A defensive lineman from one of the nation's most successful — and popular — high school football programs has accepted a University of Hawai'i football scholarship.

"I love the program, and I'm excited to become a Warrior," said Korey Reynolds of Alabama's Hoover High.

Reynolds, who is 6 feet 3 and 250 pounds, turned down offers from Illinois and Southern Mississippi. Last month, he withdrew a verbal commitment he made to Houston.

"Houston wasn't the college atmosphere I was looking for," Reynolds said. "Hawai'i is the right place for me."

Accompanied by his mother, Mary, Reynolds visited UH this past weekend.

"The visit was great," Reynolds said. "It's a great program. The distance didn't bother me. It bothered my parents a little bit, with me going all the way out to Hawai'i. That just means they won't see as many games as they usually would. They'll make most of the Mainland games."

Mary Reynolds said: "The coaches and players were very nice. I loved Hawai'i, of course. It's a long way away from home. Very long. But if that's what Korey wants to do, I'm going to support him."

Hoover defensive line coach Chris Davis said UH is receiving a "big, physical kid who works extremely hard in the weight room. He's a typical Hoover kid. He didn't start until his senior year because of the caliber of program here. He worked extremely hard for three years, and got his chance this year, and made the most out of it."

Reynolds can run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds, bench-press 350 pounds, squat-lift 550 pounds and power-clean 315 pounds.

He was invited to play in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl in Shreveport, La., earlier this month.

"I think Hawai'i is going to get a great player defensively," Davis said.

Hoover is featured on MTV's "Two-a-Days," a reality show in which cameras followed the players, coaches and their friends and family members.

"Last year, it was different," Davis said of MTV's presence. "They got used to it. This year, it wasn't a big deal."

Reynolds said the show "brought a lot of attention to the program. During the offseason, it's a lot of fun to go back and watch."

The Hoover players already had faced scrutiny. In a six-year span through the 2005 season, the Buccaneers won five 6A Alabama state championships. Hoover plays a national schedule.

Beginning in the fifth grade, Davis said, "they start learning the system. By the time they get to high school, it's second nature to them.

"The kids work hard," Davis added. "The parents are very involved. You're under a lot of pressure. You don't want to be on the team that doesn't win. Korey is another in a long line of kids who handled (the pressure) very well."

Reynolds said playing for Hoover gives him confidence to "compete at a high level."

Reynolds has met the requirements to play as an NCAA freshman.

He has a cumulative 3.1 grade-point average and earned a qualifying score on the ACT.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.