Warriors get six verbal commitments

By Stephen Tsai and Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writers

The University of Hawai'i football team today secured verbal commitments from four defensive players, The Advertiser has learned.

They are:

• Fale Laeli, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle from Saint Louis School. Laeli, who can bench 390 pounds, will spurn offers from Arizona and Portland State.

• Khevin Peoples, a 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker from Blake High in Tampa, Fla. He can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.

• Carl Stokes, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker from Aberdeen High in Maryland. He can run 100 meters in 10.7 seconds.

• Desmond Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound safety/receiver from Vallejo (Calif.) High. He will play wide receiver at UH.

• Keala Watson, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle from Nanakuli High. He rejected offers from Utah, Colorado State and Arizona.

• Lawrence Wilson, a 6-foot, 309-pound defensive tackle who graduated from Farrington High in 2002 and played the past two seasons at Dixie State College in Utah.

They also remain hopeful they are in contention for defensive tackle Domata Peko of College of the Canyons in California.

Last night, a family spokeswoman said Peko is undecided about his college choice. A source close to the situation said UH has a “50-50 chance,” encouraging odds considering Peko is being recruited by his eldest brother’s alma mater, Michigan State. Tupe Peko is an offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts.

Domata Peko and another brother, linebacker Suiavca Peko, also a sophomore at College of the Canyons, completed recruiting visits to Hawai‘i yesterday afternoon. UH is reserving a roster berth for Suiavca Peko.

"The family would like both brothers to stay together," said Leon Criner, the College of the Canyons' defensive coordinator last season. "That's a plus for Hawai‘i."