Warriors add JUCO lineman from California

Ahead of Wednesday’s signing day, the Hawaii football team is putting its recruiting on the line.

Mike Milovale, an offensive lineman from Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif., has accepted a scholarship offer from the Warriors.

He is the fifth lineman to make an oral commitment to UH, following Dejon Allen of Dominguez (Calif.) High, Leo Koloamatangi of Sacred Hearts Prep (Atherton, Calif.), Gus Lavaka of Kearns (Utah) High, and Kiha Sai of Kamehameha Schools.

Allen projects to play on defense. The recruiting class also includes Ben Clark, a grayshirt who attended UH as a part-time student in the fall semester.

Milovale is 6 feet 4 and 310 pounds.

“He played tackle for me, but he’ll probably play guard at the next level,” said Max Matsuhara, who coached Hartnell’s offensive line. “He’s a hell of an athlete.”

Milovale has lived in Hawaii and American Samoa, but is a graduate of Monterey (Calif.) High.

“He’s got a real upside,” Matsuhara said.

Hartnell ran a spread offense that mostly featured one running back. But the Panthers had a balanced attack in which Alvin Jenks rushed for more than 1,400 yards during the regular season, and quarterback Austin Fales threw for nearly 1,800 yards.

Jenks broke the school’s 40-year record for rushing yards.

“Mike was a big part of that,” Matsuhara said. “Our quarterback had a tremendous year because of the pass protection.”

Milovale was aligned at left tackle, Fales’ blind side.

“He gave up a half sack, maybe,” Matsuhara said. “I don’t remember him giving up a sack. I think Hawaii’s got a steal. He’s going to be a good one.”

Matsuhara said there are similarities, at this stage, between Milovale and another player he coached.

“I coached Carl Nicks,” Matsuhara said of the New Orleans Saints’ All-Pro left guard. “I compare Mike to him. He’s not as big as Carl, but he’s an athlete. He has a lot of potential.”

Milovale was named to the California Community College Athletic Association’s Region III first team.

Nevada, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech made scholarship offers.

Matsuhara said UH began recruiting Milovale shortly after Norm Chow was hired as head coach last month. Milovale announced his decision Monday during a news conference in the Hartnell weight room.

Matsuhara said Milovale is strong and agile. He played volleyball in high school.

“I think he could play tight end,” Matsuhara said. “He’s a really good athlete. He can throw a football, like, 80 yards. He’s one of the most fun players I’ve ever coached.”

The NCAA’s dead period, which restricts contact and telephone calls between coaches and prospects, was activated Monday.

The Warriors reportedly are awaiting decisions from at least four prospects.