Warriors add defensive end

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Neither rain nor wind could keep Dixie State College's Darrell Tautofi from accepting a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.

Despite the bad weather during his recruiting trip the past weekend, Tautofi recalled, "I wanted to commit to Hawai'i. I fell in love with the football program."

He made his decision Saturday, and notified the UH coaches yesterday morning.

Tautofi, who is 6 feet 4 and 265 pounds, is projected to compete at defensive end at UH, a brisk walk from Kaimuki High, where he was named the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. He also was a member of the Hawai'i Select basketball team as a senior.

Tautofi was prepared to sign with Utah in February 2000, but he did not meet the requirements to play as a college freshman. Instead, he accepted a scholarship from Dixie in Saint George, Utah, with the intention of eventually signing with Utah.

Tautofi played tight end and linebacker in high school, but Dixie coach Greg Croshaw saw that Tautofi had the skills to play on the defensive line.

"He was a great player for us," Croshaw said. "He started as a freshman, and got better and better and bigger and bigger. That's not a bad combination."

Last season, Dixon went 11-1, finishing as junior college's third-ranked team. "We were one of the top defensive teams in the nation," relinquishing less than 14 points per game, Croshaw said, "and he was an integral part of that."

Tautofi was named to the Western States Football League's all-star team in 2001. He received scholarship offers from Utah, Brigham Young, San Jose State and Houston.

Tautofi's best friend, Fresno City defensive tackle Matt Faga, a former Kaimuki standout, verbally committed to UH Sunday. His cousin, Justin Faimealelei, another Kaimuki alumnus, also will play for the Warriors.

"I talked to (Faimealelei) a few times," Tautofi said. "He wanted me to come back."

Tautofi needs to earn an associate degree to be eligible to play in the fall. He said he will finish the semester at Dixie, then transfer to Kapi'olani Community College to complete work on his degree. After that, he will have three years to play two seasons.

"I want to enroll down there so I can start working out with the guys," said Tautofi, who also receives tips from another cousin, All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers. "He's cool."