Kaniela Tuipulotu

Haynr8dr · Post by **Haynr8dr** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:03 pm

I'm sure this guy out of Kahuku has 100 scholarships waiting on him but, I'm wondering what UH's interest and chances are in him. It's my understanding that many Universities, including UH offer scholarships to juniors in high-school now. Im confident that Kaniela has an offer on the table from June too, I'm just wondering if it was extended last year.

Otherwise, I hope there's a hard-pressed effort to land Kaniela Tuipulotu. He could contribute immediately to a team that is more and more starting to look "homegrown". And the more blue-chippers we can get to play at UH, the better our chances of getting a little respect across the nation. If we were able to keep a lot of our other homegrown products like Olin, Kimo von, and the Kemoeatu brothers... .

There are a lot of excellent offensive and defensive line prospects born - bred and fed here in the Islands.

CityOfWalrus · Post by **CityOfWalrus** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:31 pm

I hope to god that he commits to UH... I think hes so good that he could jump in for Lafaele next year..

lankim · Post by **lankim** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:35 pm

i think he would be a great run stuffer for us

letsgobows · Post by **letsgobows** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:49 pm

he's good. but i doubt he is better than lafaele next year. maybe in the future, but not next year.

he's also gonna have to learn to play hard every play and not take plays off. other than that, he is a beast. strong, physical, good quickness. i hope he decides to play for UH.

Haynr8dr · Post by **Haynr8dr** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:21 pm

Glanville has slowly, but surely turned our defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Kaniela could start at DE, maybe even OLB early, utilizing his quickness until he beefs up a bit. He doesn't have to put on too much more and soon, he's a bonafide college nose guard. Hopefully, he still grows a couple more inches, putting on the pounds is probably not going to be a problem. A training table of food in front of this guy is in trouble.

HRC Paul · Post by **HRC Paul** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:53 pm

His current offers are from Tennessee, Boise State, Oregon State, BYU, NMSU, Arizona ... UH made him an offer over the summer, one of the early signs that the staff was going in a new direction to compete with the Pac-10 and WAC schools that were offering early for the past few seasons already.

Kaniela's told me that he's 291 pounds. More weight isn't going to be necessary. I've joked with him that going from 215 as a freshman to 291 is what caused the stress on his Achilles heel and ankle. Might be a little truth to that. He's a genuinely down-to-earth guy and he'll get even better when he gets serious about weight-training in college.

http://starbulletin.com/2006/10/11/sports/story03.html

WarriorMojo · Post by **WarriorMojo** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:02 pm

Paul, tell him that if he comes to Hawaii, he will have a chance to play running back and win the Heisman trophy.

uhwarrior23 · Post by **uhwarrior23** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:21 pm

I hope we get this guy! JJ did say if we can keep the top local players home, we'll have a chance to be a consistent top 20 team!

HRC Paul · Post by **HRC Paul** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:06 pm

Well guys, I totally agree! If all our local guys stayed, we could solve a lot of the depth problems ... still need our mainland Warriors, ultimately the combination is unbeatable. (I used to think it wasn't possible, but this year's team is showing me that with the right personnel, and enough depth, UH is capable of beating anybody and possibly going undefeated.)

Kaniela is a very independent guy. He's already been away from home for a few years now, so a move to the mainland wouldn't be totally difficult. I hope he stays, and I wouldn't doubt that this family would love to fly over and watch his games at Aloha Stadium. They miss him dearly, he misses them dearly. But it's his future and I wish him the very best no matter where he ends up. He's a terrific kid.

He laughed when I mentioned to him last month that he could play RB at a certain college I love. He said that there are fullbacks out there who run a 4.5, 4.6 40 ... that he barely can break 5.0, if that. He's happy to play D-line. I still think he could play RB if necessary. He did it three years ago at Lahainaluna, and he looked good there.

seasider · Post by **seasider** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:03 pm

uhwarrior23 wrote:I hope we get this guy! JJ did say if we can keep the top local players home, we'll have a chance to be a consistent top 20 team!

During Tomey's tenure at UH, I remember one of the national scouting service said the same thing.

