Soon after announcing the University of Hawaii football team’s 2017 recruiting class, coach Nick Rolovich signed up to donate at the Blood Bank of Hawaii.

It was a fitting gesture for the leader of a coaching staff that spent a year also giving sweat and tears to finalizing commitments from 23 prospects. Three other players who joined in August as unrecruited walk-ons and were awarded scholarships during the 2016 season — quarterback Cole Brownholtz, punter Stan Gaudion and offensive lineman Chris Posa — also count as part of this year’s class.

The Rainbow Warriors did not sign any players from Hawaii high schools. But after thoroughly evaluating more than 1,000 prospects from Australia to Montreal, the Warriors filled needs at running back, receiver, defensive and on both sides of the line.

“We definitely wanted to address the line of scrimmage,” Rolovich said. “If you’re going to win in this (Mountain West) conference, you’d better start winning the line of scrimmage. You’ve seen what San Diego State does. You see Wyoming make the jump because they control the line of scrimmage and run the ball.”

The Warriors, who lost two starting offensive linemen to graduation, signed Emil Graves, who can play all five positions, and Micah Vanterpool. A third possibility is Josaiah Maama, who also can play on the defensive line. The Warriors also added to that side, highlighted by defensive end Jamie Tago, who returns to Manoa after spending a semester at a junior college, and defensive tackle Anthony Mermea.

Mermea made an oral commitment to UH two weeks ago. But on Tuesday night, he announced he was rescinding the pledge … and disconnecting from social media. Mermea’s seclusion centered on an offer from San Diego State, which was a 45-minute drive from his family home.

“Whenever you’re looking around the stadium, you’re not looking for a special girl, you’re looking for your mom and dad,” Mermea said. But his father gave his blessing for Mermea to make his own choice. He said he wanted to be part of constructing the Warriors. “I didn’t want something that was already built,” he said, “I wanted to make the expectations.”

The Warriors also were able to land running backs Miles Reed, who rushed for 2,198 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2016, and Hekili Keliiliki, who was serving a church mission in Australia. Missionaries usually are limited to using the computer on Mondays. Keliiliki received special permission to sign his letter of intent on Wednesday, then transmit it to Arkansas for his father’s signature. Chance Keliiliki said he faxed the copy to UH at 4:15 a.m. Central time.

The UH coaches were wide awake, preparing for confirmation of Oakland linebacker Paul Scott’s signed commitment. Scott initially committed to California. But he changed his mind on Monday, and the Warriors were left waiting — hoping — until he signed.

“It’s an incredible whirlwind,” Rolovich said of the recruiting process, in which he and his staff made scores of trips and home visits. “We should sell tickets to it.”

Here’s the 2017 class

>> *Marcus Armstrong-Brown, wideout, 6-3, 195, Diablo Valley College.

Nick Rolovich: “When he got here (last month), and we had a team meeting, I was asking, ‘who’s going to fill those next roles?’ I asked: ‘who’s going to be that guy when we want to take a shot down the field that’s going to go up and get that ball?’ He said, ‘that’s me, coach.’ For him to say that in front of a room of 90 guys he didn’t really know yet, he came here to make a difference, and that’s what I like about him.”

>> Donovan Dalton, defensive back, 6-4, 200, Saguaro High (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

Rolovich: “We’re looking at him as a big corner. I know (secondary coach Abraham Elimimian) and (defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa) are big fans of his. The kid was intrigued and really feeling UH, maybe, a month before he committed. We felt good about the relationship coach (Sean Duggan) started with him.”

>> *Jay Dominique, defensive back, 6-2, 195, Old Montreal Cegep

Rolovich: “The opportunity to get a mid-year DB, who’s five (years) for four (seasons), was attractive to us. One of the things that stuck out is he was playing Canadian rules where the guys are coming at him (on pre-snap running starts) and he’s playing man coverage. He’s physical and aggressive. He’s a good-looking player who’s come here for a reason.”

>> *Eugene Ford, defensive back, 6-2, 190, University High (Los Angeles)

Rolovich: “He ended up being a grayshirt for us. He’s a guy coach Abe really identified. I’m proud of the way he stuck it out the fall and got what he needed done just to get here. He really grew up and handled the situation like a man and now he’s here with us, which we’re happy about.”

>> Akil Francisco, defensive back, 6-0, 160, Encinal High (Alameda, Calif.)

Rolovich: “What you can’t teach is his competitiveness. Me and coach Kefense (Hynson) were at a camp, and he took every rep. He was trying to get every rep. It didn’t matter if he was tired. He was going as much as he could. Football is important to the kid. And he has a scraper bike.”

>> Emil Graves, offensive line, 6-3, 275, Fullerton College

Rolovich: “He’s a guy we felt could help at all five positions on the offensive line. He really connected with Hawaii on his visit. He’s a national (junior college) champion.”

>> Kade Greeley, tight end, 6-6, 230, Vista Murrieta High (Calif.)

Rolovich: “We really like his length and catching radius. I think he has good ball skills for a big guy. He’ll be a good developmental guy for us, and a threat in the pass game.”

