Recruiting brings more angst than joy to a fairly large segment of the University of Hawaii football fan base. Today, on the eve of its home game against Utah State, some don’t see a 5-3 team contending for a second consecutive conference championship. Instead of a large, solid and pretty house, they look deeper and perceive a rotten foundation that means the house will crumble.
The pessimistic vibe is brought about not only by outscoring sad-sack Idaho by just two points last week, but a complaint of talent deprivation due to subpar recruiting.
There is some basis for this mind-set. Many of the best mainland programs farm the islands for the top prospects in a state disproportionately rich in talent. It’s nothing new, but remains a frustrating problem for the Warriors and their fans. Until the day that UH is in a conference as prestigious as the ones that come calling for the islands’ best prospects, it faces a competitive disadvantage in recruiting.
That day may never come, the Pac-12 remains a pipedream and UH’s new home, the Mountain West, status becomes shakier with the loss of TCU and BYU and possible departure of Boise State.
David Lefotu, who has emerged as a starter at right guard as a second-year freshman, doesn’t let any of that bother him.
Lefotu, an All-Stater from Pearl City who was recruited by last year’s national runner-up, Oregon, is one who didn’t get away. He sees a bright future for the Warriors and that’s why he stayed home instead of going to a bigger stage.
"At the beginning of my junior year I wanted to go off the island and get away and grow up by myself," Lefotu said after Thursday’s practice. "But after the (Hawaii) visit, I didn’t take any other visits. It was my only one. I don’t regret it at all."
Lefotu said he made a oral commitment to UH after a camp prior to his senior season. At another camp on Maui a week later, he was offered by Oregon but turned it down. California and other suitors got the message and stopped calling.
"A lot of people ask me why I didn’t go. I tell them you don’t have to go out of state to have a great college football experience and go to the NFL," he said, referencing Vince Manuwai and other Warriors who made it to the pros.
Offensive line coach Gordie Shaw said Lefotu’s early commitment helped UH secure four other offensive linemen with island ties. "He was kind of the bell cow in that (2010) recruiting class. He never wavered. He stayed loyal to us the whole time and that helped us recruit a lot of other local players."
It’s hard to see now because of a spate of injuries and a line that gave up six sacks last week. But UH still has some great potential on the O-line. Lefotu is a symbol of and spokesman for dreams he sees as possible. "I definitely want to get that message out, that you can stay home and build a dynasty here. I really believe in that. I hope we can do that in the future."
UH certainly has some big recruiting obstacles. But David Lefotu’s decision two years ago gives them a potential star through the 2014 season — and an edge in attracting more.
