The 13-game 2021 University of Hawaii football schedule came out Friday.
Some things will be very different this fall for the Rainbow Warriors, especially the field they’ll be playing on for the six home games. Instead of at the crumbling 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, UH will compete on campus at the T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, which, after some retro-fitting, will seat 10,000.
Another oddity: UH will meet independent New Mexico State twice — once at home and once on the road.
Some things remain the same. Of the 12 opposing teams, there’s going to be a bundle (about 25) of former Hawaii high school players going up against the Rainbow Warriors.
Perhaps the biggest stud in the bunch (who looks to be playing against UH in ’21) is former Kamehameha linebacker Andrew Aleki, who has 103 tackles in four years for San Diego State. Under new COVID-19 guidelines, NCAA football players get another year of eligibility.
UCLA receiver Matt Sykes (Saint Louis) and offensive lineman Duke Clemens (Punahou), Oregon State offensive lineman Onesimus Clarke (Waianae) and defensive lineman Alexander Skelton (Punahou), Nevada defensive tackle Tristan Nichols (Saint Louis), and Utah State defensive tackle Hale Motuapuaka (Punahou) are some others who have started games in college football who could be mixing it up against UH in 2021.
Former Saint Louis School standout Matt Sykes, who is now playing for UCLA, will meet the University of Hawaii in the 2021 season opener for both teams on Aug. 28. (Image credit: Matt Sykes’ Twitter page).
There are other Hawaii connections from the 12 Rainbow Warriors opposing teams, including UCLA assistant Brian Norwood (former UH cornerback), UNLV assistant Chad Kauha’aha’a (former Baldwin head coach), San Diego State assistant Savaii Eselu (former Moanalua head coach), Nevada assistant Timmy Chang (former UH and Saint Louis star QB), and San Jose State assistant Joe Seumalo (former UH defensive lineman and assistant coach and former Kaiser assistant).
Two other assistant coaches also have Hawaii connections — Tevis Tuioti (Nevada) is the son of former UH player Tony Tuioti, and Roman Sapolu (Fresno State) is the son of former UH and San Francisco 49ers center Jesse Sapolu.
Former Kamehameha standout Andrew Aleki has played four years for San Diego State. All NCAA football players who went through 2020’s COVID-marred season were granted another year of eligibility. If Aleki plays, he’ll be going up against UH in Honolulu in 2021. (Image credit: San Diego State athletics).
Below is a look at the 2021 UH schedule followed by the full list of players expected to play against the Rainbow Warriors as well as a list of UH players who previously played high school ball in Hawaii. Information is based on schools’ most up-to-date rosters.
The Rainbow Warriors finished 5-4 in head coach Todd Graham’s first year at the helm in 2020. They wrapped up the COVID-19-marred season with a 28-14 victory over Houston in the New Mexico Bowl on Christmas Eve in Frisco, Texas.
2021 UH schedule
(Home games at T.C. Ching Athletics Complex; all times TBD; opponents’ conference designation in parentheses)
>> Aug. 28: Hawaii at UCLA (Pac-12)
>> Sept. 4: Portland State (Big Sky) at Hawaii
>> Sept. 11: Hawaii at Oregon State (Pac-12)
>> Sept. 18: San Jose State (Mountain West) at Hawaii
>> Sept. 25: Hawaii at New Mexico State (independent)
