Kahuku grad Faleofa to transfer to UH
| • | UH football recruits |
By Stacy Kaneshiro and Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writers
Hausia Faleofa, a defensive lineman who started 12 games for Western Michigan last season, has decided to transfer to the University of Hawai'i.
UH coaches are not allowed to comment on Faleofa's situation until Western Michigan finalizes his release from a football scholarship. But Leon Criner, who coached Faleofa at College of the Canyons in 2001, confirmed Faleofa's decision to join the Warriors.
"He wants to go back home," Criner said of Faleofa, a Kahuku High graduate.
Faleofa attended junior college for a year, went on a two-year church mission and then played at College of the Canyons. He was prepared to sign a letter of intent with UH last February, but then changed his mind, instead signing with Western Michigan.
"It was disappointing for me," Criner said. "I put my name on the line when I said he was going to Hawai'i."
Last season, the 6-foot-1, 260-pound Faleofa played defensive tackle, where he made 30 tackles, including six for losses.
He must sit out this season, and will have one season of eligibility.
In other recruiting news:
• Despite being relatively new to the sport, Roosevelt High senior Naymon Frank said he has accepted a football scholarship offer to play at Oregon State.
Frank, who is 6 feet 5 and 240 pounds, is a defensive end with a high upside, Roosevelt coach Lester Parrilla said.
"They look at his size and they know he has room to fill out," Parrilla said.
Frank lived on Moloka'i from the sixth grade through the ninth before transferring to Roosevelt for his sophomore year. He said he played wide receiver on the junior varsity, but broke his wrist and missed the season. He moved up to the varsity as a junior, but really did not unveil his potential until this year.
"I was still kind of uncoordinated," Frank said. "After my junior year, I kind of got with it. My defensive line coach (Tony Holyfield) really helped me a lot."
Frank took his recruiting visit to Oregon State in December. Utah later made him an offer and planned to give him an official recruiting visit, which he turned down.
• R.J. Willing, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Kamehameha Schools said he has narrowed his choices to Brigham Young, Washington and Oregon. He said he probably will cancel scheduled recruiting trips to UH and Utah.
• Quarterback Taylor Tharp of Fairview High in Boulder, Colo., will decide between UH and Boise State next week. Tharp's mother said he wanted to wait until his father, Colorado athletic director Dick Tharp, returned from a business trip to Vietnam.
Tony Phifer, a reporter for The Coloradoan, said Tharp was regarded as the best high school passer in the state last season. Colorado State originally was recruiting Tharp, but backed out after receiving an early commitment from another quarterback.
• Despite speculation, UH has not offered a recruiting trip to record-setting Texas high school quarterback Drew Tate.
• Defensive lineman Wilson Afoa of Saint Louis School postponed his UH recruiting trip because of a family emergency in American Samoa. He will visit UH this weekend.
• At least two more recruits have verbally committed to UH, but are delaying announcements until after the Warrior coaches complete home visits.
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