Waianae star Tulimasealii plans to do more with less

There’s a little less of him to love.

Kennedy Tulimasealii plans to keep it that way.

The two-time all-state defensive tackle has been ahead of the competition despite the lack of attention. Waianae, once a superpower during the Cold War era, is still a postseason threat. Air time, however, remains minimal, both on TV and in a revamped offense that still includes the traditional Wing T. That’s why Tulimasealii’s tenacious, athletic play in the trenches often sticks out.

And he did it last year, as a junior, while playing at "300-plus" pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. Waianae fell to eventual state champion Kahuku 20-16 in the league playoffs, limiting the Red Raiders to one of their lowest offensive outputs (216 yards) of the year.

"He’s understanding now the possibilities for his future. He’s got a lot of people looking at him and rightfully so.”

—Waianae coach Danny Matsumoto, on defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii, shown, who has slimmed down from 300-plus pounds to 280.

During the offseason, Tulimasealii set his goal and went to work. He shaved off a lot of weight and grew an inch to 6-2. As of this week, he is at 280, and clearly looks leaner.

He’s certainly happier, and he is not shy about being a leader for one of the state’s top defensive units.

"I’m trying to slim down to get to 270. I was kind of quick (above 300), but I never felt like that was the weight I should play at. I wanted to see what my ability is like at 270. I feel lighter on my feet. I feel confident in myself."

It took a real commitment with a tangible target.

"I was training over here (at Waianae) and with my church, going around and help serve the community," he said, noting workouts with assistant coaches like Bernard Beaver.

The biggest change, though, was simply cutting carbs.

"I ate less rice. My mom and them helped me eat less rice. One scoop and I can eat anything else," Tulimasealii said.

Even at 280 pounds — or 270 — there won’t be any breaks for opposing quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen. Tulimasealii has made a habit of slicing through blocking schemes to terrorize ballcarriers before they could blink twice. Not that he is adverse to a pure bull rush now and then.

Among the top vote-getters in the Star-Advertiser Football Top Players preseason list, no other player drew as much praise from both offensive- and defensive-minded coaches. Tulimasealii’s biggest fans, though, are right on campus.

"He’s been motivated, seeing a lot of different coaches coming here. He’s understanding now the possibilities for his future," head coach Danny Matsumoto said. "He’s got a lot of people looking at him and rightfully so."

A fairly young Waianae squad has clear leadership.

"Even at practice, he and the other captains have brought the team together. He keeps it up-tempo, which is good. They look up to him as a leader. He’s been such a big factor for this team," Matsumoto said.

Tulimasealii’s winning personality won’t show much during the Oahu Interscholastic Association season, not with Waianae’s bleachers officially condemned. The Seariders have no home games this fall.

"We’re road warriors this year. We’ll get the guys pumped up every time," he said of the coming weekly role of villain.

While other elite players have received dozens and dozens of scholarship offers, there hasn’t been a lot swirling around Tulimasealii. The main reason: academics. However, he has squared up in the classroom in the past year, with help from Matsumoto, a college counselor on campus.

Tulimasealii has earned a 3.25 grade-point average for the past two quarters, and is also aiming to increase his SAT score. On top of that, he has already passed Algebra II with a C, which means he has cleared one of the toughest obstacles to qualifying for entrance at the University of Hawaii.

"My grades are a lot better than they used to be. I’m really close to qualifying," he said.

For now, his focus is on Waianae’s season and staying on point with defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Jason Hussey.

"It feels like we bonded over the summer. We’re real close," Tulimasealii said. "Coach Hussey is really on us, but he’s very funny and a hard-working coach. Everybody’s disciplined because of him."

OFFENSIVE LINE

The technician in John Wa’a is matched by the aggressor.

The 6-foot-3, 281-pound UH commit heads a very deep crop at O-line, which is traditionally one of the biggest harvests for recruiters.

Wa’a’s consistency is one reason why he was an all-state, first-team selection by coaches and media last year, and he was the leading vote-getter, to boot.

The list includes nationally touted Reeve Koehler of Saint Louis and two "Bamboolas" from Farrington. Charles Sataraka and Michael Boyd are among four returning starters there, and the group’s ability to expand their range is a key step forward.

The list is deep enough through more than 30 names, all of whom have college potential. The sleeper could be Dhavin Spencer-Basa (6-3, 285), a senior transfer from Campbell who is now playing on Molokai’s 8-man team.

QUARTERBACKS

On numbers alone, Jarin Morikawa has no peer among signal callers.

An all-state, second-team pick as a junior, he averaged 260.6 yards per game through the air, including a 397-yard performance against Leilehua. However, as the Trojans focus more on ball control this season, Morikawa’s numbers could drop substantially. The trade-off, though, is that Mililani could win more close games and keep its defense from being exhausted in fourth quarters. In addition, Morikawa’s top two targets, Deshawn Duncan-Benson and Kaimi Wilson, have graduated.