>> Oct. 2: Fresno State (Mountain West) at Hawaii
>> Oct. 16: Hawaii at Nevada (Mountain West)
>> Oct. 23: New Mexico State (independent) at Hawaii
>> Oct. 30: Hawaii at Utah State (Mountain West)
>> Nov. 6: San Diego State (Mountain West) at Hawaii
>> Nov. 13: Hawaii at UNLV (Mountain West)
>> Nov. 20: Colorado State (Mountain West) at Hawaii
>> Nov. 27: Hawaii at Wyoming (Mountain West)
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Hawaii High Schoolers Expected To Play Vs. UH In 2021
(****-indicates the player has been in the starting lineup)
UCLA Bruins
>> Jersey No. 12: Matt Sykes (Saint Louis), So., 6-4, 203, WR, from Makakilo****
>> Jersey No. 62: Duke Clemens (Punahou), Jr., 6-3, 290, OL, from Kailua****
>> Jersey No. 95: Sitiveni Kaufusi (Punahou), RS-Fr., 6-3, 258, LB, from Waimanalo
Portland State Vikings
>> Jersey No. 34: Ty Apana-Purcell (Mililani), Sr., 5-9, 285, S, from Mililani
>> Jersey No. 46: Kennedy Freeman (Punahou), RS-Fr., 6-2, 240, DE, from Aiea
Oregon State Beavers
>> Jersey No. 25: Charles “Moku” Watson (Leilehua), RS-Sr. ,6-1, 195, DB, from Wahiawa
>> Jersey No. 29: Kanoa Shannon (Kamehameha), RS-Jr., 5-8, 184, RB, from Kaneohe
>> Jersey No. 54: Shane Kady (Mililani), RS-So., 6-2, 214, LB, from Mililani
>> Jersey No. 55: Keli’i Montibon (Kamehameha), RS-Sr., 6-2, 281, OL, from Hilo
>> Jersey No. 65: Onesimus Clarke (Waianae), RS-Sr., 6-4, 334, OL, from Waianae****
>> Jersey No. 97: Alexander Skelton (Punahou), RS-Sr., 6-0, 290, DL, from Honolulu****
Nevada Wolfpack
>> Jersey No. 18: Jonah Chong (‘Iolani), So., 6-0, 170, QB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 24: Micah Camat (‘Iolani), So., 6-1, 175, DB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 39: Micah Lilo (Kamehameha), So., 6-0, 190, DB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 95: Tristan Nichols (Saint Louis), Sr., 6-4, 245, DT, from Kihei****
Utah State Aggies
>> Jersey No. 92: Hale Motu’apuaka (Punahou), Jr., 6-1, 280, DT, from Honolulu****
San Diego State Aztecs
>> Jersey No, 35: Leka Lotulelei (Maui), Sr., 5-10, 225, RB, from Kihei
>> Jersey No. 38: Andrew Aleki (Kamehameha), Sr., 6-3, 230, LB, from Honolulu****
>> Jersey No. 43: Seyddrick Lakalaka (Punahou), Sr., 6-1, 235, LB, from Kalihi
>> Jersey No. 57: Darrell Masaniai (Saint Louis), RS-Fr., 6-2, 210, DL, from Honolulu
UNLV Rebels
>> Jersey No. 20: Avery Miguel (Waimea), Jr., 5-9, 170, RB, from Waimea, Kauai
>> Jersey No. not assigned yet: Cameron Friel (Kailua), Fr., 6-4, 205, QB, from Kahalu’u
>> Jersey No. 31: Josh Tihada (Lahainaluna), So., 5-9, 180, RB, from Lahaina
>> Jersey No. 79: Leif Fautanu (Pac-Five/UH Lab School), RS-So., 6-2, 320, OL, from H0nolulu
Colorado State Rams
>> Jersey No. 45: Bam Amina (Mililani), Fr., 5-11, 210, LB, from Waianae
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Former Hawaii High School Players
Expected To Be On 2021 UH Football Roster
(Information is based on 2020 roster and 2021 recruiting class: 124 players)
(****-indicates the player has been in the starting lineup)
>> Jersey No. 2: Jeremiah Pritchard (Farrington), Sr., 6-0, 225, DB****
>> Jersey No. 9: Jonah Panoke (Saint Louis), RS-So., 6-2, 185, WR, from Honolulu****
>> Jersey No. 11: Justin Uahinui (Farrington), RS-Sr., 6-3, 195, QB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 12: Chevan Cordeiro (Saint Louis), RS-Jr., 6-1, 190, QB, from Honolulu****
