Chow…in 4 years….probably be playing in a bowl or 2… think hard about that young man…


  26. cappie the dog May 22, 2016 6:38 pm

    C’mon, Coach Trapasso.

    Rooting for you not to get fired.

    Lose to Hawaii-Hilo; lose to Chicago freakin’ State, but win a series at Cal-State Fullerton.

    “Hawaii just played the better baseball.”
    -CSF play-by-play man-

    If, if, if, if…Hawaii just had one more dependable guy in the bullpen.


  27. H-Man May 22, 2016 7:47 pm

    Vanderbilt is one of the best schools in the nation.


  28. cappie the dog May 23, 2016 4:08 am

    Vanderbilt football hasn’t sold it’s soul.

    Year by year, they are still middling to bad.

    Like Rice.

    Why is Northwestern so good? And all of a sudden, Duke?


  29. al May 23, 2016 6:55 am

    Boola…just so you know that #12 was not authored by me.
    Rather, by yet another fake “al”.

    …nuff said


  30. Stephen Tsai May 23, 2016 8:06 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=37590


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