As Todd Graham reviewed the list of the University of Hawaii football program’s latest signees Wednesday afternoon, an attribute emerged as a theme of the day.
”When we look at every guy that we signed, we look at the speed part of it,” Graham said. “We’re excited about how we’re increasing our ability to be explosive in our team speed.”
The Rainbow Warriors added seven signees to their 2021 recruiting class on the opening day of the early signing period, including three transfers — two from Power-Five programs. The remainder of the incoming class can be filled out when the regular signing period begins Feb. 3.
Before leading the Warriors into their first practice in preparation for the New Mexico Bowl — set for Christmas Eve in Texas — Wednesday afternoon, Graham and the UH coaching staff collected letters from a far-flung group, featuring one local recruit in Mililani linebacker Sonny Semeatu, three signees from Texas, two from Louisiana and one from California via Georgia.
The morning haul included letters from Solomon Turner, a linebacker from Baylor, and Kolby Wyatt, a junior tight end who arrives as a graduate transfer after playing at Georgia. The day’s last letter came from defensive back Colby Burton, a transfer from McNeese State. Burton was an All-Southland Conference first-team selection in 2018 with eight pass break-ups and two interceptions and missed most of 2019 with an ankle injury.
McNeese State’s season was canceled this year due to the pandemic, which also complicated the recruiting process.
Graham said the number of scholarships available for recruits was impacted by the NCAA’s decision to allow players to carry their current class standing into next season. He said the team could add as few as eight or “10-14 max” for the remainder of the class depending on how the roster shakes out. He will also look at awarding scholarships for players on the current roster.
Graham said the team will look to add a quarterback in the class and look to bolster depth at running back and continue to look for “a difference maker at wide receiver and two or three offensive linemen as well.” He also cited pass rushers and adding depth in the defensive secondary as priorities.
He’s also sympathetic toward high school seniors dealing with the impact of the pandemic as they navigate the recruiting process.
“It’s been tough to be a senior this year. Put on top of that they can’t official visit, they can’t step on campus. I can’t go and seem them anywhere. So it’s hard to trust someone with your son’s future when you don’t meet them in person. It’s kind of heartbreaking to see that and our coaches have done a great job to get guys to sign without ever being on campus.
“It’s been a challenging deal, but we’re in a good spot. Feel really good about the guys we’re added and obviously feel great about our team that’s coming back.”
The following is a look at Wednesday’s signees with Graham’s comments:
Joshua Bertholotte
>> Linebacker, Landry-Walker (New Orleans) H.S.
>> Graham: “A will linebacker/dog ’backer we can move around. I’ve signed a bunch of guys form Landry-Walker over the years at Tulsa and at (Arizona State), it’s been a great school for us. He’s a special guy. A physical player. The thing that stuck out on his film to us was his blitz-ability. This guy is explosive.”
Colby Burton
>> Defensive back, McNeese State
>> Graham: “Colby’s a guy we think can play safety or corner, versatility, big-time playmaker, ball hawk and a guy that’s physical. We want to be more physical at the safety/corner position and he’s a guy we think helps us big-time.”
Jordan Johnson
>> Running back, Allen (Dallas, Texas) H.S.
>> Graham: “Dynamic running back. The guy comes from probably one of the best programs in the state and in the country. A guy that’s very dynamic, big-play guy, played in the program, knows what it is to win.”
Tariq Jones
>> Defensive line, McDonogh 35 (New Orleans) H.S.
>> Graham: “He’s very young coming out of high school and he’s a very dynamic pass rusher and a guy we think will be an edge rusher for us and a guy we think is explosive. He is a physical specimen playing in a great league. … I think he gives us what we want as far as someone who can impact the quarterback.”
Solomon Turner
>> Linebacker, Baylor
>> Graham: “His dad is a former NFL player, great man. I know the Turners personally and we’re very excited to add him. A guy that really fits in. He’s that stud position — safety, linebacker, explosive pass rusher, blitzer type guy. A young man with great character.”
Sonny Semeatu
>> Linebacker, Mililani
>> Graham: “When we’re recruiting I tell them we want people who love this place, that want to be part of our culture and who we are and what we’re about. Sonny exemplifies that. He told me today when I talked to him on the phone, ‘I’m ready to go to work, Coach. I’m ready to get after it.’”
Kolby Wyatt
>> Tight End, Georgia
>> Graham: “Real excited to get a guy of his caliber coming from Georgia. … I think both (Power-Five transfers) can come in and have a big impact on our football team. I know Kolby’s excited. I told him, ‘you’ll be the first true tight end on our roster,’ so he’s excited about that. … We don’t have that big physical tight end that can run.”
