June Jones Discusses the Recruits

From the University of Hawai'i athletic department's football page, June Jones talks about the shiny new recruits who have signed letters of intent with UH.

2007 Signings Biographies

Austin Hansen
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-4
Weight: 285
Last School: Valencia HS
Hometown: Placentia, CA

Expected to compete at guard or tackle...bench presses 345 pounds...runs a 4.9 40-yard dash...posts a 4.49 shuttle time...rated a one-star player by Rivals.com...chose Hawai'i over UC Davis.

Jones says: "We really think that Austin is going to be able to do what we do very well. He might even compete this year for playing time. He's a big, strong kid, and has got a really good motor."

Chris Leatigaga
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-5
Weight: 250
Last School: Foothill College
Hometown: Los Altos, CA

Named second team Junior College All-America, and first team all-area, and first team all-league in 2006...runs a 4.8 40-yard dash...recorded 55 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, and seven sacks in 2006played defensive tackle in 2005 and defensive end in 2006...helped Foothill College to a 10-1 record and Silicon Valley Bowl victory in 2006...rated a three-star player by Rivals.com and Scout.com...chose Hawai'i over Idaho, San Jose State and Portland State.

Jones says: "This kid is a big time player. Of all the kids that we signed, I was most impressed with his size and how he played on film. He's very aggressive, he's big, and can run. Once he sees the football he's fast, he has another gear to go get the quarterback. I think he's definitely going to have an impact for us on defense right away".

Levi Legay
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 270
Last School: Kealakehe HS
Hometown: Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i

Expected to play center or guard...rated a two-star player by Rivals.com...also competed in shot put and discus at Kealakehe.

Jones says: "Levi is an offensive lineman who we think has a great upside. He has really good balance. He's a great kid. He will be coming in next January. He just needs to get a little stronger and I think a year or two years from now he will be a force. Athletically, I think he has everything we need to be an offensive lineman."

Matagisila Lefiti
Position: Offensive/Defensive Line
Height: 6-1
Weight: 290
Last School: Mater Dei HS
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA

Played both offensive guard and defensive tackle at Mater Dei...named second team all-county and all-league in 2006...rated a two star player by Rivals.com.

Jones says: "Sila is a guys that I met four years ago when I took a trip to American Samoa. I think he will compete for a job this year. It's not very often that freshmen come in and compete right away, but I think this kid is in that caliber. He's got great balance and does all the things we teach on the offensive line very well."

Joshua Leonard
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-4
Weight: 275
Last School: Sierra College
Hometown: Roseville, CA

Named first team Junior College All-America and third team junior college Gridwire All-America in 2006...a two-time all-conference selection...recorded 17 sacks and named the league's Defensive MVP in 2006...runs a 4.7 40-yard dash...bench presses 475 pounds...recorded 21 sacks in two seasons at Sierra, including 16 as a freshman...rated a four-star player by JCFootball.com and Scout.com...an all-city pick and team's Defensive MVP as a prep senior...chose Hawai'i over Boise State, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming.

Jones says: "On film, Josh may be the most impressive defensive lineman we've ever gotten from the mainland. This kid was wanted be a lot of schools. He's a big time player and I think he will get a lot of playing time once he gets clued un to what we're doing."

Elijah Lesu
Position: Wide Receiver/Safety
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Last School: Farrington HS
Hometown: Honolulu, O'ahu

Named to first team all-State as an all-purpose player by The Honolulu Advertiser in 2006...named 2006 OIA Offensive Player of the Year...had 43 receptions for 713 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior...also the starting point guard on the Farrington basketball team.

Jones says: "Elijah is probably the best athlete of the group. He's instinctive and has great vision. We like how he plays. H reminds us of how Chad Owens played. He's has speed and quickness and we're excited about him."

John Manu-Olevao
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 315
High School: Kahuku HS
Hometown: Kahuku, O'ahu

Named all-State as a senior...helped Red raiders to State Championship as a senior...listed in the Top 20 of all college prospects coming out of Hawai'i by Rivals.com...chosen to play in the HUB Goodwill All-Star Game in 2006...rated a two-star player by Rivals.com...chose Hawai'i over UNLV, New Mexico State and Oregon State.

Jones says: "John is exactly what we're looking for at tackle. He's powerful, got great balance, good size and explosion. We think he could potentially be one of those kids who will start for us three or four years once he learned the system. He's a very good athlete."

