Sidney picked up offers from Utah State and Boise State in May. In June, he added offers from Cal and Hawaii.
Hawaii: “I am very excited about that place. I’m really an in-person type of person so I would really like to go out there to experience what it would be like to go there first-hand.”
Moore, who has a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average, also received offers from Navy and Army. Moore said he bonded with the UH coaches during last month’s unofficial visit to the Manoa campus.
“They really believed in me,” Moore said. “For them to see me, and offer me, it means a lot.”
Moore is 6 feet and 180 pounds. He was a shutdown cornerback as a sophomore in 2019. The Crusaders’ 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic.
Lee said Moore can play any position in the secondary. “He’s good,” Lee said. “He can run. He’s rangy. He’s a good cover guy. And he works hard. He’s got good feet. He pursues well. He has good instincts. He has all the things you need as a DB.”
Moore will practice at corner and safety, with his starting spot to be decided after preseason training.
“I feel satisfied. I’m good. I’m happy with my decision,” said Moore, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior. “I decided on Tuesday night with my parents.”
Saint Louis coach Ron Lee is stoked for one of his key senior leaders.
“It’s great for him, well deserved. He’s the only starter we have back. He’s showing terrific leadership. He can play corner, (strong) safety, free safety. He’s got a lot of talent,” Lee said.
Moore got in touch with the Hawaii staff.
“I called my position coach, Trent Figg, and he passed the phone to (head) coach (Todd) Graham and coach (Jacob) Yoro. Coach Figg said I made his day, I’m their first commitment, for it to be from home feels different and they’re ready to get me started,” Moore said.
Initially, he planned to wait until August before making a decision. Hawaii, however, felt right after a visit with the Warriors recently.
Saint Louis center Ethan Spencer commits to University of Hawaii football team for 2022 By Stephen Tsai
The centerpiece of the state’s best high school offensive line is set to play for the University of Hawaii football team.
Ethan Spencer of Saint Louis School said he has accepted a 2022 scholarship offer from the Rainbow Warriors.
“I saw it as an opportunity to get my school paid for and taken care of,” Spencer said, “and also to play the sport I love in front of my family, and to play at home.”
“We have a tremendous O-line,” said Lee, noting it all begins with the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Spencer. “He’s been a starter for us for three years. He’s really, really knowledgeable about protection. He calls all the blocking. He’s a real solid player.”
Spencer said he has always played center. Lee said Spencer has gone against some of the best in Saint Louis’ practices — Faatui Tuitele, now at Washington; Stanley McKenzie (California); Darrell Masaniai (San Diego State), and Anthony Sagapolutele.
“Every day at practice, he would go at it with the one-on-ones,” Lee said. “He did good. That’s why he’s starting.”
Spencer is capable of bench-pressing 375 pounds. ‘He’s got long arms and he’s strong,” Lee said.
“He leads by his performance,” Lee said. “You look at his (video) cutups, he always does the job. He’s going to have a hell of a year this year. (The Warriors) are getting a good one, a really good one. I’m glad he committed. They got a winner.”
He is a master of adaptation. The Saint Louis senior center committed to Hawaii last week and embraces anything that will come his way. Just don’t expect a disturbance in the force.
“I haven’t really celebrated yet. Just living life normally for now,” said Spencer, now 6 feet, 2 inches and 275 pounds. “I think it’s just going to be any other day, if anything. My parents (Mellissa and Sean Spencer) were excited for me. They always wanted me to make the best decision for myself and choose where I want to go for college. UH was just the right fit.”
At Hawaii, a pro-style offense is in play after years of a spread-heavy attack. His approach won’t change entirely.
“Less shotgun, more under center as well. Run and pass. For most of the time, my snaps are always the same, whether they’re four yards or seven yards (back). For me, it’s about quarterback heights. Finding a snap that will work for all of them is pretty important,” Spencer said. “Honestly, I kind of like pass more. I feel like shotgun is better. It gives me a little more time to move compared to under center, but the run is fun. It’s just straight attitude and being able to maul somebody.”
“I think that’s an awesome choice for him. He’s a great fit,” Saint Louis offensive line coach Rob Crowell said. “Ethan is the hardest worker in our O-line for sure. It’s an awesome opportunity he got with the scholarship offer. I think their new O-line coach, A’lique Terry, is a great coach. He was a grad assistant at Oregon. He has a lot of energy and a good philosophy about developing offensive linemen. He’s about developing their guys.”
For Spencer, who has a 3.71 grade-point average — yes, he knows his number to the third digit like most scholar-athletes — studying and preparation are a way of life. He stayed busy through the pandemic despite restrictions.
Longtime coach and offensive line guru Brian Derby has trained Spencer for nearly a decade.
“UH is getting a steal,” the former Rainbow Warrior lineman said. “That kid is good. When we do our drills, he’s so freaking fast. I know that offense. They’re looking for more mobile, quicker type linemen. I take speed guys any day over slow guys. He’s so fast that he can free up guards. He’ll work up to the next level, the ‘backers,” Derby said. “That’s just how he is, doing his speed work. I love that kid, man. I’m so happy for him that he got offered. He got overlooked.”
The advantage for Spencer, and now for Hawaii, is that he is the classic cerebral bonecrusher in the trenches.
“He’ll be fine. We don’t focus on only pass pro. We do a load of run blocking,” Derby said of his clinic. “He’s articulate. He’s the brain behind that O-line. He will dictate the tempo. It all starts with him.”
"Hawaii was my first. I was super psyched about that one, growing up watching them,” Tafiti said. “I got re-offered by Coach (Jacob) Yoro. I called him.”
When the previous staff departed, Tafiti wasn’t certain about the offer.
“(Teammate) Kahanu (Kia) said the coaches want to talk to you,” he said of the re-offer.
“I got my first offer at the end of my sophomore season from U.H. It just made my family so proud and just the scholarship to release the burden financially from my family and myself. It gives me the opportunity to focus on the sport I love and obtain an education. It’s a crazy feeling.”