A highly regarded tight end from Seattle has made an oral commitment to play for the University of Hawaii football team in 2018.
Jarrell Anderson of Rainier Beach High told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted the Rainbow Warriors’ scholarship offer. He will put his commitment in writing on Dec. 20, the first day of the NCAA’s newly implemented early-signing period.
Anderson is 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds. After three years at Bethel High, he transferred to Rainier Beach this year because of his mother’s new job in south Seattle.
UH was among seven schools, including Nevada and Utah State, to make scholarship offers to Anderson. Washington, Washington State, Arizona State, UCLA and USC also expressed interest. USC was looking at Anderson as a defensive end.
Brandon Huffman, director of recruiting for Scout.com, praised Anderson’s dual skills as a blocker and receiver. Scout.com ranks Anderson as the No. 13 prep tight end in the West and No. 2 in the Pacific Northwest.
“I’ve seen him for a couple years,” Huffman said. “Watching him as a freshman, you could tell his body was going to grow into that bigger role. He kind of adopted the tight-end role pretty seamlessly the last year, understanding his body was going to be too big to be a big receiver. He worked more as a tight end.”
Anderson had more than 600 receiving yards as a Bethel junior in 2016.
“He’s a very good receiver, a natural pass catcher,” Huffman said. “He’s as solid as a blocker. He’s going to be a big target. He’s a legit 6-4, 225. He’s going to be used as a red-zone target.”
Two UH assistant coaches and Anderson attended the Lewis & Clark football camp two weeks ago. Soon after, the Warriors made the scholarship offer.
“It felt like a good fit,” Anderson said of his decision.
Metuisela ‘Unga and Dakota Torres are the Warriors’ top two tight ends. Kade Greeley, the younger brother of Rainbow Wahine volleyball player Kalei Greeley, signed in February and will be joining the Warriors this week.
The Warriors already have received 2018 commitments from three Saint Louis School seniors: quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, wideout Jonah Panoke and defensive back Kai Kaneshiro.
Lineman Kamuela Borden, who signed with UH in 2015, returns from a two-year church mission in December. He will count toward the Warriors’ 2018 recruiting class.
