It started last Thursday afternoon with Central Florida’s McKenzie Milton opening his #HIsman campaign with a flawless effort in a 56-17 win over UConn.
Then, if anyone in Hawaii was up at 6 a.m. on Saturday, they got to see Ole Miss quarterback Jordan Ta’amu throw a 58-yard touchdown on his first pass attempt of the season in a 47-27 victory over Texas Tech.
Finally, if there was any doubt as to who the starting quarterback at Alabama would be in 2018, sophomore Tua Tagovailoa squashed that with a dominant performance in a 51-14 drubbing of Louisville.
Together, the Hawaii trio of quarterbacks on the mainland, representing Mililani, Pearl City and Saint Louis, combined to account for nearly 1,000 total yards and 10 touchdowns without an interception in stellar starts to the season.
Milton, who finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, tied a career high with five touchdown passes and threw for 346 yards while completing 75 percent of his passes.
It was his first game under new UCF head coach Josh Heupel, and it looked like every other UCF game from last season: a win — with Milton leading the charge.
“It was a lot of fun to go out and play another game and the first one since January 1st,” Milton said after the game. “I felt the offseason went by kind of fast, but that’s what happens when you’re having fun. We have a great group of guys. It shows the work we put in this offseason.”
In Houston, Ta’amu, who took over as Rebels starter about midway through last season due to an injury and hasn’t looked back, tossed his first touchdown pass just 33 seconds into the game against the Red Raiders.
He finished 22-for-32 for 336 yards and two touchdowns and led three touchdown drives that lasted less than 50 seconds.
“I thought he did a good job,” Ole Miss coach Matt Luke said. “There were a few RPOs (run-pass options) he might have held on to it a little bit too long early in the game. He was trying to make a big play down the field. He protected the ball and we’re very, very proud of that.”
The biggest storyline of the summer in college football seemed to be who would start for Alabama — Tagovailoa, who came off the bench to fuel a second-half comeback to win the national championship in January in overtime, or Jalen Hurts, who went 26-2 as a starter in his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Tagovailoa was the answer, and with his parents, Galu and Diane, in the stands watching, the former All-State player of the year from Saint Louis left Alabama coach Nick Saban no choice after throwing for 227 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for another score against the Cardinals.
“I think everybody knows that Tua’s going to start this game, and we’re going to use Jalen’s skill-set in the future to help however we feel that he can benefit the team,” Saban said Monday. “I just want to be clear with everyone that I have done this in the past where we don’t say who the starter’s going to be for the first game and we give both quarterbacks an opportunity to play in the game, which is exactly what we did in this game. Not a whole lot different from what we’ve done in the past.”
Milton, Ta’amu and Tagovailoa are three of 92 bowl-subdivision players on the mainland who graduated from Hawaii high schools. There were plenty of other players at other positions making contributions around the nation. A recap of Week 1 of the college football season is below:
>> Southern California junior Vavae Malepeai (Mililani ’16) split equal time with two other running backs vying for the starting job in Saturday’s 43-21 season-opening win over UNLV.
Malepeai finished third in rushing yards among the three running backs but did more on the scoreboard.
Hawaii’s high school career rushing record-holder scored his first two collegiate touchdowns and finished with 47 yards on eight carries against the Rebels.
Junior Jordan Iosefa (Saint Louis ’16) started at outside linebacker and had two tackles and a pass breakup and freshman Kana’i Mauga (Waianae ’18) made his collegiate debut and added two tackles of his own.
UNLV senior Salanoa-Alo Wily (Kahuku ’15) started at defensive tackle and assisted on a sack.
>> Notre Dame sophomore defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa suffered a broken foot in Saturday’s opener against Notre Dame and is expected to miss up to 10 weeks.
“We’ll lose him for a considerable amount of time,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Sunday. “It’s disappointing, obviously, for Myron. He’s an outstanding player. We’re hopeful we’ll get maybe some play out of him at the end of the year.”
The new redshirt rule would allow him to return for three games at the end of the season and still be able to take a redshirt year.
Saturday’s 24-17 win over Michigan was also the Notre Dame debut for starting safety Alohi Gilman (Kahuku ’15), who transferred from Navy and had to sit out last season.
