The Hawaii football team has secured a commitment from a top high school lineman from Utah.
Cottonwood High’s Elijah Tupai told the Star-Advertiser he will sign with the Warriors on Feb. 6, the first day recruits may put their pledges in writing.
Tupai, who is 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, was the Colts’ best blocker — both on running plays and pass protection — as a senior in 2012.
"He’s a big-time player," Cottonwood coach Greg Croshaw said. "Hawaii is getting a special talent."
Whether Tupai remains as an offensive tackle will be resolved in training camp this summer.
"I think he played, in my estimation, the wrong position at Cottonwood," Croshaw said. "I just got there in July, and they already had him at offensive tackle, which he did an outstanding job. In my somewhat questionable experience, he probably has a chance to be a very good defensive five-technique (end) as any to come out of here in a while. I did see some glimpses of him on defense, and that’s where I think his future is."
Tupai said: "I’ll play wherever they want me to play."
Croshaw and UH coach Norm Chow were graduate assistants on the same Brigham Young staff in the 1970s. Croshaw served as Dixie College’s head coach for several years, graduating such future NFL players as Corey Dillon and Scott Young.
Chow was the offensive coordinator at Utah in 2011 when he first noticed Tupai. UH assistant coach Lewis Powell’s brother, Alai Powell, is a former Cottonwood coach.
Those ties helped steer Tupai to the Warriors.
"Hawaii is the best place for me," Tupai said.
Tupai received offers from BYU, Utah, Utah State and San Diego State. He said he notified those schools that he was accepting the Warriors’ offer.
"I want to go to Hawaii," Tupai said.
Tupai is an all-around athlete who competes in track and field, basketball and rugby. But he excels in football.
"He’s got a great motor," Croshaw said. "He’s great in the weight room. He’s an aggressive kid. He plays hard every snap. He just doesn’t have any downside to him. He’ll be a guy who can really help Hawaii. He might be able to help them as a freshman."