BRADAHMAN · Post by **BRADAHMAN** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:36 pm

Come on Kaniela... Hawaii would appreciate you more than anywhere else.

COACH BEE · Post by **COACH BEE** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:28 am

HRC Paul wrote:His current offers are from Tennessee, Boise State, Oregon State, BYU, NMSU, Arizona ... UH made him an offer over the summer, one of the early signs that the staff was going in a new direction to compete with the Pac-10 and WAC schools that were offering early for the past few seasons already.

Kaniela's told me that he's 291 pounds. More weight isn't going to be necessary. I've joked with him that going from 215 as a freshman to 291 is what caused the stress on his Achilles heel and ankle. Might be a little truth to that. He's a genuinely down-to-earth guy and he'll get even better when he gets serious about weight-training in college.

http://starbulletin.com/2006/10/11/sports/story03.html

It'll probably be the one who wines and dines him (within the confines of the rules of course). UH seems to be doing the right thing. Oregon State seemed to piss him off this summer at the All Poly Camp. I don't think he'll be going there. His cousins are in LA so that might actually be the only competition with UH at this point. UH seems to be doing a good job making Kaniela feel real important. He was there tonight.

letsgobows · Post by **letsgobows** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:40 am

COACH BEE wrote:
HRC Paul wrote:His current offers are from Tennessee, Boise State, Oregon State, BYU, NMSU, Arizona ... UH made him an offer over the summer, one of the early signs that the staff was going in a new direction to compete with the Pac-10 and WAC schools that were offering early for the past few seasons already.

Kaniela's told me that he's 291 pounds. More weight isn't going to be necessary. I've joked with him that going from 215 as a freshman to 291 is what caused the stress on his Achilles heel and ankle. Might be a little truth to that. He's a genuinely down-to-earth guy and he'll get even better when he gets serious about weight-training in college.

http://starbulletin.com/2006/10/11/sports/story03.html
It'll probably be the one who wines and dines him (within the confines of the rules of course). UH seems to be doing the right thing. Oregon State seemed to piss him off this summer at the All Poly Camp. I don't think he'll be going there. His cousins are in LA so that might actually be the only competition with UH at this point. UH seems to be doing a good job making Kaniela feel real important. He was there tonight.

i hope him and fotu commit this week now...lol. probably wont happen, but we could probably end recruiting season once we get the both of them.

lupchong · Post by **lupchong** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:58 am

COACH BEE wrote:
HRC Paul wrote:His current offers are from Tennessee, Boise State, Oregon State, BYU, NMSU, Arizona ... UH made him an offer over the summer, one of the early signs that the staff was going in a new direction to compete with the Pac-10 and WAC schools that were offering early for the past few seasons already.

Kaniela's told me that he's 291 pounds. More weight isn't going to be necessary. I've joked with him that going from 215 as a freshman to 291 is what caused the stress on his Achilles heel and ankle. Might be a little truth to that. He's a genuinely down-to-earth guy and he'll get even better when he gets serious about weight-training in college.

http://starbulletin.com/2006/10/11/sports/story03.html
It'll probably be the one who wines and dines him (within the confines of the rules of course). UH seems to be doing the right thing. Oregon State seemed to piss him off this summer at the All Poly Camp. I don't think he'll be going there. His cousins are in LA so that might actually be the only competition with UH at this point. UH seems to be doing a good job making Kaniela feel real important. He was there tonight.

I hope he enjoyed the Haka! He can do the Haka here $\:D/$ Then go out and dominate on the d-line.

HRC Paul · Post by **HRC Paul** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:14 am

Yup, you got it, lupchong. I almost forgot ... one of the reasons he wanted to transfer to Kahuku was the haka. (They don't do it anymore, but that's another story.) Man, he's in the right place to represent Poly pride if he comes to UH.

Isn't it kinda funny ... a few years back, JJ said he told his DC (Kevin Lempa at the time) that he wanted the D to take risks, make big plays, do things that would allow the UH offense to get back on the field quickly.

Now, they're moving closer to building a dominant defense, especially if Nai Fotu and Kaniela come to Manoa. Three-and-outs all night will get the offense back on the field quickly. And often