Gilman finished third on the team with seven tackles, including one for a loss, and broke up two passes.
>> Army running back Calen Holt (Kamehameha ’14) didn’t get the start in Friday’s season opener against Duke, but still managed to lead the team in rushing.
One of eight Black Knights to get at least one rushing attempt in a 34-14 loss to the Blue Devils, Holt averaged 7.7 yards per carry. His career-high 54 rushing yards on seven attempts led the team and he had the longest run, a 14-yard gain on a 13-play drive that ended with a missed field goal in the first quarter.
Holt rushed for 214 yards and a touchdown as a junior after playing 23 games as a sophomore and freshman without touching the ball once.
>> Junior Breiden Fehoko (Farrington ’15) made his LSU debut and assisted on two tackles with half a sack in a 33-17 win over Miami on Sunday.
Fehoko, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas Tech, started at defensive tackle in LSU’s 3-4 defense.
>> Oregon senior Kaulana Apelu (Kamehameha ’15) got the start at inside linebacker for the Ducks and made six tackles with one for a loss in a 58-24 win over Bowling Green on Saturday. Redshirt freshman Isaac Slade-Matautia (Saint Louis ’17), who is the backup to Apelu, made his collegiate debut and added four tackles.
>> Oregon State true freshman Isaiah Tufaga (Saint Louis ’18) earned a start at linebacker in the Beavers’ 77-31 loss to Ohio State on Saturday.
Tufaga, one of two OSU defensive starters from Hawaii, registered five tackles. Starting defensive lineman Kalani Vakameilalo (Kapolei ’14) also had five tackles and LaMone Williams (Kahuku ’14) was in on two stops.
>> Arizona offensive lineman Michael Eletise (Kaiser ’16) did not start in the Wildcats’ 28-23 loss to Brigham Young on Saturday but did play off the bench.
The state’s No. 1 recruit in 2016 with more than 40 collegiate offers, Eletise was listed on the pregame depth chart as the No. 2 at left tackle behind a true freshman and No. 2 at left guard.
>> Boise State defensive back Kekaula Kaniho (Kahuku ’17) made his sixth career start at safety and finished with four tackles in a 56-20 win over Troy on Saturday.
>> Utah freshman defensive end Mika Tafua started in his first collegiate game and made two tackles for loss in a 41-10 win over Weber State on Thursday. Both of Utah’s starting defensive ends are from Hawaii. Junior Bradlee Anae (Kahuku ’16) made five tackles and assisted on two for a loss with half a sack. Anae was named one of the Pac-12’s two best edge rushers in 2017 by Pro Football Focus.
>> California junior receiver Kanawai Noa (Punahou ’15) started at slotback and made three catches for 15 yards in a 24-17 win over North Carolina on Saturday. Senior offensive lineman Semisi Uluave (Punahou ’15) did not play for the Golden Bears.
>> Fresno State’s Netane Muti (Leilehua ’16) opened the season starting at left tackle for the Bulldogs in a 79-13 win over Idaho on Saturday. Muti, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound sophomore, started all 14 games as a redshirt freshman and was an honorable mention All-Mountain West pick.
>> Kansas junior Andru Tovi (Mililani ’16) started at left guard in a 26-23 loss to Nicholls State to open the season Saturday. Tovi, who is 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, played in nine games last season and started eight after transferring from Pima (Ariz.) C.C.
AROUND THE NATION
A total of 92 players who graduated from isle high schools play bowl-subdivsion football on the mainland.
