The Recruits

Stephen Tsai talks to the coaches who talk about this year's recruiting class.

UH coach Greg McMackin dismissed talk of the lack of four-star recruits, insisting that he valued his staff's evaluation of talent over scouting-service rankings.

"I'm excited about this class," McMackin said.

The feeling, apparently, is mutual.

"It's chicken-skin time," Kapolei High linebacker Tu'ulauena Lolohea said after signing his letter. "It feels good to finally get it written down. I'm ready to play for Hawai'i."

Jason Kaneshiro has a signing day wrap-up.

The Warriors received 26 letters on signing day, and UH head coach Greg McMackin said the class isn't complete just yet, with the staff continuing to recruit a kicker.

"We are going to scholarship a kicker, we need competition at that position and we need to get better at that position," McMackin said.

McMackin said the staff emphasized adding size and speed to the roster in crafting the latest class.

For the size element, the class includes five offensive linemen -- four 6-foot-4 or taller -- seven defensive linemen and five linebackers.

As for speed, the Warriors signed five receivers to replenish the ranks when they lose six following the upcoming season and two prep cornerbacks.

"We think we've recruited to help us for the future, and some of these guys are going to complement us right away," McMackin said.

Dave Reardon writes about the ones that got away and the ones who decided to go to UH.

The new Warriors linebackers are big ... we'll find out if they can run and pass cover. I saw the new quarterback, Kevin Spain, make a pretty pass to his left while running right ... I don't know if he can make all the throws, but I know for sure he can make one of the more difficult ones.

There are five receivers, including diminutive speedster Allen Sampson from Plant High in the Tampa area. Plant is a perennial Florida powerhouse, and "Turbo's" high school teammate could be the nation's No. 1 prospect next year. Running back James Wilder, Jr., will likely choose Florida or Florida State ... but go ahead, dreaming is free.

Rivals.com's Barry Every writes about five super sleepers that bigger schools passed up on but who could make a big impact. One of the players highlighted is Kevin Spain.

DQB Kevin Spain, Phoenix (Ariz.) Paradise Valley (Hawaii)
Spain (6-3, 190) has played in a run-oriented offense for most of his career. Because of that fact, his stats over the past two years seem fairly pedestrian (2,494 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes). But it’s his combination of arm strength, size and athletic ability that reminds me of Wyoming quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels - who was the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year. Spain earned top quarterback honors at the National Underclassmen Combine held last February in Arizona. He followed up that performance with a good showing at the Las Vegas Elite11. He has the ability to make unscripted yards with his feet. He is also mobile enough to buy more time in the pocket while defensive coverages break down. If Spain can pick up the pass-happy offense while improving his footwork, I expect him to put up huge numbers - on the ground and through the air - for Hawaii before his career is over.

Dee Maggitt's high school coach thinks UH got a sleeper as well.

“In my mind, Dee (Maggitt) is the best corner we’ve ever had at Lakes,” Miller said. “I don’t want to sound too harsh, but I think Washington and Washington State missed out.”

Allen Sampson's high school coach has a lot of good things to say about his player.

"Allen is one of the most electric players that I've ever seen," Plant coach Robert Weiner said of Sampson, who led the Panthers last season with 39 receptions for 671 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had two interceptions and three returns for touchdowns, averaging 11.3 yards on punt returns and 37.3 yards on kickoffs.

"He is the kind of player that makes you stop coaching and start watching like an excited spectator," Weiner said. "And to top it off, he is an even better human being."

And Dominick Sierra talks about his life-long goal of signing with UH.

As for the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Sierra, choosing Hawaii was a life-long goal.

"Hawaii looked at me and my friend Joshua Quezada. I always wanted to go there," Sierra said. "He got an offer, so I was going to try real hard (to also get an offer)."

Sierra's father, Felix, recalled his son had been infatuated with Hawaii for some time.

"He came back after a 2003 Pop Warner Tournament and told me he wanted to go there," Felix Sierra said. "I just remember thinking `Oh sure."'

UPDATE: David Simon of The Garden Island talks to Sean Shigematsu about becoming a Warrior.

Even though he knew about seven months ago that he would likely end up as a Warrior, Wednesday’s events were still exciting and a lot to handle.

“Today was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “But it was exciting to be able to represent my family, my school, the island and UH.”

The jump up from the KIF to a Division I program can be a daunting one, but Shigematsu seems to know what to expect and sees the challenge as one he is prepared to handle.

“Guys are going to be a lot bigger, but I’ll be able to handle my own once I get up to their stature,” he said.