It wasn’t so long ago that Joseph Cho was a stellar linebacker at McKinley.

He remembers seeing talented players up and down the sidelines, players suiting up for McKinley and opposing teams. So many of them never played a down of college football, even though the physical talent was there.

Cho, who was recruited by Tommy Lee to play at Willamette University, settled in the Northwest and coached for three decades before returning to the islands last year. After two seasons as head coach at McKinley, he has clear goals and hopes for his players.

Among them are linemen MacKenzie Togafau and Jason Malaga. Togafau, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound senior, was often dominant at right tackle for the Tigers, who eluded the spotlight last fall because of their designation in Division II.

Malaga (6-4, 320) was also a formidable mountain in the trenches. Cho said that both have drawn plenty of attention, though more of it is fixed on Togafau. Colorado, Oregon State and Utah are interested, as well as Western Oregon and Pacific.

But the tale repeats every year with local student-athletes. Without qualifying grades and SAT scores, options become limited.

"They have decent grades, but they might have to go the JC route," Cho said. "That’s the battle we always fight."

Cho has seen the difference in students who have a little extra push.

"To me, it always comes down to family. A family that stays on them is so important. It starts in junior high," he said. "I was lucky. I did it for my family. I was the first one to go to college and graduate."

With tuition and board at many four-year universities sometimes worth in excess of $200,000, why would any potential college student-athlete opt to miss the boat academically?

"We’re still behind a couple of years to get that mind-set and expectation established," Cho said. "People say it’s hard times, but it’s hard times everywhere. If you want to go to college, you can go. It’s a matter of what you settle for in your life."

At least three former Tigers are playing at the next level. Former wide receiver/quarterback/cornerback Solomon Dixon is at the University of Idaho. Offensive linemen Kamalani Moeava and Jordan Malaga are at Grossmont Community College in El Cajon, Calif.

Cho is pleased with many of his current Tigers. Among them, offensive lineman Jared Malaga (6-1, 270) and tight end/defensive end Kui Williams (6-2, 180) have the inside track on qualifying for Division I or II universities, he said.

McKinley will travel to his former state, Oregon, to play 4A state champion La Salle on Sept. 1, Cho added. Radford is also planning to go to Oregon, though an opponent hasn’t been named yet.

"It’s great to give the kids that experience," Cho said. "And hopefully open their eyes."

The weekly "Poi Report" will be published each Sunday until letter-of-intent signing day on Feb. 1. See hawaiiprepworld.com for midweek updates.