It was a banner year in 2016 for Hawaii football’s high school graduates going to college.
Four full seasons have passed since their senior seasons in the fall of 2015, with another campaign tentatively set to go but threatening to be wiped out in 2020. The COVID-19 health crisis has already canceled football in the Big Ten, the Pac-12, the Big 12 and many smaller conferences, including the Mountain West. But the SEC and ACC — as well as the NFL — still have green lights to play.
Probably the biggest name to have risen above the rest from the 2016 Hawaii recruiting group is UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton (Mililani), who is working vigorously to return to football after suffering a career- and life-threatening knee injury in 2018.
But some others have made big impacts, including Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae (Kahuku) and Fresno State guard Netane Muti (Leilehua), who were drafted by the Cowboys and Broncos, respectively, in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Stanford guard Nick Herbig (Saint Louis), who is a free agent in his second season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition, tailback Vavae Malepeai (Mililani) and linebacker Jordan Iosefa were expected to be among USC’s team leaders in 2020. But the Trojans won’t be playing due to the Pac-12’s decision to not play in light of the pandemic.
Back to Milton for a second. Take a look at the video below if you have forgotten just how good his arm and overall ability is!!!!
Here’s a look at how all 20 from Hawaii’s high school recruiting Class of 2016 have fared since their graduation more than four years ago:
BRADLEE ANAE, DE, Kahuku, 6-4, 220
Utah Utes
- 2019 Consensus All-American
- Led the team in sacks in 2017, 2018 and 2019
- Pac-12 DL of the year in 2019
- Chosen in fifth round (179th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft
- Utes highlight video below
Dallas Cowboys
- Listed as a 6-3, 257-pound DE on current 77-man roster
- If he makes team, could play in first game Sept. 13 at L.A. Rams
- Pac-12 DL of the year in 2019
SEAN AUWAE-MCMOORE, C, Kapolei, 6-3, 296
Vanderbilt Commodores
- Played in 18 games between the 2017 and 2019 seasons
- Not listed on the 2020 roster
- Has one season of eligibility left
MICHAEL ELETISE, OL, Kaiser, 6-4, 302
Arizona Wildcats
- Played in the 2017 and 2018 seasons after redshirting in 2016 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Played in the final 10 games of 2019, including four straight starts
- Has one season of eligibility left
TAINOA FOSTER, OL, Kailua, 6-5, 270
Fresno State Bulldogs
- Played in two games in 2017 and suffered a season-ending injury
- Did not play a game in 2018 season
- Not on 2019 or 2020 Bulldogs’ roster
NILSSON GAISOA, LB, Kamehameha, 6-2, 192
Washington State Huskies
- Redshirted as a freshman in 2016; did not play a game as a sophomore in 2017
- Did not play a game in 2018 season
- Not on Huskies’ roster since then
NJOSHUA HAUANI’O, OL, ‘Iolani, 6-4, 306
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Redshirted in the 2016 season; not on roster since
NATE HERBIG, OL, Saint Louis, 6-4, 320
Stanford Cardinal
- Names to All-Pac-12 first team in 2017 as a sophomore and 2018 as a junior
- Cardinal sophomore highlight video below
Philadelphia Eagles
- Played two games during the 2019 season; made team as undrafted free agent
- Listed on the 2020 roster and preparing for Eagles’ first game at Washington Sept. 13
JORDAN IOSEFA, LB, Saint Louis, 6-2, 225
USC Trojans
- As a 2020 redshirt senior, he’s trying to recover from a knee injury suffered in a 2019
- Has 78 tackles, including seven for loss and three sacks in 36 games; 16 starts
DREW KOBAYASHI, WR, Saint Louis, 6-2, 185
Cal Bears
- Did not play as a freshman in 2016
Washington State Huskies - Did not play as a redshirt sophomore in 2018; not on roster in 2017
Alabama Crimson Tide
- Listed on 2020 roster as a redshirt senior; did not see action in 2019
ALEMA KAPOI, DE, Kamehameha, 6-0, 265
Navy Midshipmen
- Saw game action in 2017
- Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Listed as a junior on the 2020 roster
- Scout team player of the year in 2019
HIRKLEY LATU, DB, Kahuku, 6-3, 200
BYU Cougars
- Went on a two-year mission
- Redshirted in 2018
- Not listed on roster in 2019
- Listed on 2020 roster
KEONI-KORDELL MAKEKAU, WR, ‘Iolani, 5-11, 166
Navy Midshipmen
- Played special teams in 2017
- Started six of nine games as slotback over the 2018 and 2019 seasons
- Has 362 rushing yards on 55 carries in 34 games
- Has 241 receiving yards and a TD on eight catches in 34 games
- Projected as a senior starter in 2020, but not on current roster
VAVAE MALEPEAI, RB, Mililani, 6-0, 190
USC Trojans
- Listed as a senior tailback on 2020 roster
- Has rushed for 247 yards and 14 TDs on 247 carries in 33 games
- Has caught 33 passes for 103 yards and TD in 33 games
- Made five tackles in his career
McKENZIE MILTON, QB, Mililani, 6-0, 170
Central Florida Knights
- Listed as a redshirt senior on the 2020 roster
- Suffered a severe knee injury in 2018 regular-season finale
- Has thrown for 8,683 yards and 72 TDs in three seasons
- Has rushed for 1,078 yards and 20 TDs in three seasons
- Led Knights to a 12-0 season as a sophomore in 2017
NETANE MUTI, G, Leilehua, 6-4, 280
Fresno State Bulldogs
- Suffered season-ending injuries early in 2018 and 2019 seasons
- Started 14 games and was named All-Mountain West honorable mention
- Drafed in sixth round (181st overall) in 2020 NFL Draft Denver Broncos
- On the Broncos’ 2020 80-man roster, preparing for first game Sept. 14 vs. Tennessee
KUMOKU NOA, WR, Kamehameha, 6-0, 180
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Redshirted in 2016
- Caught 11 passes for 140 yards and two TDs in six games in 2017
- On scout team in 2018
- Played in only two games due to injury in 2019
- Made four catches for 120 yards and a TD at New Mexico
KEALA SANTIAGO, DB, Kahuku, 5-11, 187
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Made 11 tackles in seven games as a true freshman in 2016
- Made 25 tackles in 11 games as a sophomore in 2017 Utah Utes
- Redshirted after transferring to Utah in 2018
- Made one tackle in one game in 2019
- Not listed on 2020 roster
WAYNE TAULAPAPA, RB, Punahou, 6-0, 202
Virginia Cavaliers
- Went on a two year mission
- Listed as a junior on the Cavaliers’ 2020 roster
- Played on special teams as a freshman in 2018
- Rushed for 473 yards and 12 TDs on 116 carries in 2019
- Caught five passes for 23 yards in 2019
- Cavaliers sophomore highlight video below
KALAKAUA TIMOTEO, WR, Mililani, 6-2, 205
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Caught 11 passes for 111 yards in 12 games as a freshman in 2016
- Caught three passes for 12 yards in nine games as a sophomore in 2017
- Has not played since
JET TONER, PK, Punahou, 6-4, 190
Stanford Cardinal
- Did not see action in 2016
- All Pac-12 in 2017 and 2018
- In 32 career games, is 47-for-57 on field goals with a long of 51
- Listed as a senior on the 2020 roster
