For a while, Hawaii football coaches began to feel they’d been left high and dry on the recruiting trail for Tigi Hill.

In a Kapahulu restaurant in January, Hill, a safety at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, said he would accept a football scholarship from the Warriors. This past weekend, Hill called from Arizona to say UH was one of five schools he was considering.

"That’s 20 percent," UH coach Norm Chow recalled glumly.

Then Wednesday morning, the first day recruits may signing National Letters of Intent this period, Hill could not be reached.

"I was second-guessing myself," Hill admitted.

A half-hour before a news conference to announce UH’s recruiting class, Hill signed with the Warriors. He faxed a copy to UH.

"I wanted to make sure UH was the right fit," said Hill, a 2011 Kahuku High graduate who pondered offers from Auburn, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arizona State. "After thinking and praying, UH felt right."

While acknowledging the situation was "stressful," Chow said: "We like to compete. We competed today."

Indeed, the Warriors withstood several challenges to assemble one of their top recruiting classes in several years.

They signed six of the 11 Hawaii high school players they pursued, including Kahuku running back Aofaga Wily and Waianae defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii. Chow said the two were considered their top offensive and defensive targets locally.

Washington sent Tulimasealii a letter of intent Wednesday morning. A New Jersey newspaper reported that receiver Keith Kirkwood had de-committed from UH and signed with Rutgers. That report proved to be false. Despite objections from key family members, Kirkwood signed with UH.

The Warriors were not done. They also received an oral commitment from running back/defensive tackle David "The Horse" Fangupo of Kealakehe High. He turned down offers from Brigham Young and Georgia Tech. He said he will sign in two weeks after taking the SAT.