>> Jersey No. 17: Isaiah Tufaga (Saint Louis), RS-Jr., 6-1, 225, LB, from Laie****
>> Jersey No. 24: Kai Kaneshiro (Saint Louis), RS-Jr., 6-2, 180, DB, from Honolulu****
>> Jersey No. 26: Leonard Lee (Kapolei), RS-Sr., 6-0, 190, DB, from Wahiawa
>> Jersey No. 27: Koali Nishigaya (Saint Louis), So., 5-8, 160, RB, from Waipahu
>> Jersey No. 28: Nalu Emerson (Kahuku), RS-So., 6-1, 205, DB, from Kahuku
>> Jersey No. 30: Kamuela Borden (‘Iolani), RS-Jr., 6-4, 250, DL, from Pearl City
>> Jersey No. 30: Kaeo Rezentes (Kamehameha), So., 6-2, 180, K, from Kapaa
>> Jersey No. 31: Tiger Peterson (Kamehameha), RS-So., 6-1, 195, DB, from Waianae
>> Jersey No. 37: Alakai Mashima (Punahou), RS-Sr., 5-11, 185, DB, from Kapolei
>> Jersey No. 38: Keliam Brunn (Saint Louis), RS-Jr., 5-10, 185, RB, from Wahiawa
>> Jersey No. 39: Kalamaku Kuewa (Kamehameha), RS-Jr., 6-0, 200, DB, from Kailua
>> Jersey No. 40: Sergio Muasau (Mililani), So., 6-0, 340, OL, from Ewa Beach
>> Jersey No. 42: Jonah Kahahawai-Welch (Kamehameha), RS-Jr., 6-2, 230, DL, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 45: Payton Awaya, RS-Sr. (Kalani), 6-0, 215, LB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 47: Noa Kamana (Punahou), RS-Sr., 6-0, 190, DB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 49: Asher Pilanca (Mililani), So., 6-0, 175, DB, from Mililani
>> Jersey No. 52: Ezra Evaimalo (Kamehameha), So., 6-1, 245, DL, from Waianae
>> Jersey No. 53: Ramsey Aviu (Aiea), RS-Sr., 6-3, 300, OL, from Aiea
>> Jersey No. 53: Darius Muasau (Mililani), Jr., 6-1, 230, LB, from Ewa Beach****
>> Jersey No. 54: Kalani Kamakawiwoole (Kamehameha), RS-So., 6-0, 220, DL, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 57: Samson Siilata (Kahuku), RS-So., 6-3, 255, DL, from Kaneohe
>> Jersey No. 58: Kila Kamakawiwoole (Saint Louis), RS-S0., 6-0, 225, LB, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 58: Joey Nuuanu Kuhiiki (Waianae), RS-Sr., 6-4, 300, OL, from Waianae****
>> Jersey No. 59: Andrew Choi (Kaiser), RS-Jr., 6-1, 230, DL, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 61: Eliki Tanuvasa (Saint Louis), RS-Jr., 6-2, 320, OL, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 63: Taaga Tuulima (‘Iolani), RS-Sr., 6-2, 310, OL, from Ewa Beach****
>> Jersey No. 64: Kauka Umiamaka (Castle), RS-So., 6-4, 300, OL, from Kaneohe
>> Jersey No. 68: Ra Elkington (Kahuku), RS-Jr., 6-5, 355, OL, from Laie
>> Jersey No. 70: Arasi Mose (Saint Louis), RS-So., 6-5, 360, OL, from Honolulu
>> Jersey No. 76: Michael Eletise (Kaiser), RS-Sr., 6-4, 350, OL from Honolulu****
>> Jersey No. 79: Micah Soliai-Howlett (Kahuku), So., 6-3, 310, OL, from Laie
>> Jersey No. 81: Grey Ihu (Pac-Five/UH Lab School), RS-Jr., 6-0, 175, WR, from Kaneohe
>> Jersey No. 88: Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala (Campbell), So., 5-10, 175, WR, from Kapolei
>> Jersey No. 89: Kilohana Haasenritter (Hilo), So., 6-0, 190, WR, from Hilo
>> Jersey No. 94: Alema Kapoi (Kamehameha), Sr., 6-0, 270, DL, from Kapolei
>> Jersey No. 96: Adam Stack (Kamehameha), RS-Jr., 6-2, 180, K, from Kailua****
>> Jersey No. 98: Foi Shaw (Farrington0, RS-Jr., 6-0, 290, DL, from Kaneohe
>> Jersey No. not assigned yet: Zhen-Keith Sotelo (Kapolei), Fr., 6-4, 270, DL, from Waianae
>> Jersey No. not assigned yet: Matagi Thompson (Punahou), Fr., 6-2, 180, DB, from Honolulu
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