>> Hekili Keliiliki, running back, 6-2, 225, Bentonville High (Ark.)

Rolovich: “You saw the production (former UH running back) Steven Lakalaka was giving us. We felt the opportunity to get a quality running back like Hekili, that can get us those physical yards but also out-run people. I think he’s going to be great in pass protection, and he’s more athletic than his stature may show. He’s like the running backs of the past. I have great memories of those guys — Afatia (Thompson), West Keliikipi, Joey Iosefa, Nate Ilaoa, Reagan Mauia. He’ll help us.”

>> Brandon Kipper, offensive lineman, 6-6, 270, Columbus High (Nampa, Idaho)

Rolovich: “You’re talking about a 6-6 wrestler who went undefeated and had a wrestling scholarship. After a few years in the weight room, he’s going to look like a different guy. He’s the school president. He’s a leader. What sold him was he was looking for something new, an adventure. He loved the diversity here. He’s going to be able to help us at tackle.”

>> Josaiah Maama, lineman, 6-5, 270, Kings Academy (Sunnyvale, Calif.)

Rolovich: “He was one of our early commits. We had to battle some Pac-12 teams. But he and his family are so connected to the islands. He is so happy to be called a ‘Warrior.’ He’s probably 6-5 now. He can help on the offensive and defensive line. He’s a great kid who comes from a hard-working family.”

>> Anthony Mermea, defensive tackle, 6-4, 300, Vista Murriata High (Calif.)

Rolovich: “It was another guy who it just felt right to him. I can see him being a contributor early. You look at him. He can run around. And it’s important to him.”

>> Damario Mclean, defensive back, 6-1, 185, Elk Grove High (Calif.)

Rolovich: “Damario is another long DB. That was one of the things we were really going for. He’s not a lot of flash. He’s about playing football. He can play corner, safety. He’s going to get bigger. He’s going to get thicker with the weight room. He has a smooth style to him.”

>> Isaia Mullen, wideout, 6-4, 190, Madison High (Portland)

Rolovich: “He’s a guy who’s going to be another big target. He’s a guy we identified early, and we wanted.”

>> *Kalepo Naotala, defensive tackle, 6-3, 280, Menchville High (Newport News, Va.)

Rolovich: “He’s a grayshirt. Kalepo had a knee injury at the end of his senior year. I think he would have had a lot more offers his senior year. His family has lived in Hawaii, a military family.”

>> Penei Pavihi, linebacker, 6-3, 225, Tafuna High (American Samoa)

Rolovich: “Know what I’m excited about Penei? I’m excited to see that (long) hair flying around Aloha Stadium. He felt a connection with our staff. We didn’t waver. He was one of the guys we wanted. He’s not a very talkative guy. But he has an incredible heart. When he smiles, he can light up the room. When he hits you, he can light up the field, too.”

>> *Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, safety, 6-0, 185, Riverside City College

Rolovich: “He’s very versatile for us in the defensive secondary. When he showed up on campus, he’s one of our best athletes now. We’re happy to have him in spring ball.”

>> Miles Reed, running back, 5-8, 190, Centennial High (Corona, Calif.)

Rolovich: “He was always up there on our (recruiting) board. We kept recruiting him, kept recruiting him. Being that productive, I was worried we weren’t going to be in the game at the end.”

>> Doug Russell, defensive tackle, 6-5, 270, O’Dea High (Seattle)

Rolovich: “You saw how much trust (his mom) put in him to make the right decision. Another big body in the defensive front. We felt good about that. He’s a really good kid. These guys are going to make our locker room better, too.”

>> Paul Scott, linebacker, 6-1, 205, McClymonds High (Oakland)

Rolovich: “He’s physical. We need that. I think him and Penei at linebacker in the future is pretty darn good.”

>> Drake Stallworth, wideout, 6-2, 185, Folsom (Calif.) High

Rolovich: “He’s a very, very intelligent wide receiver. Dad is a clever tweeter. I appreciate that. People came in on him. He stayed strong. The good thing about Drake and his family is they went and saw every place he was offered before they made that decision. Some people can’t always do that. But it gave them a great starting point when the recruiting came.”

>> Blessman Ta‘ala, defensive tackle, 6-2, 285, Faga‘itua High (American Samoa)

Rolovich: “He has some explosion. The toughness is at a very high level. He’s got quickness. He’s (285) pounds, but he can dunk a basketball. and the explosiveness is there.”

>> *Jamie Tago, defensive end, 6-3, 260, Garden City College

Rolovich: “This second opportunity to do right is really helping him. (Tago left UH last year after four semesters). We all make mistakes. He wanted to finish what he started. The JC game will make you hungry. It’ll test your will. He was probably one of the best defensive linemen in the country JC-wise. He helps our pass rush immediately.”

>> Micah Vanterpool, offensive lineman, 6-6, 285, Central High (Phoenix)

Rolovich: “He’s another offensive tackle. He can help us.”

* indicates a player already enrolled at UH