The promises keep arriving via e-mail, phone calls and snail mail in Ewa Beach.
Tua Tagovailoa is, with no doubt, the state’s most coveted junior-to-be. Oregon State is now the 15th FBS university to make a football scholarship offer to the 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback. It’s a feat that not even Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, one of Tagovailoa’s mentors at Saint Louis, achieved at such a young age.
Like Mariota, Tagovailoa remains low key and highly devoid of social media presence. He never announces an offer, but word gets around quickly enough in cyberspace. Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance shared the news on its Twitter page. PIAA executive director praised Tagovailoa for coaching young players at the recent Maximum Experience clinic.
Tagovailoa’s updated offer list: has offers from UCLA, Texas Tech, Hawaii, USC, Colorado, Ole Miss, Washington State, Washington, UNLV, Arizona, Utah, Nebraska, Louisville, Arizona State, Oregon State.
He passed for 2,571 yards and 33 touchdowns in 10 games with just three interceptions. He completed 69 percent of his pass attempts and finished the season with a passer rating of 204.18, best in the state. He also rushed for 553 yards (6.2 per carry) and seven touchdowns.
The southpaw was named offensive MVP of the Tanoa Bowl (Washington) in early January.
And also like Marcus, he comes from a good family, very supportive and encouraging. Young men and women, athletes and non athletes will always succeed if they have the right support at home. Thanks Paul!
Mckenzie Milton is better.