By Jason Kaneshiro

Hawaii has added kicker Tyler Hadden to its recruiting class.
Hadden of California High School in Whitter, Calif., was an All-CIF Southeast Division pick and was the 11th ranked kicker in the country according to Chris Sailer Kicking.
Sailer, a former UCLA kicker, has worked with Hadden since his freshman year through the kicking camps Sailer runs.
In listing Hadden’s strengths, Sailer cited “his technique and consistency, and he’s a very polished kicker.” He also rated Hadden’s leg strength as well above average.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Greg McMackin formally announced the Warriors’ 26-player recruiting class at a press conference this afternoon, though the number could soon be 27.
McMackin said the Warriors are still recruiting a kicker who could be in the fold this weekend.
He reviewed selected members of the class at the press conference. He’ll go over the entire class at the Warrior Football Recruit Review at the Hukilau Restaurant.
>> McMackin said the emphasis this year was to “improve our size and speed,” pointing out the speed of receivers Darius Bright and Allen Sampson.
“Inside the red zone he’s going to be our answer,” McMackin said of the 6-5 Bright.
Sampson is just 5-8, but McMackin raved about his playmaking ability as a receiver and a kick returner.
>> The Warriors signed just three junior college players — Bright, offensive lineman London Sapolu and defensive end Siaki Cravens, who has three years to play. Cravens may be given a look at linebacker.
>> McMackin said linebacker T.J. Taimatuia has a chance to play right away. He credited Pearl City offensive lineman as a cornerstone of the class.
“I appreciate him even more because at every camp we went to it was like he was having a coaching convention,” McMackin said. “He said, ‘no, I’m going to the University of Hawaii, I’m going to play in front of my family and I want to defend Hawaii against everybody we play.”
>> He also highlighted cornerbacks John Hardy-Tuliau and Dee Maggitt.
Hardy-Tuliau set a California record with 26 blocked kicks over the last three years.
“He is a lockdown co

By Jason Kaneshiro

With 26 letters received by UH as of midday, here’s how the recruiting class breaks down so far:

OFFENSE
Quarterback
Kevin Spain    6-3    190    Paradise Valley (Ariz.)

Receiver
Samson Anguay    5-8    155    Campbell
Darius Bright    6-5    225    City College of San Francisco
Corey Lau 5-8    140    Kailua
Christian “Bubba” Poueu-Luna    6-0    175    Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.)
Allen Sampson    5-8    155    Plant (Fla.)

Offensive line
Kody Afusia    6-3    295    Ocean View (Calif.) HS
David Lefotu    6-4    295    Pearl City
Frank Loyd    6-4    265    Moanalua
London Sapolu    6-1    275    Orange Coast (Calif.) College
Sean Shigematsu    6-5    230    Kapaa

DEFENSE
Defensive line
Siaki Cravens    6-3    220    Long Beach    City
Desmond Dean    6-7    215    John Tyler (Texas)
Ipulasi Eselu    6-2    215    Moanalua
Calen Friel        6-2    245    Kailua
David Katina    6-2    225    Faasao Marist (American Samoa)
Moses Samia    6-2    240    Saint Louis
Beau Yap    6-2    245    Kamehameha

Linebacker
Dustin Elisara    6-2    252    Kapolei
Tu‘ulauena Lolohea    6-2    245    Kapolei
Zac Quines    6-4    205    Mililani
Dominick Sierra        LB    6-1    202    La Habra (Calif.)
T.J. Taimatuia    6-4    230    Artesia (Calif.)

Defensive back
John Hardy-Tuliau    6-1    165    Vista Murrieta (Calif.)
Dee Maggitt    5-10    175    Lakes (Wash.)
Marcus Umu    6-1    190    Saint Louis

* already enrolled in school

By Jason Kaneshiro

Many of the state’s football recruits arrived at the Sheraton Waikiki in the dark of morning to participate in the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance’s signing-day event.
>> Among those signing with Hawaii at the event included DE Beau Yap (Kamehameha), LB David Katina (Kanana Fou, American Samoa), OL David Lefotu (Pearl City), LB Dustin Elisara (Kapolei), DB Marcus Umu (Saint Louis), WR Samson Anguay (Campbell), LB Tuulauena Lolohea (Kapolei), DL Calen Friel (Kailua), WR Corey Lau (Kailua), DL Moses Samia (Saint Louis), OL Frank Loyd (Moanalua), DE Moses Samia (Saint Louis) and LB Ipulasi Eselu (Moanalua).
>> UH has also so far received letters from the mainland from LB Siaki Cravens, DL Desmond Dean, DB John Hardy-Tuliau, Dee Maggitt, WR Christian “Bubba” Poueu-Luna,  WR Allen Sampson, QB Kevin Spain, and LB T.J. Taimatuia. OL Sean Shigematsu of Kapaa has also signed.
>> Farrington linebacker V.J. Fehoko put on a Utah cap after signing his letter, Kapolei safety Shaydon Akuna signed with Oregon State and Punahou safety Jeremy Ioane is headed to Boise State. Aiea defensive lineman Lawrence Lagafuaina reaffirmed his commitment and signed with Washington.

