ISLE FILE
Kapolei QB Padayao commits to Air Force
Advertiser Staff
Kapolei senior quarterback Brad Padayao has accepted an offer to play football at the U.S. Air Force Academy prep school, Hurricanes coach Darren Hernandez said.
Padayao, who is listed at 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, was the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West Offensive Player of the Year and an Advertiser third-team all-state selection. He passed for 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 363 yards and nine TDs.
The prep school serves like a junior varsity for the Academy, Hernandez said. Padayao can later get promoted to the Academy's varsity. Hernandez said former Kapolei quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada played for the Naval Academy's prep school team last season. Like Kaheaku-Enhada, Padayao is adept at running the option.
"He wants to blaze a trail for himself," Hernandez said of Padayao's decision to go to the Air Force. "He wants to the the first quarterback from Hawai'i to play for the Air Force.
"I'm proud of the fact that we've been only playing for four years and we have two quarterbacks (in Division I)."
Hernandez added that Kapolei slot back Jon Santiago, a 4.0 grade-point-average student, is deciding between the Naval Academy and Air Force. Santiago led the Hurricanes with 671 receiving yards and six touchdown catches.
