Good things come to those who wait, as Kaiser senior Lopeti Fonokalafi has learned.

The talented defensive tackle held down the fort for a young unit that had its share of moral victories. Despite a difficult one-win season, coaches had high praise for the 6-foot-1, 275-pound two-way performer.

Now, Fonokalafi has his first scholarship offer, according to Doris Sullivan of Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance. Southeast Missouri State, an FCS school in the Ohio Valley Conference, wants Fonokalafi on board.

Southeast Missouri State’s recruiting coordinator is Cherokee Valeria, a Kauai graduate.

"Since he’s been on campus here, he’s done a whole 360," Kaiser coach Will Lobendahn said. "There are schools that are waiting, but the waiting game in Division I, and the pressure of winning and getting these kids in, you actually got to be a top-five star athlete for them to wait so long. Especially when there might be other kids who have the same great attributes as Peti."

Among the schools that have shown interest: Oregon State, UNLV and Utah.

Lobendahn, who played at Virginia Union after a stellar career at Saint Louis, is frank about the world of D-I recruiting.

"Their job is not to not lie, but to not say, ‘No,’ and make everything sound good for you, so don’t get caught up in the hype," he said. "It’s hard to say and it’s sad to say, but people’s word doesn’t mean much anymore for the most part."

Fonokalafi’s teammate, Colsen Chun-Ming, is also a wanted man. The 6-1, 245-pound offensive lineman has a 3.2 grade-point average and has the attention of Nicholls State and Northern State, both Division II universities.

Like many potential recruits, Fonokalafi is waiting on his SAT results, which will be available in early January. Among the other sleepers who are hoping for positive scores are Konawaena defensive tackle Mike Andrade, Farrington defensive end Keanu Foki, and Aiea linebackers Douglas Tautua and Max Ma‘afala-Maiava

On the other side of the ball, despite a deep cache of talent at wide receiver last fall, a number of top performers will be at junior colleges next season. That group includes Mililani’s terrific twosome of Deshawn Duncan-Benson and Kaimi Wilson, and Leilehua’s Mikhal Peyton.