AIR FORCE FALCONS
>> Noah Crabbe (Kamehameha ‘15) 5-9, 185, Sr., K
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
>> Tua Tagovailoa (Saint Louis ‘17) 6-1, 218, So, QB
ARIZONA WILDCATS
>> Michael Eletise (Kaiser ‘16) 6-3, 323, So, OL
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
>> Tyerell Baldonado-Kaeiopu (Kamehameha-Maui ‘18) 6-0, 170, Fr, WR
>> Joey Bryant (Saint Louis ‘09) 6-0, 172, Sr, DB
>> Parker Higgins (Kaiser ‘16) 5-11, 225, So, LB
>> Josh Pokraka (Kaiser ‘14) 6-0, 223, Sr, TE
ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS
>> Calen Holt (Kamehameha ‘14) 6-0, 230, Sr, RB
BOISE STATE BRONCOS
>> Kukea Emmsley (Kapolei ‘18) 6-5, 229, Fr, DE
>> Kekaula Kaniho (Kahuku ‘17) 5-10, 183, So, S
>> Dalton Lins (Lahainaluna ‘18) 6-1, 282, Fr, OL
BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS
>> Kamalani Kaluhiokalani (Kamehameha ‘14) 6-0, 290, Sr, DL
>> Jared Kapisi (Maui ‘14) 6-0, 190, Sr, DB
>> Hirkley Latu (Kahuku ‘16) 6-2, 230, Fr, LB
>> Johnny Tapusoa (Kahuku ‘13) 5-10, 225, Jr, LB
BUFFALO BULLS
>> Atunaisa Vainikolo (Maui ‘15) 6-2, 280, Jr, DL
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
>> Kanawai Noa (Punahou ‘15) 6-0, 185, Jr, WR
>> Semisi Uluave (Punahou ‘15) 6-5, 365, Sr, OL
CENTRAL FLORIDA KNIGHTS
>> McKenzie Milton (Mililani ‘16) 5-11, 185, Jr, QB
COLORADO BUFFALOES
>> Jaisen Sanchez (Saint Louis ‘14) 6-1, 200, Sr, DB
>> Lyle Tuiloma (Nanakuli ‘15) 6-3, 310, Jr, DT
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
>> Tainoa Foster (Kamehameha ‘16) 6-2, 195, So, LB
>> Netane Muti (Leilehua ‘16) 6-3, 310, So, OL
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
>> Mikey Minihan (Saint Louis ‘17) 6-3, 275, Fr, OL
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
>> Isi Holani (Hilo ‘14) 6-3, 325, Sr, DT
>> Andru Tovi (Mililani ‘16) 6-3, 320, Jr, OL
LSU TIGERS
>> Breiden Fehoko (Farrington ‘15) 6-4, 291, Jr, DL
NAVY MIDSHIPMEN
>> Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa (Campbell ‘14) 6-2, 278, Sr, OL
>> Alema Kapoi (Kamehameha ‘16) 6-0, 268, So, DT
>> Keoni-Kordell Makekau (‘Iolani ‘16) 5-11, 170, So, SB
NEVADA WOLF PACK
>> Kalei Meyer (Kamehameha ‘14) 6-0, 280, Sr, DL
NEVADA-LAS VEGAS REBELS
>> Soli Afalava (Kahuku ‘15) 6-2, 205, Jr, DB
>> Nathaniel Oishi (‘Iolani ‘15) 5-10, 285, Jr, OL
>> Luca Vartic (Saint Louis ‘16) 6-1, 200, Jr, DB
>> Salanoa-Alo Wily (Kahuku ‘15) 6-0, 295, Sr, DL
NEW MEXICO LOBOS
>> Radson Jang (Kamehameha ‘16) 6-1, 242, Fr, OL
>> Alexander Vainikolo (Maui ‘16) 5-11, 246, Jr, LB
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
>> Ryan Dominick (Punahou ‘17) 5-11, 200, Fr, LB
>> Chad Hanaoka (‘Iolani ‘14) 5-6, 180, Sr, RB
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
>> Alohi Gilman (Kahuku ‘15) 5-11, 202, Jr, S
>> Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (Kapolei ‘17), 6-3, 285, So, DL
OLE MISS REBELS
>> Jordan Ta’amu (Pearl City ‘15) 6-2, 210, Sr, QB
OREGON DUCKS
