‘Iolani’s Borden commits to UH

The University of Hawaii football team has received a deposit on a future lineman.

Kamuela Borden of ‘Iolani School has made an oral commitment to accept a football scholarship from the Rainbow Warriors.

Borden, who will be a senior this fall, plans to go on a two-year church mission following his ‘Iolani graduation in June 2015. There are five Warriors recruits who are either serving or set to leave on missions.

Borden, who played offensive tackle for the Raiders last season, said he projects to play on the defensive line or outside linebacker in college.

‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said Borden is "athletic enough to play anywhere on the defensive and offensive front. He’s definitely smart enough to do that. He’s very athletic. He’s very intelligent. He competes."

Borden, who is 6-foot-3, weighed 225 pounds as the Raiders’ starting left tackle in 2013. He now weighs 240.

"I can see him playing at 270, 280, easily," Look said.

Borden also is a long-snapper.

"Which is a plus," Look said. "He’s a pretty good long-snapper. He can run and he can cover.

"Any time you can bring a special skill, whether you play offense or defense, to the equation, that’s definitely a plus."

Borden also competes in basketball and track and field. He was the 2014 state champion in the shot put (52 feet, 7 inches) and ILH champion in the discus (153-9). He won the Raider Award as the top underclassman student-athlete.

Borden’s father, Russell, played for the Pac-Five team that won the 1982 Oahu Prep Bowl. His older brother, Kawika, is a UH safety.

Kamuela Borden said he met with coaches from Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State and UCLA. But he said he "wanted to stay at home and play in front of my family. It was my choice."

Borden said his family has attended UH football games for many years.

"I like the coaches," Borden said. "I like that my brother’s on the team."