The University of Hawaii football team secured a commitment from a 6-foot-3, 300-pound transfer from the University of Richmond to bolster the interior defensive line.
Carsen Stocklinski, who has played in all 38 games (starting 34) for the Spiders the past three seasons, said he accepted the Rainbow Warriors’ scholarship offer. He reports in late May after completing work on a bachelor’s degree, and will have one season of eligibility.
Stocklinski made his decision after last week’s recruiting visit.
“The whole visit was awesome,” said Stocklinski, who toured the North Shore, sat in on meetings and met former UH standouts Isa‘ako “Isaac” Sopoaga, and Michael Lafaele. “Everyone was nice. Everyone was cool. It was a good vibe in general. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I got home.”
Of entering the transfer portal, Stocklinski said, “I wanted to go to the FBS.” Richmond, which competes as an FCS school, has won the Coastal Athletic Association’s title two of the past three seasons.
“I want to make an impact somewhere and win some games,: Stocklinski said. “And get another ring. I want my third ring really bad. I won two rings at Richmond. It’s time to win one at Hawaii.”
The Warriors use two interior linemen in the four-man front of their base defense. Daniel “Sauce” Williams and Anthony Sagapolutele completed their UH eligibility at the end of the 2024 season. Ezra Evaimalo retired due to medical issues. Dion Washington transferred to Boise State and Malachi Finau to San Diego State.
This offseason, the Warriors added Minnesota transfer Luther McCoy; De’Jon Benton, a former USC defensive lineman who was on New Mexico’s 2024 roster; and Qwyn Williams, who played at Division II Ohio Dominican. Jamar Sekona, who is recovering from a leg injury, is expected to be cleared to play this summer. Stocklinski is a versatile D-lineman who can play the 3-technique (between the offensive guard and tackle) and 2 (between guard and center).
Stocklinski can bench-press 405 pounds, power-clean 350 pounds, and disrupt blockers with a grip-and-rip move.
As a redshirt freshman in 2021, Stocklinski was an offensive lineman on the scout team. After excelling in mat drills, Stocklinski asked to move to defense. “One of our defensive tackles got hurt, and they moved me over, and I started there (the next three seasons),” he said.
In preparation for last season’s opener, the UH coaches studied videos of Delaware State. They noticed that Stocklinski was overpowering DSU’s blockers in the 2023 game. After Stocklinski entered the portal, he recalled, “they hit me up and showed me nothing but love. They held a spot for me. Once I got on the island (for a visit), I was like, ‘Man, this is the place for me.’ I talked to my family, and I just rode it from there.”
Stocklinski’s family home is on an 80-acre farm in Oconee County in Northeast Georgia. He said he enjoys spending his free time with friends, bass fishing and hunting white-tailed deer. “I love hunting quarterbacks and running backs,” he mused.
