Feature on the recruiting process for John Hardy-Tuilau

About watching John Hardy-Tuilau's FG block with the score tied late in the UH-Army game, Rich MIano said:
"I watched his 'get offm' and I'm like, 'It's going to be blocked.' You could just see it from the 'get off.' His 'get off' is phenomenal. The way he times the snap count, the way he's first toward the ball ... just phenomenal." (HSA)


HSA Note: "His play also has earned him a special role as a defensive back for Saturday's road game against Colorado."


Praising Hardy-Tuilau, Mack said:
"I like everything about him. I like his speed. I like his smarts. He's tall (5-foot-11), and he's quick, really quick. He has agility. You name it. He has those qualities." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Now rewind, to more than a year ago, when Tony Tuioti, then in charge of coordinating UH's recruiting, learned of a trifecta of California players. Hardy-Tuliau and Bubba Poueu-Luna were cousins and high school seniors. Siaki Cravens, who was enrolled at a junior college after transferring from Utah, was their training partner. Through various contacts, each had an interest in playing for the Warriors."


About how the first step in their recruiting process is to look at the videos, Tony Tuioti talked about watching Hardy-Tuilau's kick-blocking talents and thinking:
"He's special." (HSA)


About Hardy-Tuilau, Dave Aranda said:
"He was a legend back in his hometown of Murrieta (Calif.). Everybody knows him there." (HSA)


About making a home visit to Hardy-Tuilau, Aranda said:
"He has a great family, such strong family support." (HSA)


About watching videos of all 13 kicks that Hardy-Tuilau blocked (he had 26 blocks in high school) as a senior in 2009, Miano said:
"I saw him coming off the edge. I saw how low he could get, which meant he had great hip flexibility; how he accelerated; how he had a knack for going for the block, which takes courage." (HSA)


About reviewing Hardy-Tuilau's videos as a DB, Miano said:
"I didn't really have to get to the defensive back stuff. When I did, I could see how he hit people, and his athleticism. But there was so much more to him." (HSA)


HSA Note: "In Hardy-Tuliau's file, there were transcripts of strong grades. There were letters detailing his volunteer work. McMackin said Hardy-Tuliau was placed near the top of UH's recruiting board."


Confused how Hardy-Tuilau was overlooked by other schools, Miano said:
"I'm dumbfounded how Pac-10 schools didn't recruit a kid who's 5-11, 6 feet; who's linear; who has great change of direction. His biolog ical father (John Hardy) was an NFL player. I was thinking, do we even have a chance?" (HSA)


About how they offered Hardy-Tuilau a scholarship and he accepted, Aranda (the lead recruiter for Hardy-Tuilau) said:
"We were able to make an offer, and he was happy to come on board." (HSA)


HSA Note: "The Warriors also signed Poueu-Luna and Cravens. This summer, UH implemented a bridge session. The UH recruits were allowed to take two three-credit courses in a session that led to the start of training camp. The session gave the newcomers a jump-start on accumulating credits toward a degree, as well as six weeks to get acclimated to college life."


Happy to be at UH, Hardy-Tuilau said:
"I'm really happy here. I like the people, and the coaches, and the program." (HSA)


HSA Note: "He accomplished his first goal of playing this season. He is a member of three special-teams units, as well as a cornerback. This week, he has been practicing at nickel back."


About his parents moving to Kapolei, Hardy-Tuilau said:
"It's good to have them out here." (HSA)


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