Ex-Roosevelt linebacker to join UH
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Chad Kalilimoku, one of the top linebackers in junior college football, yesterday accepted a scholarship from the University of Hawai'i football team.
"I wanted to play in front of my family and friends," said Kalilimoku, who will sign a letter of intent Feb. 6, the first day of the NCAA's spring semester signing period.
He turned down offers from Southern California, Louisiana State and Utah.
The 6-foot, 235-pound Kalilimoku is a 1999 graduate of Roosevelt High. His Rough Rider teammates were UH football players Chad Owens and Chad Kapanui.
He played the past two seasons at Santa Ana (community) College in California, where he recently was named to the JC Grid Wire All-America second team.
Rivals.com selected him as the 15th-best prospect in junior college football.
"He was the best linebacker we played against all year," said Leon Criner, an assistant coach for the College of the Canyons. Santa Ana was the only team to defeat the College of the Canyons this season.
"Hawai'i is getting a fine one there," Criner added. "He certainly will help the defense."
Last month, Santa Ana coach Dave Ogas told The Advertiser that Kalilimoku "had a phenomenal two-year run. He's as good a linebacker as we've had in my 26 years here."
Kalilimoku can bench press 225 pounds 33 times and a maximum of 495 pounds. He can squat lift 680 pounds, and run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds.
In May, Kalilimoku will earn an associate degree, a requirement for a junior-college transfer to play for a Division I-A team in the fall. He will have two years to play two seasons for the Warriors.
"He's really excelled in football, but as parents, we told him that academics should be first," said his mother, Roxanne "Rocky" Kalilimoku, a former Rough Rider volleyball standout. His father, Fred Kalilimoku, is a Roosevelt assistant football coach.
"It was a hard choice," Kalilimoku said, "but nothing is better than playing at home."
Said Roxanne Kalilimoku: "We were hoping he would choose UH, but we left it up to him to make the decision. He had offers elsewhere. I think the (UH) coaching staff made a big impact."
