Recap of UH's 25-man recruiting class

About choosing UH over Cincinnati, CB Mike Edwards said:
"Paradise is my next stop. I'm going to be a Warrior." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Edwards and three Volunteers teammates were arrested in November 2009 and charged for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery. They were dismissed from the team. The charges were eventually dropped when it was discovered that the incident was a prank that went wrong, and that the alleged weapon was a BB gun."


About why he picked UH over Cincinnati, Toledo and Mississippi, Edwards said:
"I picked Hawaii because I had a great visit. The coaches were great, especially coach Tony (Tuioti). Just being in that setting is the best situation for me now." (HSA)


About his choosing UH, Edwards said that his family in Ohio are:
"fired up about it." (HSA)


Edwards said that for his family Hawaii:
"will be a great vacation spot for them. For me, it'll be my workplace." (HSA)


About how it was a dream of his to earn a football scholarship, SB Promise Amadi said:
"I'm excited about going to Hawaii." (HSA)


About the ceremony where Tigi Hill and he signed their UH letters, Ben Mamea said of teammate Keoni "Deedee" Tafuna (who died in November):
"I still miss our boy Deedee. He was a great inspiration to all of us, especially me." (HSA)

"I know he's up there smiling down on us." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said Tafuna probably would have played college football."


About how he needs to work hard in school to make it to UH, Mamea said:
"I have to finish strong in school if I want to play for UH in the fall." (HSA)


About how Mamea and Hill need to improve their study habits, Torres said:
"They have to work on their organizational skills and their study skills. They're going to the next level. In college, they're on their own. The university has tutors and good academic support. But mom is not up there. You have other influences. It's not easy for young men to stay the course. They have to be mature early. If they don't, they end up back here, looking for a job and struggling. The university has given them a great opportunity. They have to take advantage of it." (HSA)


About 6'3", 245-pound DL Junior Alexis, Tony Tuioti said:
"He has great upside. He's built like an ox. He blocked for one of the best running backs in the country, DeAnthony Thomas. ... He's going to grow, and he has a frame that will get him to 280. He has a great physique. He's athletic enough to be a great 3-technique when he fills out. He also has the motor to be tough and physical inside." (HSA)


About 6'2", 185-pound QB Justin Alo, Rolo said:
"I was more impressed with Alo in person. He's athletic. He feels connection to the islands. He sees (Bryant) Moniz doing it. He'll compete when he gets here." (HSA)


About 5'10", 185-pound Promise Amadi, Rolo said:
"His name means 'God's Guide.' He catches everything very well with his hands. He has great body control. And that's on top of being a very top student." (HSA)


About 5'11", 180-pound DB Ijumaa Armstrong, Rich Miano said:
"He has the ability to play corner and safety. He's smart, fast and tough. And he has a great offseason work ethic." (HSA)


About 6'1", 185-pound CB Brian Clay, Miano said:
"I think Clay is a lot like John Hardy(-Tuliau), but possibly taller. He's well-coached. He has really good athleticism. He'll hit you." (HSA)


About 6'5", 250-pound DE Craig Cofer, Tuioti said:
"Craig has a great motor. He's great against the run. He's three (years) for three (seasons), so that's like getting another young player. Anytime you can get a motor guy who's constantly after the football, you can't go wrong with that." (HSA)


About 6'4", 255-pound LB Brenden Daley, Brian Smith said:
"The one thing we didn't have was a true middle backer, a guy who can play physical in the box. He was a great leader on his team. He should bring a lot of intensity to the field. He runs to the ball hard. For a big guy, he covers a lot of ground." (HSA)


About 6'1", 165-pound WR Trevor Davis, Rolo said:
"With Trevor Davis, I see a young Royce Pollard. Except what Trevor has is an elusiveness you don't always get with outside receivers." (HSA)


About 6'4", 300-pound OL Ben Dew, Gordy Shaw said:
"He's an outstanding athlete. He has great lateral movement, and he's tremendously strong. He's opening people's eyes with what he can do in the weight room." (HSA)


