McMackin on Wednesday announced the commitments of 25 players on national signing day, including 19 prep players and six junior college transfers.

"I’m really excited about this class," he said. "It’s a very talented group, a very fast group, very athletic. They’re going to complement the players we have in our program right now."

The class includes 13 from California, five from Hawaii, two from Washington, one from Ohio and others from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa. McMackin said three-quarters of the group could find playing time this season.

"Of the players we visited and offered, we got 80 percent of them," McMackin said. "If you’re at 30 percent, 40 percent, you’re pretty good. But we’re at 80 percent."

McMackin said the "coup of the class," is cornerback Mike Edwards, a former prized prep recruit out of Cleveland, Ohio.

"He’s going to be a Warrior because he loved the people of Hawaii, the coaches, he loved everything about this place and he could’ve gone anywhere in the nation," McMackin said. "He’s a shutdown corner, great person. He is just a class act."

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Edwards played eight games as a freshman at Tennessee in 2009 and registered five tackles but was dismissed from the Volunteers after he and other teammates were arrested in an attempted armed robbery at a Knoxville convenience store.

A year ago, Edwards pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment as part of a plea deal that allowed him to have a clean record if he stays out of trouble for two years. He transferred to a junior college in Kansas where he redshirted.

"I love Mike," McMackin said. "Mike came here and made a great impression on everybody…All charges were dropped. Everything is over with."

The Warriors are known for accepting players who have had run-ins with the law and turning them into star players and model citizens, including former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and receiver Davone Bess.

McMackin was glowing while showing high school video highlights of Edwards, calling him "the real deal."

"This is what Shawn Springs’ (high school) tape looked like," said McMackin, referring to the former defensive back he coached as defensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Warriors are coming off a 10-4 season and included a 62-35 loss to Tulsa in the Hawaii Bowl. They need to fill several key departures including receivers Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares and running back Alex Green. On defense, Hawaii lost star defensive backs Jeramy Bryant and Mana Silva.

Linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren of Bellevue High School in Washington selected Hawaii over Washington. He played quarterback and safety, helping Bellevue to a 13-1 record in 2010 and third straight state championship.

Hawaii also signed three of the islands’ top prep prospects including Farrington linebacker Justin Vele and two players from Kahuku High School in linebacker Ben Mamea and safety Tigi Hill.

"Most of these guys can flat fly and that’s what we’re after — speed," McMackin said.

The coach said he recruited to the team’s needs, which included defensive backs and offensive linemen.

Other notable players include receiver Chris Gant, a junior college standout at Moorpark College in California.

The Warriors also signed a quarterback, Justin Alo from Carson High School in California. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Alo passed for 2,532 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior and led Carson to the City Sectional Division I championship game.

"He’s a bigger Bryant Moniz," McMackin said.