Maui News feature on GM and recruiting

About how he will visit all of the schools in Hawaii and establish relationships with all of the coaches, in an effort to keep all of the local boys in Hawaii, GM said:
“You know, we are always looking at a place like Maui. But definitely in the future, when we go out this spring, I want to personally get into every high school in the state of Hawaii, get to know the coaches and hopefully get all the coaches to a clinic in the spring. That is a big goal of the spring. We will always have to complement them with Mainland players, but we want to keep the local boys in their home in Hawaii.’’ (MN)

About the talent in Hawaii, GM said:
“Hawaii is the top state per capita for having guys in the NFL, so that is a pretty good indicator of how much talent there is in this state. Sometimes we don’t get the specific guys coming out, but we will always be able to get our linemen from Hawaii and Samoa. We have got great athletes in the state of Hawaii every year.’’ (MN)

MN Note: "McMackin said the Warriors had five commitments so far for their 14 scholarship openings – a number that is limited because he is honoring scholarship agreements to several “grayshirts,’’ players who delay enrollment for a season so a school can stay within the scholarship limits."

About how they are recruiting Hawaii well, GM said:
“I can’t talk about any recruiting, but we are looking at the whole state of Hawaii. We really have only two more weekends. We are really getting a late start, but 90 percent of our team is coming back, so we are more in the mode of supplementing, getting depth.’’ (MN)

About how they need recruits at QB, WR, and a JC CB, GM said:
“We need some very, very specific positions. We lost our ’fab five’ on offense – QB and the receivers. We would would like to bring in another (junior college) corner. The fronts and ’backers are in pretty good shape, but we still need to get more depth.’’ (MN)

MN Note: "McMackin said that 25 players are taking official visits this weekend and about the same number will be in next weekend."

Asked if UH would play a spring game or nonconference regular-season game on Maui, GM said:
“I tell you what, I am thinking about one thing, recruiting; well maybe four or five things, but number one is recruiting for our football team and making sure I have met with them. Then buying a house, and getting my family over here, and assembling a coaching staff, those are my priorities. When we get recruiting done, we will dive into spring ball and what we do in future and that kind of thing. I wouldn’t rule anything out, but it has been such a whirlwind, I haven’t had time to think about anything else.’’ (MN)

MN Note: "As of Thursday, McMackin had not even signed his contract, although he said that is only a formality."

About the support he has been given in the state, GM said:
“It has just gone on and on. I think it is because of the season and the players, the acceptance of the football team and the staff. It has been amazing to me, very humbling. I just feel really good about being here and bringing my family here – living in paradise, but with a lot great people.’’ (MN)