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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 5, 2009

UH football recruits

Advertiser Staff

KAMALANI ALO

Safety, 6-2, 200, Kahuku High

Feats: Named one of the top 100 players in the Northwest ... played soccer and competed in track and field ... named to The Advertiser's All-State first team.

Tony Tuioti: "He's kind of like a 'tweener. He might be a linebacker-safety-type of guy. He slipped through the cracks. He was a safety, but they had to use him as a linebacker. He'll be a big asset because he can run and he's an athletic player."

T.J. ALOFIPO

Linebacker, 6-2, 240, Silverado High (Nev.).

Feats: Rated as Nevada's No. 1 prep linebacker and fourth best overall player ... made 11.5 sacks as a junior ... recruited by Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, BYU, Arizona, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin, Utah.

Tuioti: "T.J. has closing speed. He has a knack for the ball. With this attacking defense, he can excel. He played in (a similar) defense. Hopefully, the transition will be smooth. He's a basketball kid, he's an athlete. He has great hands, and great feet. He has natural instinct to know where the ball is."

KALANI BRACKENRIDGE

Cornerback, 5-11, 165, Kapolei High.

Feats: Shortstop on the Kapolei baseball team who also will be a middle infielder for UH ... Father was a professional baseball player, and half-brother is a cornerback for the New York Jets ... can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds.

Tuioti: "He covers a lot of ground. He's a playmaker. He can run. He's athletic. I noticed he's around the ball every time. He's like an Ed Reed. He gets interceptions and he makes plays."

RODNEY BRADLEY

Wideout, 6-1, 190, Navarro College (Texas).

Feats: Averaged 19.3 yards per catch in a run-oriented offense. ... recruited by Arizona and Houston.

Tuioti: "He catches everything with his hands. Everything thrown at him, he catches. That's because he doesn't get a lot of passes, so he couldn't afford to drop any."

AARON BROWN

Safety, 6-1, 216, Saddleback College (Calif.).

Feats: Named to All-Mission Conference first team ... in 2008, he had 15 tackles for losses and six sacks ... can bench 225 pounds 24 times, has 36-inch vertical jump ... wrestled and played rugby in high school ... recruited by Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona and Washington State.

Tuioti: "He plays fast. He's got the instinct. He's a football player. He looks the part. He's physical. He'll be a steal for us."

GEORGE DAILY-LYLES

Linebacker, 5-11, 220, Long Beach Poly.

Feats: Named CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division co-Defensive Player of the Year ... recruited by Arizona and Colorado State.

Tuioti: "I love the way he plays. He plays the game right. Every time I watch him, body-wise, he reminds me of Solly (Solomon Elimimian). He can find the football. He makes a lot of plays, a lot of tackles. He's a vocal leader. A lot of guys follow him. Any time you can get a football player who's a leader, that's a good gift."

LAMETRIUS DAVIS

Cornerback, 5-11, 180, Butte College (Calif.).

Feats: Member of national championship team ... runs 4.45 seconds in the 40 ... recruited by Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona.

Tuioti: "He's rangy, but he can cover and he can run. The advantage is he's in school now. He can play in spring ball."

CHIZZY DIMUDE

Running back, 5-11, 180, Laney College (Calif.).

Feats: Despite injury, led team with 546 yards, averaging 6.0 per carry ... recruited by California, Colorado State and Marshall.

Tuioti: "Chizzy is explosive. He's like Michael Brewster. He's a scatback, and he can go the distance if he gets out there."

DAVID GRAVES

Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Folsom (Calif.) High.

Feats: Named Sacramento Metro's Player of the Year ... completed 71 percent of passes, and threw 40 TD passes in 11 games ... originally committed to Nevada.

Tuioti: "He's accurate and very smart. We're excited about him."

ALEX GREEN

Running back, 6-2, 220, Butte College (Calif.).

Feats: Rushed for team-best 1,037 yards and 14 touchdowns during regular season, and 119 yards in championship game ... named to all-conference first team ... recruited by Arizona, Washington, Washington State.

Tuioti: "Alex has power and speed. He likes to be physical. He looks like Marion Barber when he runs the football. He's got a great attitude."

DAVID HAFOKA

Defensive tackle, 6-1, 315, College of San Mateo (Calif.).

Feats: Missed 2007 season because of infection in his leg but rebounded to be the point defender in 3-4 alignment ... can bench press 375 pounds ... already enrolled at UH ... recruited by Utah and Arizona.

Tuioti: "We need a guy like him. We need guys to help us stop the run, and David Hafoka is that type of player for us. He can clog those gaps, and let the linebackers make some plays."

MELVIN "TANK" HOPKINS

Cornerback, 5-9, 160, Navarro College (Texas).

Feats: 40 of his 53 tackles were solo stops ... runs 40 in 4.45 seconds ... has 38-inch vertical jump ... recruited by Arizona and Houston.

Tuioti: "Hopkins has that attitude where he wants to be physical. He can flat-out run."

JOEY IOSEFA

Safety, 6-1, 190, Fagaitua High (American Samoa).

Feats: Played quarterback, free safety, linebacker ... named Offensive Player of the Year and led Fagaitua to championship ... also plays basketball, volleyball and soccer.

Tuioti: "He played quarterback, and he has a quarterback's mentality. He's an athlete. His role coming out might be on special teams. That's an important role."

BRETT LEONARD

Offensive tackle, 6-5, 305, Saddleback College (Calif.).

Feats: Named to All-Southern Conference second team ... allowed only two sacks in 2008 ... coached by former All-Pro Jackie Slater ... recruited by California, Miami (Ohio) and Marshall.

