Beating the rush, the University of Hawai'i football team yesterday secured a 2009 commitment from one of the state's top pass rushers.

Defensive end Veni Manu, who will be a senior at Mililani High School this year, said he notified the Warriors of his decision to accept their scholarship offer.

"I'm very happy to be a Warrior," Manu said. "I think coach (Greg McMackin) is a great coach, and I want to play for him."

Manu is 6 feet 4 and 227 pounds. At this year's Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance combine, Manu bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. He has been rated as a 3-star prospect.

His father, Tika Manu, was a defensive end at Utah who went on to play for the Miami Dolphins.

"He's a great kid," Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "He's always got a smile on his face. You love to coach a kid like him because he always wants to get better. He's constantly asking questions. When his position coach speaks, his eyes and ears are on his coach. You can see he wants to become a good football player."

Ma'a Tanuvasa, a former defensive lineman at UH and in the National Football League, is Manu's position coach.

"He's a really good coach," Manu said of Tanuvasa. "He helps me out a lot."

Arceneaux praised Manu as a relentless player.

"He's got one of those drives," Arceneaux said. "He loves to play the game, and play it as hard as he can. He's got a motor that doesn't stop.

"He doesn't like coming out of the game," Arceneaux added. "He loves to compete. He's one of those guys who makes the guys around him better. When you make people around you better, you know you're dealing with someone special. He's a gifted athlete."

Arceneaux said Manu is one of a few Mililani players who should have a seamless transition to Division I-A football.

"He's a man already," Arceneaux said. "I'm blessed to have a couple of kids like that. They could be playing college football right now, at least competing with those type of student-athletes. (Manu has) the build and he's learning the game. That's the part you like to see. He doesn't just use his size, he uses his techniques. He's very fundamental. He's only going to get better when he gets around the UH coaches. Coach McMackin has worked with former NFL stars like Warren Sapp and different guys like that. D-line coaches like (UH's) Dave Aranda and Ikaika Malloe are only going to help further grow his process of being a complete lineman."

Arceneaux said Manu will be named one of Mililani's team captains this season.

"He's not a guy of many words, but when he says something, everybody listens," Arceneaux said. "He makes his point. He's not an 'I' guy. He's not flashy. He just wants to go out there and play football. He wants to do his job to the fullest, and make his defense a better defense by his play."

Manu said he knew he would choose UH after attending the coaches' camp last month. He took a quick tour of the campus.

"UH is all I wanted," Manu said. "The biggest thing is I like Coach Mack as a coach and as a person. He's super cool. And staying home was another big thing."

Manu will put his commitment in writing Feb. 4, the first day high school prospects may sign binding national letters of intent.

UH already has received 2009 commitments from wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, slotback Deondre Powell and quarterback Corey Nielsen of Gahr High School in California, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and linebacker T.J. Alofipo of Silverado High School in Las Vegas.

A few 2008 grayshirts also will join the team in January.

DUAL PRACTICES START