Nathan Mageo commits to the Warriors!

Confirming his commitment to the Warriors, Nathan Mageo said:
"Yes, I'm going to be a Warrior." (HA)

HA Note: "Mageo, who was raised in American Samoa, will enroll at UH in January, and will participate in the offseason conditioning program and spring training. He has three years to play two seasons. Mageo, who is 6 feet 3 and 278 pounds, is capable of bench pressing 360 pounds and running 40 yards in under 5 seconds. He turned down scholarship offers from North Carolina State, Kansas State, Arizona, Baylor, Troy and Southern Methodist."

About choosing UH, Mageo said:
"I chose Hawai'i because I like the defense, and I like the coaching staff. I feel comfortable here." (HA)

HA Note: "Patolo Mageo said his son has several relatives in Hawai'i."

About how he is close to his son, Patolo Mageo said:
"I talk to him every day. I want to see how he's progressing academically. His coach tells me how he's doing, too." (HA)

HA Note: "Nathan Mageo was a standout athlete at Samoana High School. He said he aspired to pattern his play after the style used by Samoana alumnus Isa'ako Sopoaga, a former UH defensive tackle now in his fifth season with the San Francisco 49ers."

Mageo said that he also competed in rugby and rowing, but football was always his favorite:
"I grew up loving the game." (HA)

About Mageo, NMMI head coach Jeff Lynn said:
"He's a real good player. He's a big, strong defensive tackle." (HA)

HA Note: "In the Broncos' 4-4 scheme, Mageo was the shade tackle, aligned across from the center. Through 10 games this season, he had 26 tackles, including 12 for losses, and 2 1/2 sacks."

About how Mageo's stats are even more impressive than they look on paper, Lynn said:
"Most of the time he was double-teamed. To have those kinds of stats is pretty remarkable." (HA)

Lynn said that Mageo is:
"big and strong with a good motor. He always plays hard. He's a super person. He's a strong student. He's a good leader for us. We never had an ounce of trouble from him."(HA)

HA Note: "Patolo Mageo said his son remains grounded by focusing on his studies and serving as a church leader. Patolo Mageo is the director of the Agape Church in American Samoa."

About how he places academics over athletics, Patolo Mageo said:
"I spoke to the (UH) coaches, and told them what I was looking for as a father. The No. 1 priority is academics. I want him to graduate. Second is football. Hawai'i's program is very good." (HA)

About how his son has a strong interest in his Samoan heritage, Patolo Mageo said:
"Whenever he comes home, he helps me make the umu (a method of cooking). He always keeps his culture and his customs." (HA)

HA Note: "Mageo said Hawai'i's large Polynesian population was influential in his decision."

Patolo Mageo added:
"this is a good place to play." (HA)

About how his son has always been large, Patolo Mageo laughed and said:
"When he was born, my sister called him a 'giant.' " (HA)