Football recruits sign with colleges

• University of Hawai'i prospective signees

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Eighteen of the 19 football prospects who had verbally committed to the University of Hawai'i signed national letters of intent today, the first day of the NCAA signing period.

Kaimuki High linebacker Daniel Tautofi was scheduled to sign with UH during a news conference this afternoon.

In addition, five recruits — defensive backs Orlando Wong and A.J. Martinez, and defensive linemen Darrell Tautofi, Reggie Maldonado and Matt Faga — previously made written commitments with UH. They will count against this year's scholarship budget.

Because UH's fax machine was not functioning earlier in the day, many of the signed letters were not received. According to NCAA rules, faxed copies of letters of intent are considered to be binding agreements.

The Advertiser today verified the written commitments with the prospects, family members and coaches.

This is UH's fifth recruiting class since June Jones signed as head coach in January 1999. It also will mark the first time that every player on the UH roster arrived during Jones' watch. (Defensive tackle Lui Fuga is a 1998 Waipahu High graduate, but he did not enroll in UH until 1999.)

This year's wish list was the same as the previous ones under Jones: offensive linemen, defensive linemen and defensive backs. UH received commitments from six offensive linemen, including three Advertiser All-State selections, and four defensive backs.

Defensive end Amani Purcell of Leone High in American Samoa signed with Penn State, turning down offers from UH and Utah.