>> Kaulana Apelu (Kamehameha ‘15) 5-10, 204, Sr, LB
>> Matt Christman (Punahou ‘15) 6-2, 252, Jr, LB
>> Sione Kava (Kalani ‘16) 6-6, 270, Jr, DL
>> Matt Mariota (Saint Louis ‘15) 6-2, 206, Jr, TE
>> Isaac Slade-Matautia (Saint Louis ‘17) 6-1, 209, Fr, LB
>> Adam Stack (Kamehameha ‘17) 6-2, 182, So, K
>> Peyton Yanagi (Saint Louis ‘18) 5-9, 214, Fr, LS
OREGON STATE BEAVERS
>> Onesimus Clarke (Waianae ‘17) 6-4, 313, Fr, OL
>> Keli’i Montibon (KS-Hawaii ‘15) 6-2, 272, So, OL
>> Alexander Skelton (Punahou ‘17) 6-1, 234, Fr, LB
>> Isaiah Tufaga (Saint Louis ‘18) 6-0, 207, Fr, LB
>> Kalani Vakameilalo (Kapolei ‘14) 6-3, 322, Sr, DL
>> Moku Watson (Leilehua ‘17) 6-2, 181, Fr, DB
>> LaMone Williams (Kahuku ‘14) 6-3, 275, Sr, DL
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS
>> Andrew Aleki (Kamehameha ‘17) 6-3, 230, So, LB
>> Ronley Lakalaka (Punahou ‘15) 6-0, 225, Sr, LB
>> Seyddrick Lakalaka (Punahou ‘17) 6-1, 220, Fr, LB
>> Alama Uluave (Punahou ‘18) 6-2, 315, Fr, OL
SMU MUSTANGS
>> Pakamiaiaea Davis (KS-Hawaii ‘14) 6-0, 235, Sr, DE
>> Pono Davis (KS-Hawaii ‘15) 6-1, 300, Jr, DT
STANFORD CARDINAL
>> Nate Herbig (Saint Louis ‘16) 6-4, 334, Jr, OL
>> Jet Toner (Punahou ‘16) 6-4, 201, Jr, K
USC TROJANS
>> Jordan Iosefa (Saint Louis ‘16) 6-2, 230, Jr, LB
>> Vavae Malepeai (Mililani ‘16) 6-0, 215, So, RB
>> Kana’i Mauga (Waianae ‘18) 6-2, 240, Fr, LB
UTAH UTES
>> Jordan Agasiva (Mililani ‘15) 6-3, 320, Sr, OL
>> Bradlee Anae (Kahuku ‘16) 6-3, 254, Jr, DE
>> Malik Haynes (Kahuku ‘15) 6-2, 253, Jr, DE
>> Keala Santiago (Kahuku ‘16) 5-11, 205, Jr, DB
>> Mika Tafua (Kamehameha ‘15) 6-3, 250, Fr, DE
>> Mo Unutoa (Kapaa ‘17) 6-4, 300, Fr, OL
UTAH STATE AGGIES
>> Hale Motu’apuaka (Punahou ‘18) 6-2, 300, Fr, DE
>> KJ Uluave (Kahuku ‘11) (RS) 6-4, 300, Sr, OL
>> Siotame Uluave (Kahuku ‘17) 6-3, 300, So, OL
UTEP MINERS
>> Jimmy Quemado (Saint Louis ‘16) 5-11, 262, Jr, DL
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
>> Feleti Afemui (Maui ‘17) 6-3, 230, Fr, LB
>> Jonah Buchanan (‘Iolani ‘17) 6-4, 285, Fr, DL
>> Sean McMoore (Kapolei ‘16) 6-4, 305, So, OL
VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
>> Aaron Faumui (Kapolei ‘18) 6-1, 280, Fr, DL
>> Micah Mariteragi (Kahuku ‘18) 6-2, 265, Fr, OL
>> Samson Reed (Kahuku ‘18) 6-2, 265, Fr, DL
>> Wayne Taulapapa (Punahou ‘18) 5-9, 200, Fr, RB
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
>> Fatu Sua-Godinet (Kamehameha ‘16) 6-0, 186, Jr, WR
>> Zion Tupuola-Fetui (Pearl City ‘18) 6-3, 253, Fr, LB
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
>> Kingston Fernandez (Kapolei ‘14) 6-2, 280, Sr, DL
>> Drew Kobayashi (Saint Louis ‘16) 6-2, 200, So, WR
>> Christian Mejia (Kailua ‘17) 6-3, 245, Fr, DL
>> Mitchell Quinn (Saint Louis ‘18) 5-11, 160, Fr, WR
>> Kainoa Wilson (Mililani ‘15) 5-11, 165, Jr, WR
WISCONSIN BADGERS
>> Micah Kapoi (Kapolei ‘14) 6-3, 308, Sr, OL
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Billy Hull, Star-Advertiser