About 6'4", 210-pound WR Cecil Doe, Shaw said:
"He ran 10.68 (in the 100 meters) his junior year in high school. He's fast, and he's got great hands. We feel fortunate to get him." (HSA)


About 5'10", 185-pound CB Mike Edwards, Miano said:
"He's like Ryan Mouton. He can return punts, and he could be starting for us at corner. We expect great things out of him. He's as talented as we've recruited in 12 years. He has speed, quickness, athleticism and ability." (HSA)


About 6'1", 220-pound LB Penitito Faalologo, Tuioti said:
"He's a hard-nose football player. He's going to grow and fill out. He's the best defensive player, all-around athlete down there in American Samoa. ... He's definitely strong enough to take on the physical aspect of the game." (HSA)


About 6'1", 185-pound WR Chris Gant, Smith said:
"Chris is a dynamic receiver at the JC level. He broke all of their school records and, I believe, led the state in just about every (receiving) category. He's strong with his hands. He has good speed and quickness, and he's very versatile. He could end up being an inside or outside (receiver) for us." (HSA)


About 6'3", 215-pound LB Tyler Gray, Dave Aranda said:
"For a big man, he's very light on his feet. I see him being 6-3, 245 pounds, being an outside guy who can play in space and rush the passer. I like the fact he's played running back. He's played athletic positions, as well as playing linebacker." (HSA)


About 6'0", 200-pound RB Will Gregory, Smith said:
"He's an explosive player. He's got a little Alex Green in him in the sense when he makes a cut, he gets vertical. He has a good burst to him, along with good size. ... We liked him a lot as a safety as well, because of how physical he is." (HSA)


About 6'1", 180-pound WR Ellis Henderson, Rolo said:
"Ellis is a playmaker with great speed. He's a great athlete. We project him at slot. He's effective in the return game. I think he could play slot for us, but he has the speed to stretch the field on the outside." (HSA)


About 6'3", 215-pound S Tigi Hill, Miano said:
"Tigi Hill is probably the best athlete in Hawaii in terms of size, speed, athleticism and versatility. He's a big-time player, and a good kid." (HSA)


About 6'2", 230-pound RB Jared Leaf, Smith said:
"I think he fits our offense well. He's big and physical. We know he can handle the protection. He's got good lateral movements. He can make people miss. He plays with good pad level. He runs hard. He's going to be able to break tackles, and get you some extra yards." (HSA)


About 6'1", 228-pound LB Ben Mamea, Miano said:
"Mamea is the best linebacker in Hawaii. People made comparisons, his sophomore year, to Manti Te'o. And obviously, Manti is one of the best linebackers in the country. But Ben has potential to be a big-time linebacker for us." (HSA)


About 6'5", 285-pound OL Blake Buir, Shaw said:
"He has all of the ingredients to become a tremendous lineman. He has athletic ability, exceptional strength. And he's a very good student." (HSA)


About 6'4", 275-pound OL Thomas Olds, Shaw said:
"He can play center or tackle. He's very athletic. He has great hips, excellent flexibility. He's a very aggressive football player. You can do a lot of things with him." (HSA)


About 6'1", 185-pound CB Mike Sellers, Miano said:
"Mike Sellers is kind of a hidden gem. So far the reviews are this kid is tough, smart, fast and talented." (HSA)


About 6'1", 205-pound LB Kendrick Van Ackeren, Miano said:
"Kendrick is a versatile kid who can play linebacker or safety. He also played offense, at quarterback. He's a football player. He's kind of like an Aaron Brown." (HSA)


About 6'1", 235-pound LB Justin Vele, Tuioti said:
"He's athletic. I think he's similar to Penitito (Faalologo) in that he's very physical. He can play the middle for us at linebacker. He also can be an outside linebacker. He's athletic against the pass and physical against the run." (HSA)


About 6'4", 250-pound DE Tavita Woodard, Tuioti said:
"He's big-time, man." (HSA)


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