Quick quiz.
Behind Devin Alves, which Hawaii wideouts logged the second- and third-most snaps in last week’s game against San Jose State?
Time’s up.
How many guessed Nick Delgadillo and Josiah Fetui?
The Saint Louis School graduates are part of the next-man-up group. Neither is close to the statistical leaderboard. Neither is even on scholarship. But when the numbers are down, Delgadillo and Fetui are up and ready.
“You can’t say enough about their work ethic and their buy-in,” receivers coach Jared Ursua said. “They have fully bought into the culture.”
Entering the SJSU game, the Rainbow Warriors were without injured wideouts Audric Harris, Tre’ Griffiths, Robert Haynes and Jarvis “Dino” Heimuli. On a 32-yard reception, Carson Brown suffered an injury to the AC joint in his right shoulder. Brown wore a splint while on the sideline the rest of the game. Harris and Griffiths will be available for Saturday’s road game against Arizona State. UH coaches are wishful Brown also will ready.
On Saturday, Delgadillo played a season-high 39 snaps. Ursua said Delgadillo ran precise routes to set up slotbacks.
Fetui, who logged 26 plays, made an acrobatic 25-yard reception, drawing rousing cheers from teammates. Although Micah Alejado’s pass appeared to be underthrown, it was right on the mark, according to Fetui.
“It was a designed back-shoulder throw,” Fetui said. “You want to sell it like you’re going to run deep, make (the cornerback) want to chase you, and then you look back and the ball is on your back shoulder. No. 12 (Alejado) really throws pretty balls. He gets the ball to us pretty well.”
Former Saint Louis coach Tupu Alualu praised both receivers. Alualu helped transform Fetui from a track sprinter into a speedy wideout. Alualu also was instrumental in convincing Delgadillo to apply to Saint Louis. Alualu is friends with Delgadillo’s uncle, Nelson Johnson, a Crusaders alumnus.
“He liked the way I played,” said Delgadillo, who moved from California in his teens. “He told me I should go to Saint Louis. I didn’t know much about them. But I knew they were a powerhouse, and I wanted to compete with the best. My parents let me.”
In search of receivers, Ursua noticed the “big, stout, 6-foot kid from Saint Louis.” Delgadillo was not targeted often. “But when I saw him work, I saw a lot of upside,” Ursua said.
Delgadillo works for a security company during the offseason to cover school expenses. His diligence paid off when he started in the 2025 Hawaii Bowl. Each year, Delgadillo has had to compete against a new group of transfers.
“That’s college football now,” he said. “There are portal guys coming in every year. I have a chip on my shoulder to compete with anyone. I’m not the quickest (20 mph). I depend on my fundamentals, my hands, my break mechanics, my route mechanics to get open.”
Fetui grew up in a family of volleyball players. His father, Caleb, is a former UH volleyball player. Cousins Isaac Liva and Sarah Liva also played for UH. When he was 8, he wanted to join a volleyball club. His father steered him to basketball, football and track.
“Do what you love, but set yourself up for the future,” Caleb Fetui told his son.
It appeared Fetui’s college future would be in track. As a Saint Louis senior, he was state champion in the long jump and triple jump, and placed second in the high jump and 4×100 relay. He credits Crusaders track coach Alika Fonseca.
“He taught me how to maintain running at top speed,” Fetui said. “He taught me how to stay relaxed when you’re running at full speed, and how to get to your top speed fast. I’m a taller guy. I have long legs. I learned how to run with long strides, maintain it, and pick up speed.”
Those skills transcended to football. At UH, he learned from former teammates Jonah Panoke and Jackson Harris. He also draws inspiration from his grandfather. Gafoa Fetui Jr. died in April 2025.
“He’s my ‘why,’” Fetui said. “Everything I try to do is to honor him.”
