We’ve talked a lot already about the highly touted recruiting class of 2019 from Hawaii. Word has spread across the country and gotten the attention of even the defending champions.
Clemson threw its name into the fray for the top prospect from the class on Thursday when Saint Louis defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele announced on Twitter he has received an offer from the Tigers.
I SERVE AN AWESOME LORD!! Absolutely Blessed to have received my 16th offer from the National Champs, Clemson! #ALLin ???? pic.twitter.com/Q761cyY30A
— FAATUI TUITELE (@tuitele87) June 15, 2017
Clemson, which signed Moanalua defensive tackle prospect Scott Pagano out of high school in 2013, did not offer any prospects in Hawaii in the last two seasons — including Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa and Arizona OL Michael Eletise.
Tuitele (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) is the No. 11 overall recruit in the country for ’19 according to 247 Sports and already has landed 16 offers. Clemson joins a list including South Carolina, Notre Dame, Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA.
>> Speaking of UCLA, the Bruins offered another top-100 prospect from the class of 2019 in Punahou linebacker Maninoa Tufono. Tufono landed an offer from USC after attending a camp there over the weekend and the crosstown rival Bruins soon followed, giving Tufono his eighth FBS offer.
Tufono (6-3, 220) is the No. 84 overall prospect in the class according to those same 247 Sports rankings.
>> Just a few days after Maui High product Jonathan Lolohea committed to Kansas, the other big junior college recruit from Hawaii made his decision. Riverside C.C. offensive line Keli’i Montibon, a Kamehameha-Hawaii alumnus, announced he will sign with Oregon State.
Next Step… #GoBeavs????⚫️ pic.twitter.com/q5Ok80FZ25
— Keliʻi Montibon (@Kelii_Montibon) June 14, 2017
Montibon (6-4, 285) had nine offers spanning the country from Connecticut and Massachusetts to Florida Atlantic and California.
The Beavers continue to pound the Hawaii pipeline as Montibon joins a roster that will include Kahuku’s Kesi Ah-Hoy and Tuli Wily-Matagi, who both played quarterback in high school, Kealakehe’s Manase Hungalu, Pac-Five’s Titus Failauga, Kapolei’s Kalani Vakameilalo and Kahuku’s Lamone Williams.
Maybe in a few year or “more”, the top Hawaii high school football athletes will consider staying home and represent their State University football team – “Hawaii Warriiors!” But for now, top mainland schools are coming to our turf and our local kids are going elsewhere.
As a longtime Hawaii football fan, I use to be real mad to see our good local kids selecting a mainland school instead of our Hawaii football team. But you know, since Warrior head football coach, Nick rolovich been here, he has recruited 3 stars….yes 3 stars kids from the mainland, Samoa and even Australia committed to play for Hawaii. We have kids outside Hawaii that are better than our local kids (yeah I know, hate to say that) that love Hawaii. These kids from the mainland and elsewhere, you ever saw their comment about Hawaii? They have a real Aloha and love in their comment about our State and looking forward in representing our State of Hawaii. Gives me chicken skin when I read their comments…These are the real Hawaii Warriors, even though they were not born in Hawaii.
Paniolo I totally agree with you. Not getting the top local boys to stay home hurt a lot especially Kesi. But Coach Rolovich did a heck of job recruiting from the mainland, Australia and the South Pacific. Actually I feel we got a lot more than we lost. Go Warriors!
WHEN U.H. GAINS NATIONAL PROMINENCE, U.H RECRUITS WILL BE THE ENVY OF THOSE WHO LEFT FOR THE MAINLAND, BCOZ THEY WILL BE A PART OF HAWAII’S RISE TO FAME.