Veni Manu commits to the Warriors!

About giving his commitment to the Warriors, Mililani DE Veni Manu said:
"I'm very happy to be a Warrior. I think coach (Greg McMackin) is a great coach, and I want to play for him." (HA)

HA Note: "Manu is 6 feet 4 and 227 pounds. At this year's Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance combine, Manu bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. He has been rated as a 3-star prospect. His father, Tika Manu, was a defensive end at Utah who went on to play for the Miami Dolphins."

About Veni, Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said:
"He's a great kid. He's always got a smile on his face. You love to coach a kid like him because he always wants to get better. He's constantly asking questions. When his position coach speaks, his eyes and ears are on his coach. You can see he wants to become a good football player." (HA)

About Ma'a Tanuvasa (former DL at UH and in the NFL who is his position coach), Veni said:
"He's a really good coach. He helps me out a lot." (HA)

About how Veni has a good motor, Arceneaux said:
"He's got one of those drives. He loves to play the game, and play it as hard as he can. He's got a motor that doesn't stop. He doesn't like coming out of the game. He loves to compete. He's one of those guys who makes the guys around him better. When you make people around you better, you know you're dealing with someone special. He's a gifted athlete." (HA)

About how Veni is one of a few Mililani players who should transition easily to D I-A football, Arceneaux said:
"He's a man already. I'm blessed to have a couple of kids like that. They could be playing college football right now, at least competing with those type of student-athletes. (Manu has) the build and he's learning the game. That's the part you like to see. He doesn't just use his size, he uses his techniques. He's very fundamental. He's only going to get better when he gets around the UH coaches. Coach McMackin has worked with former NFL stars like Warren Sapp and different guys like that. D-line coaches like (UH's) Dave Aranda and Ikaika Malloe are only going to help further grow his process of being a complete lineman." (HA)

About how Veni will be one of Mililani's team captains this season, Arceneaux said:
"He's not a guy of many words, but when he says something, everybody listens. He makes his point. He's not an 'I' guy. He's not flashy. He just wants to go out there and play football. He wants to do his job to the fullest, and make his defense a better defense by his play." (HA)

About how he knew that he would choose UH after attending their camp last month, Veni said:
"UH is all I wanted. The biggest thing is I like Coach Mack as a coach and as a person. He's super cool. And staying home was another big thing." (HA)

HA Note: "UH already has received 2009 commitments from wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, slotback Deondre Powell and quarterback Corey Nielsen of Gahr High School in California, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and linebacker T.J. Alofipo of Silverado High School in Las Vegas."

Praising Veni, Arceneaux said:
"He's a player you love to coach." (HSB)

"He's not very flashy in what he does, he doesn't need all the glamour, he's an old-school throwback. He just puts his pads on and goes out and plays football. He's a very coachable kid, always looking to learn more about the game. He's a leader by example, and when he speaks all the kids listen. He's just a great kid and I'm glad things are working out for him." (HSB)