Washington, LSU, Wisconsin and the list keeps growing for Tausili Akana.
Akana hasn’t played a down of football on island turf since the fall of 2019 as a freshman at Kamehameha. But LSU and Washington have kept a close watch on the 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore.
Washington offered last Friday.
“There are a good number of Polynesian athletes from Hawaii. I got to speak with some of them. They are doing well and loving their experience. These are guys I look up to and it is great to hear they are being successful,” Akana said. “This tells me if other Poly players are doing well, I can do the same.”
LSU’s offer comes on the heels of the UW offer.
“Truly blessed and honored to receive an offer from Louisiana State University,” Akana wrote on social media.
Wisconsin’s offer arrived on Thursday morning. Former Saint Louis standout linebacker Nick Herbig chatted with Akana by phone. Moments later, Akana called Badger coaches and received the offer.
Akana was impressive through the fall as an outside linebacker at Wasatch (Utah) after transferring from Kamehameha. Since then, he moved back to the North Shore and enrolled at Kahuku. He has not indicated yet whether he will return to Wasatch for spring football training, remain at Kahuku or reenroll at Kamehameha. In the past few days, several Red Raiders have received offers.
Akana has stayed busy with a consistent flow of workouts and 7v7 tournaments, including the Pylon “Mecca” event last weekend in Las Vegas with the TMF squad coached by Kawe Johnson.
247Sports.com rated Akana the No. 5 outside linebacker in his class.
“I will continue to train for fall football season. In June, I plan to visit and attend some university football camps. Always looking for ways to improve and get better,” Akana said.
The video of Akana in a basketball gym, dribbling from the 3-point line and throwing down a dunk has been seen by coaches across the country. It is not online, however. He keeps working out day by day.
“I’m constantly working on my feet. Speed, agility and quickness. Lifting every day at uncle Stu Carvalho’s gym. Playing Pylon has been great for me to improve my defense in space,” Akana said. “I also do my technique workouts with Nate Ilaoa and Mike Lafaele at Ikaika Athletics.”
The list of schools have not offered yet, but are staying in touch: Boise State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, UCLA, Oklahoma, Baylor, Florida State and Texas. LSU was on that list, too, prior to offering.
“Shout outs to all my coaches. Coach Stu Carvalho, coaches Nate Ilaoa and Mike Lafaele, coach Sola Soliai (Rebel Squad), coach Kawe Johnson (TMF) and coach Sterling Carvalho (Kahuku),” Akana said.
Tausili Akana, Kamehameha/Wasatch, OLB, 6-4, 210
Offers: 17
Utah 6/20/19
BYU 6/20/19
Hawaii 6/21/19
Arizona State 6/30/20
UNLV 8/27/20
Oregon State 9/8/20
Utah State 9/14/20
Nebraska 10/16/20
Oklahoma State 11/16/20
Oregon 12/21/20
Washington State 12/25/20
Ole Miss 3/3/21
Colorado 3/9/21
USC 3/17/21
Washington 4/23/21
LSU 4/29/21
Wisconsin 4/29/21
Stay @ Kahuku and help them win the OIA in Football & Basketball.