Keelan Ewaliko (Baldwin), Reece Foy (‘Iolani) and Larry "Tui" Tuileta (Punahou) head the rest of the quarterbacks. Ewaliko, a UH commit, is a thrilling playmaker in the open field. He may benefit from the return of former quarterback Jordan Helle, now an assistant coach.

Foy, the best scrambler of the bunch, will return this week after suffering a laceration to his hip recently.

RUNNING BACKS

Tyler Taumua was on pace for a record-breaking season in 2011 before nagging injuries caught up with him.

Farrington’s ground-and-pound attack left Taumua, a shifty, savvy ballcarrier, vulnerable to hits against defenses that stacked the box with eight or more tacklers. Taumua fell short of the 1,800-yard mark, but had been on track to surpass 2,000 yards. But it might be Aofaga Wily who gets a clear shot at the magic number. The Kahuku senior started last season with an ankle injury that dragged him down. He finished strong as Kahuku captured the state title, and he’s fit as the new season unwinds.

Wily has grown into a 6-1, 202-pound speedster, and his vision will be key behind a relatively young O-line. Taumua has the advantage of a hard-working, veteran group out front, and if they can run a toss sweep now and then, their star back will take less pounding.

As a whole, the RBs have a lot of talent that hasn’t produced big numbers just yet. Waipahu’s Matapua Tulafale will benefit from the team’s move back to the spread option.

RECEIVERS

This is another position with more potential than actual returning producers.

Jeremy Tabuyo’s scintillating numbers — 4.34 in the 40 at the PIAA Combine last May — are amazing. The senior suffered a season-ending knee injury last year, but shows no signs of letting up. He committed to Texas A&M in July.

But even with Tabuyo, none of this year’s returnees had major numbers in ’11. That opens the door of opportunity for burners like Keoni Piceno, who transferred from Campbell to Leilehua, Daicorri Briscoe (Pearl City), and ILH speedsters like Alii Pedrina, Tanner Nishioka and Devan Stubblefield.

The surprise could be Kalaheo’s Nainoa Frank, who had a stellar season as a sophomore before bowing out with an injury last year. The all-state volleyball player has grown to 6-6 and has outstanding hops.

A sleeper could be Kahuku defensive end Lamone Williams (6-3, 238), who figures to be a fixture in the red-zone offense as a tight end. Coach Reggie Torres says Williams is a supreme run blocker, too. 

DEFENSIVE LINE

Like O-line, this group is loaded to the maximum.

While playmakers like Ualesi Sale (Aiea) and recruit magnets like Scott Pagano (Moanalua) have plenty of attention, there is a depth that is breathtaking, well beyond Titus Failauga (Pac-Five) — who has grown to 6-4, 245 — and Kamalei Correa (Saint Louis).

Lamone Williams (Kahuku) has turned heads this fall with his play at DE, and he’s only a junior. Miki Fangatua (Baldwin) was often unblockable in a state-tourney win over Farrington last year.

But the next 25 to 30 D-linemen will also impress. Among them are big boys with potential (Jeremiah Taleni of Kailua), powerful stoppers slightly off the radar (Hercules Mata’afa of Lahainaluna) and youngsters in the spotlight (Canton Kaumatule, a 6-6, 259-pound Punahou sophomore).

LINEBACKERS

Punahou’s Isaac Savaiinaea, with all of the Pac-12 suitors and commitment to Stanford, is a prototype at 6-3, 231 pounds.

But when it comes to pure motors, Johnny Tapusoa of Kahuku is right there with the best. Tapusoa is heavier this year, but BYU liked him enough last season to offer him a scholarship, which he accepted.

The top 10 is loaded with college prospects — Saint Louis’ Colton Goeas (Tennessee), Baldwin’s Jordan Hoiem (offers from UH and three others) and Kahuku’s Rashaan Falemalu (UH). But Waipahu’s Wesley Nagaseu and Campbell’s Solomon Leano are hammers in the gaps.

Youngsters like Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta (McKinley) and Fitou Fisiiahi (Kaiser) are two-way blasters. Along with Hoiem, they are juniors who could rise higher on this list. Fisiiahi is recovering from a foot injury suffered during a rugby tournament in Argentina two weeks ago.

Sua Atanoa, a 255-pound two-way starter at Kalaheo, is one of the sleepers at this spot.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Kawehena Johnson is a proven performer at the highest level, one of last year’s self-named ‘Sharks’ in Kahuku’s masterful secondary.

Kaeo Kanoa of Kapolei had seven picks last season, and Jacob Lacadan of Saint Louis was off to a promising start before an injury derailed him.

Shawn Kagawa, an all-state basketball player at KS-Hawaii, has risen to elite level after some excellent times at combines. But as a group, the DBs have shown more potential than anything so far.

‘Iolani’s core of talented ballhawks will get a test tomorrow against a Konawaena team that promises to throw all night.

A number of defenders here could rise from the "on the cusp" list, including Jayven "Bubba" Mohetau of Kahuku, Roger Boyd (Farrington), Chaz Shizimura (Punahou) and Shai Pulawa (Leilehua).

PLACEKICKERS