It’s not just about bleeding maroon and white.

For Semo Sila, it’s also about representing Farrington at the next level. The same is already true of two of his former teammates, Lancelot "Keke" Williams and Justin Vele.

Williams and Vele were recruited by Hawaii, with Williams now a grayshirt and Vele in his redshirt season. The linebackers were standout seniors in high school, and Sila is following their footsteps, or hopes to.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior was a linebacker with major range as a cover man, comfortable in a role that is becoming more and more common in the game. Sila’s flexibility on the field is a big plus.

"He had an interest in playing safety. He’s fast enough," Farrington head coach Randall Okimoto said. "The run-and-shoot teams, you’re covering and playing as a defensive back if you’re a linebacker."

The key to Sila’s immediate future, though, is his academics. Sila is already an NCAA qualifier, Okimoto said. "In all my years of coaching, that’s the saddest thing when they don’t take care of their academics."

At Farrington, where academics within the athletic program took a pronounced emphasis in recent years, the results have been good, but not perfect. Several other Governors with college-level ability on the playing field will not play at a four-year college right away.

If and when they go to college, one of the next steps is deciding whether to redshirt.

"He picked up 20 pounds from last year," Okimoto said of Sila. "He could pick another 15 or 20 next year."

Okimoto, a former Farrington running back who went on to UH, will miss his defensive captain.

"He’s a reliable guy, very responsible, a quiet guy," Okimoto said.

A Governor on the verge of qualifying is defensive end Keanu Foki, who has interest from Hawaii.

"He’s close," Okimoto said. "He’s waiting for his SAT results."

Foki and Sila are classic examples of creating opportunities simply by doing the homework and taking academics seriously year-round.

At Kahuku, linebacker Benneton Fonua has an offer from Hawaii, coach Reggie Torres said.

In addition, Division II St. Augustine visited the islands and hopes to corral a handful of Red Raiders: cornerbacks Evan Ramirez and Mekeli Fiso, defensive backs Bronson Beatty and Mason Kualii-Moe and offensive lineman Aji Langinbelik.

"They came down before the state championship game," Torres said. "They liked what they saw. They’re trying to get together the financial packages."

Kamehameha coach David Stant said that offensive lineman Kiha Sai has offers from Idaho and Utah. Hawaii is showing interest. Tight end Keoni Bush-Loo has offers from Hawaii, Idaho and Nebraska, but is leaning strongly toward the Cornhuskers after visiting the campus.

Defensive lineman Kory Rasmussen has offers from Colorado, Hawaii, Utah and Washington, and Boise State is interested.

Safety Taylor Taliulu has already committed to play for Washington State, though Idaho had offered and Oregon State was interested.

Defensive back Kamu Grugier-Hill has interest from Hawaii and Idaho, and safety Pono Choy has interest from Hawaii, Idaho, UNLV and Nevada, as well as a number of smaller schools.

One of Aiea’s juniors is already drawing attention. Max Ma‘afala-Maiava is almost an NCAA qualifier. Washington has taken an interest in the 6-1, 230-pound defensive end.

Punahou defensive end DeForest Buckner, a 6-7, 240-pound senior, is visiting Oregon this weekend.

The weekly "Poi Report" will be published each Sunday until letter-of-intent signing day on Feb. 1, 2012. See www.hawaiiprepworld.com for midweek updates.