Looks good … on paper.

That’s one of the few conclusions we can really make today about the University of Hawaii’s football recruiting class.

Norm Chow and his staff had time this year (remember, he was hired in December 2011, giving him just a few weeks to recruit his first class). It appears it was used well, as the Warriors bring in plenty of the size that will be needed to run the kind of offense Chow wants to employ.

While we’re on that subject, help me out here. Which team won the Super Bowl the other day? The one with the speedy option quarterback or the one with the drop-back QB?

The point is the demise of the traditional type of attack Chow favors has been overstated, and there’s still a place for smashmouth football — if you get the horses, the clydesdales not the ponies.

That means there isn’t as much room for a talented little guy as there used to be at UH. There’s a lot of he-said, he-said going on regarding the recruiting of Kawehena Johnson, the diminutive but superb all-purpose player who helped lead Kahuku to the state championship.

One person close to the situation said Johnson had a “short window” to make a decision on UH, did not, and then was asked to accept a grayshirt offer to Manoa. So, barring some bizarre turn of events today, that state defensive player of the year ends up at New Mexico State.

Too bad. Those of us who have seen guys like Nate Jackson, Chad Owens and Richard Torres succeed for the home team will wonder what Johnson might have done in a UH uniform.

Some great gets, though, and where are all those people who said top local prospects would never stay home? I agree that it’s a tall order for UH to ever get all of them, but beating BYU for Aofaga Wily and half of the Pac-12 for Kennedy Tulimasealii is big — because that’s what they are, big and strong.

These are the types of huge, physical, local players Chow said he wants to build around.

Now the if. If they qualify academically and get into school. We’re told they’re “close,” but that can mean anything.

There’s no arguing with the potential of Tulimasealii and Wily. And as a defensive tackle and a running back, either or both could contribute right away.

Keelan Ewaliko could be the sleeper from this year’s class. Sometimes neighbor-island guys don’t get the hype, but this Baldwin player impressed a tough judge in Jon Nielsen, who coached him in the Poly All-American game a couple of weeks ago.

“He’s got a great skill set, including legit 4.4 speed and toughness,” Nielsen said. “I see him as a kick returner and a receiver.”

And it looks like UH assistant coach Chris Demerest has used his extensive Florida contacts to secure some speedy talent. Also, some JC transfers, whose immediate contributions will be key if UH is to improve significantly from last year’s 3-9 record.

There are many reasons for optimism with this class. But as always with recruiting, we shall see — when they get into school, and after a couple of years when they’ve shown what they can do on Saturday nights.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.