University of Hawaii tight end Metuisela ’Unga will miss the rest of the football season because of an ankle injury, coach Nick Rolovich confirmed.
Rolovich said ’Unga is expected to undergo surgery.
Rolovich also confirmed that ’Unga and slotbacks Kalakaua Timoteo III and Davine Tullis were held out of last Saturday’s game against Colorado State because of disciplinary reasons. Rolovich said he did not announce the disciplinary actions during postgame interviews because “I didn’t have a whole lot of information at that point. … I didn’t have time to process. I apologize.”
Rolovich said the incidents happened earlier Saturday. ’Unga, Timoteo and Tullis watched the 51-21 loss from the Aloha Stadium stands.
“I’m disappointed,” Rolovich said. “Our energy, our focus, isn’t all on football at this point. I don’t know how many guys need to be disciplined before guys realize they have to make the right decisions.”
Rolovich said Timoteo and Tullis will be allowed to practice this morning. The Warriors had meetings and conditioning drills on Monday. Rolovich said he is evaluating whether both players will be on the travel roster for Saturday’s road game against Nevada. “Their status is still being determined,” Rolovich said.
Rolovich said ’Unga was suffering from the ankle injury last week and it was a “game-time decision” whether he would play against CSU. His unavailability was cemented following the off-field incident. ’Unga would have been allowed to practice this week if he were healthy.
“I feel bad for him,” Rolovich said of ’Unga’s season-ending injury. “I thought he might be on the right track.”
Several scouts had predicted ’Unga, if healthy, would be a candidate to be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. In July, ’Unga, who is 6 feet 5 and 240 pounds, was named to the watch list for the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.
UH officials have indicated that ’Unga, a senior, might be eligible to receive a medical redshirt for this season, a waiver that would allow him to return for a fifth year in 2018. ’Unga, who joined the Warriors in 2014, has not redshirted.