Vaughn Meatoga
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6-2
Weight: 280
Last School: Kamehameha Schools
Hometown: Kalaheo, Kauai

An all-State and all-league selection as a senior...chosen to play in the HUB Goodwill All-Star Game as a senior...recorded over 40 tackles and had 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries...bench presses 225 pounds 17 times...posts a 4.6 shuttle time...runs a 5.0 40-yard dash...rated a three-star player by Rivals.com...also rated the seventh-best college prospect in Hawai'i by Rivals.com...chose Hawai'i over Nevada, Boise State, Portland State at UNLV.

Jones says: "He has a tremendous chance to contribute right away. He is an instinctive, explosive player. He has the ability to make big plays. He's got that something that Keith Millard, that quickness off the ball, the ability re-direct really fast and just looking at him, he has a chance to be a 315-pounder once he gets out here and on or weight program."

Ryan Mouton
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Last School: Blinn CC
High School: Kady HS
Hometown: Brenham, TX

Named first team NJCAA All-America in 2006...voted team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player at Blinn CC...runs a 4.28 40-yard dash...helped Blinn CC to a 12-0 record and JC Gridwire National Championship in 2006...recorded five interceptions, two returned for touchdowns...also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns...had five sacks in national championship game...rated a four-star player by Scout.com...an all-area selection and Texas Top 100 pick as a senior at Kady High School...chose Hawai'i over Utah, TCU, Arkansas and Boise State.

Jones says: "Ryan is as natural a corner as we've had. He's probably one of the most highly recruited junior college corners in the nation. He's got some work to do, but we think he's got a chance to be maybe one of the best corners we've ever gotten here. He can fly to the football. He has 4.23 speed and can run away from people. He has another gear when he sees the football."

Jeremiah Ostrowski
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
Last School: Punahou School
Hometown: Honolulu, O'ahu

Led the state in receptions (81) and yards (1,317) as a senior in 2006.... also scored 10 touchdowns...a two-time all-State wide receiver, as well as a three-time all-state guard in basketball...rated a two-star player by Rivals.com...chose Hawai'i over Northern Arizona for football, and Santa Clara, Montana State Football and Texas State for basketball.

Jones says: "We think that `Miah' has a great chance to replace Davone (Bess) once he leaves. He's smart and has extreme 25-yard quickness catching the ball and getting away from people. I think he, having done a lot of what we do at Punahou, puts him a little bit ahead of most freshmen that come in."

Erik Robinson
Position: Safety
Height: 5-11
Weight: 193
Last School: Navarro CC
Hometown: Corsicana, TX

A two-time Junior College Preseason All-America pick...led all defensive backs in the nation with 115 total tackles in 2006...also had two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries (including a 60-yd TD return), and two interceptions...an all-conference selection in 2006...runs a 4.46 40-yard dash...rated a three-star player by Scout.com.

Jones says: "I can't wait until Jerry Glanville sees this kid on the field. He's a big time hitter and has got Jacob Patek instincts to the football. He's the real deal. We had a need there with Leonard (Peters) leaving and we think he will be an impact player for us this season. Being from junior college he's a little bit older and more mature. His size and speed is a little different that what we've been used to."

Gabe Tuata
Position: Running Back/Wide Receiver
Height: 5-6
Weight: 170
Last School: Kealakehe HS
Hometown: Kealakehe, Hawai'i

Named second team all-State by The Honolulu Advertiser as a junior in 2005...rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior in 2006...runs a 4.5 40-yard dash...bench presses 260 pounds...has a 32-inch vertical jump...also returned punts and kickoffs, and played cornerback.

Jones says: "Gabe is probably the most exciting player I've ever looked at, next to Barry Sanders, on tape. I don't think I've ever seen a tape like this kid's. He's got great vision and unbelievable quickness. We think that he will be a slot for us or maybe like how Michael Brewster was for us. I don't think anybody can tackle him one-on-one."

Drew Uperesa
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-2
Weight: 245
Last School: Punahou Schools
Hometown: Hauula, O'ahu

Played tackle at Punahou...expected to compete at center or guard...also participated in basketball and track...was 2006 State Shot Put Champion...younger brother of former Warrior offensive tackle Dane Uperesa...chose UH over UNLV.

Jones says: "Drew is a little further along on pass protection than the others because Punahou runs similar schemes to our scheme. He's got great natural balance and he's going to be a pretty good pas protector for us. I think he'll be about 285 or 290 by the time he arrives next January. I would think that he'll be competitive right away when he gets here."