Recruiting updates from the Advertiser

About how NLI day is today, Mac said:
"There are two minutes left in the game, and we're in the red zone." (HA)

HA Note: "But according to people close to the situation, the coaches had a recruiting meeting yesterday morning. Two numbers were posted: 80 and 90. Of their scholarship offers, about 80 percent of them were accepted. Of those who accepted, they believe 90 percent will honor their commitments. But estimates must be adjusted. Long Beach (Calif.) Poly defensive end Iuta Tepa will sign with UCLA. Palo Verdes (Nev.) linebacker Liloa Nobriga will go to Colorado. Wai'anae High defensive tackle Wade Keli'ikipi is leaning toward accepting a late-scholarship offer from Oregon."

About how Kapolei LB Chad Lopati is split between UH and Oregon State, Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said:
"Chad is taking it to the midnight hour." (HA)

HA note: "What's more, three other UH recruits have not met the academic requirements, and offensive tackle Pierce Burton decided to sign with San Jose State. UH was going to bring Burton in as a grayshirt; Burton will join the Spartans this summer."

About how Arizona and Colorado State made late pushes to recruit him, George Daily-Lyles said:
"They were really pushing. But I'm going to be a Warrior. They are pretty much the NFL team of Hawai'i. The people of Hawai'i are really cool. They really stood out to me. And I love the coaching staff and coach McMackin." (HA)

About choosing UH over Oregon and Arizona State, safety Aaron Brown said:
"Signing with Hawai'i is an obvious decision. It wasn't a hard decision at all." (HA)

About his recruiting visit the weekend UH played Cincinnati, Brown said:
"I got to see the fans and meet the team. It's a great atmosphere. And the coaches are great." (HA)

HA Note: "UCLA is on the academic quarter system. Masch had hoped he would be able to join the Bruins at next month's start of the new quarter and participate in spring practice. But he was told the Bruins also were out of mid-year scholarships, and he would not be able to report until summer. With all starting dates being equal, he decided to turn down the UCLA offer and sign with UH."

About choosing UH, Zach Masch said:
"I'm stoked for Hawai'i. Who wouldn't want to spend two years in Hawai'i for free and play for a great program?" (HA)

Mac said that he believes they got a lot of quality players and that:
"we competed against some big-time programs. We competed hard." (HA)

Praising Tony Tuioti and his assistant coaches, Mac said:
"They worked really hard." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin said recruiting is "the lifeblood" of a football program, and that the signings are "four- and five-year" investments. McMackin said Tuioti has helped craft a system in which the Warriors will know their position needs and available scholarships for the next five years. McMackin said he wants to avoid a top-heavy situation like last season, when there were 35 seniors. That is forcing the Warriors, who had to rebuild the offense last year, to focus on restocking the defense with this year's new scholarships."

HA Note: "Kevin Bell of Kelly Walsh High in Casper, Wyo., will compete at placekicker. Brett Symonds, who redshirted in 2008, also will challenge for the job. Kahuku High's St. John Lessary will join UH as a preferred walk-on, and will compete for the punter's job. And Ingram's younger brother, Luke Ingram, is expected to compete for the long-snapper's job."

About UH's push for Jray Galeai, who committed to BYU two years ago, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
"The best trip he had was UH's. He enjoyed it." (HA)