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Eighty-five players who graduated from high school in Hawaii are currently listed on the rosters of FBS schools on the mainland.
Here are five names to watch:
Dillon Gabriel QB, Oklahoma
The former UCF quarterback makes his OU debut Saturday against UTEP after a busy offseason. Gabriel originally announced his decision to transfer to UCLA before then committing to Oklahoma instead just before school started in January.
His impact in Norman, Okla., has already been felt as he was named one of five team captains for the opener. Former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is making his Oklahoma coaching debut and will go with Gabriel at QB after the left-hander threw for more than 8,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in 26 games with the Knights.
Jayden de Laura
QB, Arizona
Another QB who found a new home in the offseason is the former Saint Louis Crusader who left Washington State after Nick Rolovich was fired as head coach for failing to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
De Laura has been tabbed as the starter ever since he arrived on campus in Tucson following a 2021 campaign in which he was named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2021 after throwing for 2,796 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The Wildcats open on the road at San Diego State on Saturday and de Laura, one of five team captains, will see a familiar name starting on the line in front of him at right guard in true freshman Jonah Savaiinaea, another Saint Louis alum.
Nick Herbig
LB, Wisconsin
The Saint Louis alum enters the season as the top-rated returning edge rusher in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
Herbig had a monster sophomore season with 61 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks and was chosen to represent the Badgers at Big Ten Media Days last month.
The Associated Press named him to its preseason All-America second team and another jump this year as a junior could put him in position to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Marist Liufau
LB, Notre Dame
The Punahou product had a lot of hype surrounding him entering his sophomore season, which was derailed by a broken ankle suffered in fall camp just before the season started.
He has bulked up to 235 pounds and has former Miami head coach Al Golden as his third different defensive coordinator in as many years.
Liufau has been on a “pitch count” during camp but is listed at the top of the depth chart at the WILL linebacker spot and isn’t expected to have any limitations on his playing time during the opener on Saturday against Ohio State.
Wayne Taulapapa
RB, Washington
After spending four years at Virginia, the Punahou product decided to go across the country and use his final year of eligibility to play for the Huskies, who announced him as their starting running back on the depth chart this week for Saturday’s opener against Kent State.
Taulapapa rushed for 1,192 yards and 19 touchdowns during his tenure with the Cavaliers, but is expected to carry a heavy load at UW. Despite never suiting up in the purple and gold, Taulapapa was named one of six team captains this week.
NAME SCHOOL HT WT POS GR HIGH SCHOOL
Maceal Afaese Oregon 6-4 259 DL Fr. Kapolei
Kalei Akagi Army 5-9 199 RB Fr. Leilehua
Kaeo Akana Utah 6-2 206 DE Fr. Roosevelt
AJ Bianco Nevada 6-4 215 QB Fr. Saint Louis
Kupono Blake Air Force 6-2 270 DT Jr. Kamehameha
Jordan Botelho Notre Dame 6-2 250 LB Jr. Saint Louis
Lawai‘a Brown Cent. Michigan 6-0 222 LB Fr. Saint Louis
Julius Buelow Washington 6-8 311 OL Jr. Kapolei
Micah Camat Nevada 6-1 192 DB So. ‘Iolani
