Warriors recruit legendary name for defensive backfield

A junior college safety named after an island football legend is hopeful of making a name for himself with the University of Hawaii football team.

Manase Time of Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif., told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the Rainbow Warriors. Time will sign on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s spring semester signing period for football prospects. Time will have three years to play three UH seasons.

“I’m very excited to join Hawaii,” Time said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been a Hawaii fan for a long time.”

Time said he is 6 feet and 210 pounds. As a Golden West freshman in 2016, Time averaged 8.3 tackles per game. He redshirted last season while recovering from a knee injury that has now completely healed.

Time is named after Manase Jesse Sapolu, a Farrington High and UH graduate who won four Super Bowl rings during his 15-season career with the San Francisco 49ers. Sapolu, who is a member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, and Time’s father, Mo, have been friends for more than 30 years.

“When Manase was born, we went to the hospital and I looked at the name and … wow,” Sapolu said.

Time was teammates with Sapolu’s youngest son, Roman, at Edison High in Huntington Beach. Time said he attended Sapolu’s football camps starting in the seventh grade. Sapolu also assisted with Edison’s offensive and defensive lines when Time played defensive end. Time moved to safety at Golden West.

“I’m so happy he’s becoming a Rainbow Warrior,” Sapolu said in a telephone interview. “He’s a great young man. He doesn’t say much, but he’s one of the toughest players for his size that I’ve ever coached.”

At Edison, Sapolu said, “Manase was dealing with offensive tackles who were 6-4, 6-5. And if he can thrive at that position where the big boys play, he can sure come up to the line of scrimmage and support the run as a strong safety and not be affected at all.”

In two seasons at Edison, Time amassed 221⁄2 sacks.

“Coming out of Edison, there are two things,” said Greg Biggins, national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, a scouting service. “They play extremely hard and they’re very, very well coached. (Time’s) technique is advanced (in) using his hands. (He is) a super smart player, and just a relentless motor. … He’s a real active kid. It was amazing to play the way he did and do what he did being such an undersized (defensive end).”

Time said he will enroll at UH in June. “I can’t wait,” he said, “especially being the second Manase to play for Hawaii.”