Tuioti: "He's agile and he's athletic. We want to put some good weight on him."

JOHN LISTER

Running back, 6-1, 205, Thousand Oaks High (Calif.).

Feats: Named Ventura County Offensive Player of the Year and Marmonte League's Most Valuable Player ... rushed for 2,238 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2008.

Tuioti: "He's a young guy. But when his number is called, he'll come out of the gates. With his frame, it looks like he can hold 230 easy and still be a good running back. He doesn't have any fat on his body. He's a downhill runner. He's a legit 4.5, 4.6 runner."

JORDAN LOEFFLER

Offensive tackle, 6-5, 280, Hilo High.

Feats: Named to The Advertiser's Division I honorable mention ... qualified for the state track and field championships in the shot put ... recruited by Washington, Washington State.

Tuioti: "He'll be a project for us, but that's good. That's what you want to do sometimes. You want to bring him in, get him bigger and faster, and he'll pay off. He'll learn the system."

CHAD LOPATI

Linebacker, 6-2, 250, Kapolei High.

Feats: Ranked as Hawai'i's seventh-best prep player ... made 98 tackles, including 12 sacks, as a senior ... is Kapolei's career leader in sacks ... recruited by Oregon State.

Tuioti: "Man, Chad is a good player. He's a big, physical guy. He also can play defensive end."

BENSON MA'AFALA

Offensive lineman, 6-3, 305, Mililani High.

Feats: Can bench 185 pounds 36 times ... plays basketball and competes in discus and shot put ... father (Benson) and uncle (Nick) were All-State selections who also played for UH ... named to The Advertiser's All-State second team.

Tuioti: "He'll be good for the line. He has a big body, and he can play."

MARCUS MALEPEAI

Defensive tackle, 6-2, 245, Radford High.

Feats: Named to The Advertiser's All-State Division II second team ... has a 29-inch vertical jump, and can squat 455 pounds and power clean 265 pounds ... Uncle with the same name also played for Warriors.

Tuioti: "He's got a lot of talent."

VENI MANU

Defensive end, 6-4, 230, Mililani High.

Feats: Can bench 225 pounds 17 times ... father played for the Miami Dolphins ... recruited by Colorado, Utah.

Tuioti: "He can run. He's got long arms. He's another guy who can become a good player. He's got a lot of upside. And Ma'a Tanuvasa coached him, so you know he's had good coaching."

ZACH MASCH

Defensive tackle, 6-2, 285 , Arizona Western College.

Feats: Made 44 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season ... can bench 405 pounds ... high school team won Division I Section championship ... turned down offer from UCLA.

Tuioti: "He's physical. He can add depth to our tackles."

COREY NIELSEN

Quarterback, 5-11, 185 , Gahr High (Calif.).

Feats: Named as a national Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year ... as a junior, led California quarterbacks in passing yards, and was third nationally ... threw for 8,236 yards and 73 touchdowns in his prep career.

Tuioti: "He's a smart kid. He loves Hawai'i football. He wants to be here for the right reasons. Some people might have questions about his height. But he's smart, and he finds ways to make plays. He's a playmaker, and he's proved that. He has a big heart and a lot of confidence."

DEONDRE POWELL

Slotback, 5-8, 160, Gahr High (Calif.).

Feats: As a junior, caught 73 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns, and was named to CIF Western Division first team ... caught 54 passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior ... runs 40 in 4.4 seconds.

Tuioti: "He's a Davone Bess-type; he gets a lot of yards after catches. He's fun to watch."

CAYMAN SHUTTER

Quarterback, 6-1, 180, Punahou School.

Feats: Led Buffanblu to state championship .... named to Advertiser's All-State first team ... led state in passer rating (186.1) and accuracy (65 percent) in 2007 ... turned down offer from New Mexico.

Tuioti: "It's a great thing when you can get a quarterback who won a state championship. It shows what it takes to win. We need guys like that in our program. Hopefully, he'll be a leader for us."

DESTIN STEWART

Wideout, 6-4, 200, Douglass High (Okla.).

Feats: Named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association's 2008 All-State team as a receiver ... also named to the Tulsa World's All-State team ... made 76 tackles and five interceptions as a safety ... named to the Daily Oklahoman's All-State second team as a punter ... turned down offer from Missouri.

Tuioti: "He's big and he's physical. A lot of guys see him and think he's a senior (in college)."

BILLY RAY STUTZMANN

Wideout, 6-0, 160, Saint Louis School.

Feats: Ranked as Hawai'i's sixth-best recruit ... named to Advertiser's All-State first team ... won state titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints.

Tuioti: "He's a player. He proved he can play at a top level. He's done everything the right way."

AULOLA TONGA

Safety, 6-3, 200, Kahuku High.

Feats: Named to Advertiser's All-State first team ... has 38-inch vertical jump ... competes in basketball, volleyball, baseball and track and field.

Tuioti: "He has a great attitude. He's a physical player. He can be a linebacker or a safety. He has a knack for the ball. He can jump. He's a basketball guy."

MICHAEL WADSWORTH

Safety, 6-1, 190, Silverado High (Nev.).

Feats: Named to All-State teams as a junior and senior ... as junior, had eight kickoff or punt returns for touchdowns ... recruited by Arizona, Stanford, BYU, Colorado State.

Tuioti: "He's smart, a 4.0 guy. And he can play."

CHAUNCY WINCHESTER-MAKAINAI

Offensive lineman, 6-4, 325, Kailua High.

Feats: Named to Advertiser's All-State first team ... recruited by California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington.

Tuioti: "He's big and athletic. He can help us in a lot of different ways."