Jonah Chong Nevada 6-0 185 QB Jr. ‘Iolani
Duke Clemens UCLA 6-3 302 OL Sr. Punahou
Chevan Cordeiro San Jose St. 6-1 190 QB Jr. Saint Louis
Jayden de Laura Arizona 6-0 205 QB So. Saint Louis
Kalan Ellis Syracuse 6-6 375 OL So. Saint Louis
Ethan Erickson BYU 6-5 230 TE Fr. Kahuku
Challen Faamatau Maryland 5-1 225 RB Sr. Farrington
Aaron Faumui Virginia 6-2 282 DL Sr. Kapolei
Leif Fautanu UNLV 6-2 305 OL Jr. University
Isaiah Filisi Army 6-3 300 DL Jr. Saint Louis
Cameron Friel UNLV 6-3 230 QB So. Kailua
Dillon Gabriel Oklahoma 5-11 203 QB Jr. Mililani
Alaka’i Gilman Stanford 5-9 192 S Jr. Punahou
Kilohana Haasenritter Oregon 5-8 189 RB Fr. Hilo
Sitiveni Havili-Kaufusi UCLA 6-3 282 DL So. Punahou
Nick Herbig Wisconsin 6-2 228 LB Jr. Saint Louis
Tim Horn Rice 6-2 224 PK So. Punahou
Conor Hunt Rice 5-11 189 P Jr. Hawaii Prep
Fatu Iosefa Cal 6-0 190 S Fr. Mililani
Muelu Iosefa Cal 6-3 230 LB Jr. Mililani
Radson Jang New Mexico 6-2 255 OL Sr. Kamehameha
Terrell Johnson Nevada 6-1 215 RB Sr. Campbell
Kaonohi Kaniho Boise St. 6-0 180 DB So. Kahuku
Laakea Kapoi San Diego St. 6-4 310 OL Fr. Saint Louis
Akalea Kapono Navy 6-1 228 WR Jr. Kamehameha
Austyn Kauhi Syracuse 6-5 270 OL Fr. Kamehameha
Seyddrick Lakalaka San Diego St. 6-1 235 LB Sr. Punahou
Faaope Laloulu Oregon 6-7 330 OL So. Farrington
Kamo’i Latu Wisconsin 6-0 195 S Jr. Saint Louis
Gannon Lauer New Mexico St. 6-6 285 OL Fr. Saint Louis
Micah Lilo Nevada 6-0 215 DB So. Kamehameha
Marist Liufau Notre Dame 6-2 235 LB Jr. Punahou
Blazen Lono Wong Arizona St. 6-4 270 DL Fr. Kailua
Darrell Masaniai San Diego St. 6-2 220 LB So. Saint Louis
Wembley Mailei La. Monroe 6-1 219 LB So. St. Francis
Quinn Maretzki Army 5-10 170 PK Jr. Punahou
Ahofitu Maka UTSA 6-3 325 OL Sr. Punahou
Matai Mata’afa Miss. St. 6-1 235 DL Fr. Lahainaluna
Keenan McCaddy Boise St. 6-3 185 S Fr. Moanalua
Christian Mejia Wash St. 6-3 301 DL Sr. Kailua
Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen UNLV 6-1 170 DB So. Punahou
Titus Mokiao-Atimalala UCLA 6-1 184 WR So. Campbell
Tanner Moku Wash St. 6-0 195 DB So. Kamehameha
Hale Motu’apuaka Utah St. 6-1 280 DT Sr. Punahou
Sione Motu’apuaka Utah St. 6-5 280 OL Fr. Mililani
Darius Muasau UCLA 6-1 230 LB Sr. Mililani
Enoch Nawahine BYU 6-1 210 RB So. Kahuku
Lokahi Pauole UCF 6-4 305 OL Sr. Kamehameha
Kuao Peihopa Washington 6-4 304 DL So. Kamehameha
Kalawai’a Pescaia Air Force 6-0 295 DT Sr. Kamehameha
Gino Quinones USC 6-4 285 OL Jr. Saint Louis
Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett Utah St. 5-11 180 S Jr. Kapaa
Teva Reynolds Georgia Southern 6-1 280 OL Jr. KS-Hawaii
Kawika Rogers Oregon 6-5 334 OL Fr. Kapaa
Jonah Savaiinaea Arizona 6-5 335 OL Fr. Saint Louis
Uso Seumalo Kansas St. 6-3 340 DT Jr. Molokai
Ben Scott Arizona St. 6-5 310 OL Jr. Saint Louis
Kanoa Shannon Oregon St. 5-8 195 RB Jr. Kamehameha
Trent Shiraki Navy 6-0 210 LB Sr. Punahou
Isaac Slade-Matautia SMU 6-1 236 LB Sr. Saint Louis
John Sniffen Fresno St. 6-3 275 DL Jr. Kailua
De’Zhaun Stribling Wash. St. 6-3 204 WR So. Kapolei
Miki Suguturaga Utah 6-4 264 DE So. Punahou
Matt Sykes UCLA 6-4 200 WR Jr. Saint Louis
Tevarua Tafiti Stanford 6-2 227 DE Fr. Punahou
Wayne Taulapapa Washington 5-11 207 RB Sr. Punahou
Vincent Terrell Navy 5-8 170 SB Jr. Punahou
Mason Tufaga Utah 6-1 232 LB Fr. Saint Louis
Faatui Tuitele Washington 6-3 302 DL So. Saint Louis
Zion Tupuola-Fetui Washington 6-4 249 DE Jr. Pearl City
Alama Uluave San Diego St. 6-2 305 OL Sr. Punahou
Elvis Vakapuna Utah 5-7 215 RB So. Kahuku
Sione Veikoso BYU 6-7 305 OL Fr. Kailua
Aliki Vimahi Utah 6-4 307 DL So. Kahuku
Enokk Vimahi Ohio St. 6-4 310 OL Jr. Kahuku
Roman Wilson Michigan 6-0 185 WR Jr. Saint Louis
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