San Diego State, which played here in the Hawaii Bowl last December and currently has three players on the roster from Hawaii, jumped into the recruiting fray in the islands this week, handing out offers to a pair of Kahuku players.
The Aztecs’ offer made it six total for Red Raiders defensive back Kekaula Kaniho (6-1, 170), who made the Honolulu Star-Advertiser all-state first team last season as a junior. He was one of eight Red Raiders defensive players selected to the first team and now holds offers from Army, Colorado, Hawaii, Vanderbilt and Washington in addition to SDSU.
San Diego State also offered Kahuku’s defensive lineman Aleki Vimahi, who coupled with an offer from Utah this week now holds the most offers by a defensive player in the class of 2017. Vimahi (6-4, 250), who made the all-state second team as a junior, has an offer list consisting of BYU, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Hawaii, UNLV, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah, Washington State.
Leilehua defensive back Charles Watson, who also played on offense for the Mules last season, landed his first offer from the SEC as Vanderbilt came calling this week, joining Hawaii, Fresno State, San Diego State and Washington State as schools interested in the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder.
Absolutely Blessed to have received my first scholarship from the University of Hawaii! #DefendPrideRock pic.twitter.com/UBfW2mbrwB
— Faatui Tuitele (@tuitele87) May 12, 2016
Hawaii continued its overhaul of local recruiting under first-year head coach Nick Rolovich by offered its second freshman. Saint Louis’ Faatui Tuitele, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman who played on the junior varsity team last season, landed his first scholarship offer this week. Tuitele joins Kapolei quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa as the two players from the class of 2019 to already have an offer from the hometown team.
Also, make it three offers for Saint Louis OL Mikey Minihan, who posted this on Twitter just after this story was posted:
Beyond blessed to receive the 3rd D1 offer from UNLV! #Rebels pic.twitter.com/ApKHLH4pIP
— Mikey Minihan (@MikeyMinihan) May 12, 2016
Keep up to date with everything related to recruiting at the link below:
BYU has offered Sione Lolohea a 6’5 220 8th grader from Mauiwaena Intermediate school.
He will be a freshman at Maui High next year