The eight-time and defending HHSAA state football champion Kahuku Red Raiders might look a little different on offense the next few years.
Freshman quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava, who will compete for the starting job this season, is so talented that he received his first Division I scholarship offer on Tuesday from Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh, who was in town for his ‘Summer Swarm’ camp over the weekend, didn’t leave without serving up a huge offer for the Kahuku quarterback, who has the entire North Shore excited for what could be a new-look Kahuku offense.
Maiava tweeted the news late last night.
BLESSED 2 say I received my FIRST scholarship offer from the University of 〽️ichigan! #WOLVERINES#GOBIGBLUE pic.twitter.com/hb38k1tS6V
— Sol-Jay Maiava ™ (@Jay_4QB) June 29, 2016
Here’s a video on YouTube of Maiava from the JPS state title game as an eighth-grader. He is currently listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds.
Head coach Vavae Tata said in Hawaii Prep World’s “SPRING-ing into football” series that Kahuku will remain smashmouth on offense, but it’s clear already that the Red Raiders have a potentially great player at quarterback to groom over the next four years.
Awesome my Nephew! Keep it going. Hard work pays off.
WARNING: The video posted in the article is not a highlight video. I repeat, The video posted in the article is not a highlight video. It’s just every snap he’s taken at that championship game. Definitely not a highlight video.
We putting up some Techmo Bowl like numbers this year… It ain’t even fair
Mahalos to Coach Sterl and the JV staff
Mahalos to Toni Tuioti
What a wonderful opportunity to showcase our kids and enable them a chance at Higher Education. Hope this becomes a tradition.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Kid is the TRUTH!!!
Big ups to Mariota and Tua for paving the way for all future Hawaii QB’s. Bigred just might be unstoppable this season
That Bishop Gorman game is really starting to look very winnable for Kahuku… Wow! So many D1 athletes on both sides!
2 Unspoken caveats:
1. Must do schoolwork & graduate
2. Must stay out of trouble
He may to change positions at Michigan (they prefer 6’4″ QBs).
Not even Tua or Marcus got a Big Division 1 offer from the head coach. This is history right there. What now the best qbs will come from Kahuku? It’s not fair people. This must be Thee Best recruiting grounds in the USA bar non. Dis nuts brah. How can?
Height is a getting more and more less of a concern nowadays… Seems like if you don’t fall under the height category then you have to fall under the dynamic category… Lots of guys make it without being 6’4… LOL! Denard Robinson was 6 Feet, Tate Forcier was 6 Feet… Seem like Harbaugh know what he wants and sees something in the kid. Kid is already a legend down here at the Jr. Prep League level, with so many top athletes coming out of that league he has been hands down the best QB yet to come out of the Jr. Prep. Also his work ethic looks awesome!
St Louis and Punahou coaching staff are probably making home visits to lure this athlete to their school like they’ve done in the past with other athletes from the Big Red.
He’s Going To Be A Good Player Because Of His Work Habits, This Kid Continues To Work hard. But I don’t think he’s the best that came out of the Jr prep league. The Tagavailoas hold that title! Sol Jay and Taulia been battling out for a couple of years. 2 different styles. Good luck nephew and GO BIG RED!
Tagovailoas look to be more bulky and stronger arm when they were 8th graders. Taulia from Kapolei and Gabriel from Mililani set the bar high for freshmen QB’s lastyear, Soljay will have big expectations to fill with this D1 offer, I think he will do fine.
Mariota paved the way for Tua and Tua paved the way for Soljay…thats a fact so dont get it twisted!
I don’t understand why people feel the need to tie this kids huge accomplishment of receiving an offer to Mariota and Tua? Why not allow this kid to be good on his own accord, so good a big time D1 school like Michigan could recognize his potential on what they saw alone. This kid is a hard worker, stepped up, and impressed. He did that on his own accomplishments.
Good job kiddo. Should make for an interesting Kahuku season.
Pave this! The only thing the Crusader QB paved was the TD’s Kahuku’s hybrid RB/QB scored by throwing all those pick’s. Now that’s the real facts so don’t get it twisted…..
Shutyo guys laho! Harbaugh said he was coming to Hawaii to find the next Mariota and Teo, he even wore the Titans #8 Jersey. Soljay works his arse off and will be the next Mariota aka big name QB to come out of Hawaii and he is humble enough to know that opportunities have been opened up because of those that came before him (Seau,Sapolu,Sikahema,Mariota,Buckner etc..)
…and you 88, you know you, you make me sick. Tua just became the #1 QB prospect in the nation. pave your legs open and grind yo self!
Congrat to al those kids. But for me a Good QB is only good as his lineman, recievers, RB and FB, other than that he just another player with the football. It take a team efforts and work to be ehtics to produce good players from there they become great team players.
@Hman
He is the best QB to come out of the Jr. Prep League! But thats based on his career at the JPS level… not his future in high school and beyond! He cant be compared to Tua yet, he hasnt even had a chance to play high school ball yet. But JPS career he is hands down the best to ever come out thus far! The kid killed us every frekn year! I dont think he ever lost a game as the QB for LAIE PARK RAIDERS! I know the when he was D2 JPS he won a championship and since he been intermediate, both fall and spring season the kid went undefeated and won 4 championships for LAIE! Now thats an accomplishment in itself at this stage of his career… NAME someone else in the JPS that has that on their resume??? There is no one! Thats why i said hands down best QB to come out of JPS thus far….lets see how his prep career goes the next 4 years… I can see Kahuku with that DEFENSE and this kid at QB… ALMOST a lock to win 4 state titles! now does anyone know a kid that has played QB all 4 years on varsity and won 4 state titles???? there is no one! AGREE that Marcus,Tua have broken down doors to help the rest of the kids in this state and i have to imagine that when maiava is done he will do the same for this state. KID SEEMS HUMBLE AS THEY COME!!! cant wait for football season!!! sorry guys excuse my long paragraph, LOL!
So if all good QB’s from Hawaii who get an offer have Tua and Mariota to thank. Does that mean that all QB’s who don’t get an offer should then blame that on Tua and Mariota?
If you answered No to the above statement then lets just agree the kid did well on his own (unless you tell me that Mariota and or Tua personally train this kid) and just sit back and say, good job kid, YOU did well, and you should thank your coaches.