Top pass rusher from California joining University of Hawaii football team

The top pass rusher from a California state championship team is joining the University of Hawaii football team this summer.

“I like everything about Hawaii,” Lawndale High senior Mark Blocker told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a telephone interview today. “It’s a real family. It’s not just everybody playing for himself. They play for each other. I like that.”

Blocker is 6 feet 3 and 230 pounds. He played defensive end in Lawndale’s 4-3 scheme and outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment. He is projected to compete at UH’s hybrid position on defense.

Last summer, Blocker transferred from Dorsey High in Los Angeles to Lawndale. “The kid came over here, put his head down, and just worked,” Lawndale coach Travis Clark told the Star-Advertiser. “He’s going to go over there to Hawaii and he’s going to make you all proud. He’s hungry. He’s excited. He’s so thankful. He’s a loyal, loyal kid. He comes from a wonderful family. They’re very supportive. You’re so lucky to have Mark Blocker coming out to Hawaii.”

Blocker had 15 sacks this past season in which Lawndale went 14-2, culminating in a 20-12 victory over San Joaquin Memorial in the CIF 2A state championship game.

“Every game he showed up,” Clark said of Blocker’s effectiveness. “In big games, he really showed up. … You watch him in the state championship game. San Joaquin Memorial came down averaging 55 points a game. We held them to 12. Mark Blocker is dominating defensively. Every playoff game we played, he’s dominating. He’s so fun to coach.”