>> Mililani head coach Darnell Arceneaux said linebacker Zac Quines was ill and didn’t attend this morning’s event. Arceneaux said Quines remained committed to UH and will submit his letter today.
>> Leilehua head coach Nolan Tokuda said defensive lineman Charlie Tuaau, who earlier committed to UH, will attend Pasadena City College.
>> UH will hold a press conference announcing the incoming class this afternoon. The Warrior Football Recruit Review will be held at the Hukilau Restaurant at the Executive Center downtown. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. with the program starting at 6.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Hawaii will close the 2012 season against Western Kentucky of the Sun Belt Conference, the schools announced today.
The game, the first meeting between the programs, is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2012 at Aloha Stadium. The deal leaves UH with one opening on the 2012 schedule.
“I’m sure their coaches, players and fans are very excited for the opportunity to finish out the regular season in Hawaii,” UH athletic director Jim Donovan said in a release. “Having already completed the 2010 and ’11 schedules and needing one more game for ’12 and ’13, we’re meeting one of our goals to have the football schedule complete several years out.”
With the addition of WKU, this is how the Warriors’ nonconference schedules in shape up over the next few years with one opening left for 2012 and 2013.

2010
9/2/2010        USC
9/11/2010    at Army
9/18/2010     at Colorado
9/25/2010    Charleston Southern
12/4/2010    UNLV

2011
9/3/2011      Colorado
9/10/2011    at Washington
9/17/2011    at UNLV
9/24/2011    UC Davis
12/3/2011    Oregon State

2012
9/1/2012        at USC
9/8/2012        at BYU
9/22/2012    UNLV
12/1/2012    Western Kentucky

2013
8/31/2013    USC
9/14/2013    BYU
11/30/2013    Army
12/7/2013    Washington

By Jason Kaneshiro

Ryan Biesemeyer will return to the UH football program as a graduate assistant, the school announced today.
Biesemeyer was the team’s video coordinator in 2008 and spent this past season coaching the defensive line at Texas Lutheran.
He joins Inoke Funaki as the Warrior’s graduate assistants this season. Mike Smith, the team’s lone GA last year, did not return to the Warriors.
>> Here’s an update from SI.com on John Estes’ performance during the week leading up to the East-West Shrine Game:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/01/22/shrine/
“John Estes/C/Hawaii: Estes could well be the big winner of Shrine week. He played with terrific fundamentals and strength from the first day of practice. Estes had no problem handling bigger opponents on the line and was flawless blocking on the move. Estes, who has not yet received an invitation to February’s combine, elevated his draft stock at least one round.”

By Jason Kaneshiro

Kody Afusia, a center from Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., has given a verbal committed to sign with Hawaii.
Afusia, 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, committed after visiting UH this past weekend.
“It was awesome,” said Lee Afusia, Kody’s father. “It was his favorite college when he was growing up. We used to sit up late at night and watch when Timmy Chang was playing.”
Kody Afusia was an All-CIF Southern Division pick as an offensive lineman last season.
>> Dominick Sierra, who committed to UH last summer,  was named the All-CIF Southwest Division defensive player of the year for La Habra High School.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Kapolei head coach Darren Hernandez confirmed that Hurricane linebackers Dustin Elisara and Tuulauena Lolohea have committed to Hawaii following their visits this past weekend.
“They were impressed and wowed by UH,” Hernandez said. “I think they’ll be great Warriors.”
Elisara (6-foot-2, 252 pounds) led Kapolei with 89 tackles, including two sacks, and had two interceptions as the Hurricanes’ middle linebacker. Lolohea (6-2, 245) had 86 tackles with 11 sacks from his outside linebacker spot.

Both had been recruited by schools such as Oregon State, Arkansas, Arizona among others. Here are links to highlights for both:

Elisara — http://www.youtube.com/manahman#p/u/20/ohii-j-LQh8
Lolohea — http://www.youtube.com/manahman#p/u/5/2WI0Wow8uL0

>> Shaydon Akuna, yet another Kapolei linebacker, has home visits with  Oregon State and Florida State coaches coming up, Hernandez said.
>> Aiea defensive tackle Lawrence Lagafuaina, who committed to Washington, is also expected to visit UH.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Former Hawaii quarterback/running back Inoke Funaki has been named a graduate assistant for the Warriors for the 2010 season.
“Inoke is a perfect example of an outstanding student-athlete,” UH head coach Greg McMackin said in a release. “He was a great player in our program and consistently earned a 4.0 grade-point average. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree and I’m really excited the he’s joining our staff as a graduate assistant. He is a great example to our players both academically and athletically.”
Funaki completed his eligibility this past season. He is attending the NCAA Football Coaches Academy in Orlando, Fla., this weekend.

By Jason Kaneshiro

If that pivotal fake punt Boise State executed in its Fiesta Bowl win looked familiar, it’s probably because the Broncos converted on a similar play against Hawaii back in October.
Prior to his 29-yard completion that extended Boise State’s game-winning drive against TCU last night, punter Kyle Brotzman’s only previous pass attempt this season was a 28-yard strike to Jason Robinson late in the first quarter of the Broncos’ 54-9 win over the Warriors. That one came on a fourth-and-4 from Boise State’s 45 and the drive didn’t produce any points when Brotzman missed a field goal.
The stakes were a whole lot higher last night when the Broncos ran the fake from their own 33 on fourth-and-9 in the fourth quarter of a tied game. This time they turned it into the decisive score in a 17-10 win.
>> After a rough start, the WAC went 2-2 in bowl season thanks to wins by Idaho and Boise State. The postseason began with losses by Fresno State and Nevada. Idaho delivered one of the best finishes of the postseason in its Humanitarian Bowl win over Bowling Green and Boise State followed with its second BCS bowl win.
>> Hawaii went 1-5 against the six bowl teams it faced this season (Fresno State, Idaho, Boise State, Nevada, Navy and Wisconsin), the lone win coming against Navy. Those teams ended up going 4-2 in the postseason.