HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i football head coach
Nick Rolovich announced the signing of eight prospects on National Signing Day, Wednesday. The group includes six high school seniors and two junior college transfers. Three are listed as offensive players, four defensive, and one athlete.
In addition to the 13 signees from December's early signing period, the Rainbow Warriors have inked 21 for the Class of 2019. The class includes nine on offense, 10 on defense, and two athletes.
"The common thread with this group is there wasn't as much nonsense as far as the recruiting," Rolovich said. "They wanted to find a place to play with a love of football."
Among the signees on Wednesday are a pair of all-conference JUCO defenders – defensive back
Tavion Allen of Scottsdale Community College (Ariz.) and lineman
Djuan Matthews of Blinn College (Texas). Allen, who also prepped in his home state at Cesar Chavez High in Laveen, Ariz., posted five interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 2018. Also this past season Matthews accounted for 46 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 10.0 tackles-for-loss at Blinn.
Two prep stars from the state of Utah join the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense – quarterback
Boone Abbott of American Fork High and lineman
Caden Hilborn of Highland High. Abbott was rated as the No. 13 prospect in the state after throwing for nearly 4,500 yards and 47 touchdowns while leading AFHS to the 6A championship game. Hilborn played both ways on the line but earned second-team all-state honors as a defensive tackle. He is projected to play on the offensive side of the ball at UH.
Four standouts from California, Florida and Washington also join the fold.
Mekel Ealy turned heads as a playmaker, scoring a dozen touchdowns as a receiver and return man for Freedom High School in Oakley, Calif. All-section defensive end
Gabriel Iniguez was a menace for opposing backfields with 12.5 tackles-for- loss at Pittsburg High School in California.
Travon Killins from Daytona Beach, Fla., looks to continue UH's line of successful defensive backs from the Sunshine State after earning all-area accolades at Spruce Creek High School. Born in Hawai'i,
Lincoln Victor was a dual-threat quarterback at Union High School of Vancouver, Wash., and was selected as the state's offensive player of the year. He led his team to the class 4A state championship and scored 36 total touchdowns as a senior.
"We hope all of these guys can contribute early, but you never know until they get here," Rolovich added. "We have young receivers and corners, plus the linebackers we had in the early signing period. There's a lot of talent arriving on the island during the summertime and it'll be good for everyone."
2019 Regular Period Signings
Boone Abbott | Quarterback | 6-2 | 175 | Fr. | American Fork, Utah | American Fork HS
Rated three stars by 247Sports and the No. 13 overall prospect in the state of Utah…prepped at American Fork High School in Utah…as a senior, threw for 4,438 yards on 308-of-514 passing (59.9 percent) and 47 touchdowns in 14 games played…also rushed for 436 yards on 106 carries for eight touchdowns…led team to 6A championship game, while breaking a trio of state title game records for passing yards (519), completions (36), and attempts (60)…garnered 6A all-state first-team honors.
Tavion Allen | Defensive Back | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. | Avondale, Ariz. | Scottsdale CC
Played two seasons at Scottsdale CC in Arizona…a two-time all-league selection, including first team honors as sophomore…as a sophomore, finished second on the team with 84 tackles, including 59 solo…accounted for 7.0 tackles-for-loss, five interceptions, one fumble recovery and 13 pass breakups…during his freshman year, appeared in 10 games for the Artichokes…notched 43 wrap-ups with 35 unassisted…recorded 2.0 tackles-for-loss, four interceptions and 16 pass breakups…prepped at Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen, Ariz…named to the
USA Today 2016 All-USA Preseason Football Team after a dynamic junior season...earned all-Division III first-team recognition after leading the state with 10 interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns…as a senior lined up at wide receiver, defensive back, and as a kick returner….tallied 105 tackles with 76 solos wrap-ups…accounted for 5.0 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, 3.0 sacks, and six pass breakups.
Mekel Ealy | Wide Receiver | 6-3 | 180 | Fr. | Oakley, Calif. | Freedom High School
Rated three stars by 247Sports…lined up as a receiver, defensive back, and as a kick returner…as a senior caught 55 passes for 879 yards and 10 touchdowns… averaged 16.0 yards per catch…also showed explosiveness on defense and in the return game…tallied a 102-yard interception return for a touchdown, while also racking long scores on kickoff (90) and punt (65) returns…averaged 18.4 yards per catch as junior, hauling in 24 catches for 441 yards and five touchdowns.
Caden Hilborn | Offensive Line | 6-5 | 285 | Fr. | Salt Lake City, Utah | Highland High School
A two-way player for Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah…a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines…played primarily at tackle on offense…rated three stars and the 13th defensive tackle prospect in Utah by 247Sports…as a junior, earned second-team all-state honors on defense from both the
Salt Lake Tribune and the
Deseret News…recorded 97 tackles with 82 solo wrap-ups during his high school career…a two-year captain.
Gabriel Iniguez | Defensive Line | 6-2 | 255 | Fr. | Pittsburg, Calif. | Pittsburg High School
Prepped at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburgh, Calif….appeared in 11 games during his senior season...named CIF North Coast Section honorable mention…recorded 41 tackles with 21 solo wrap-ups and 12.5 tackles-for-loss... also accounted for 5.0 sacks, eight QB hurries and one fumble recovery.
Travon Killins | Defensive Back | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Daytona Beach, Fla.| Spruce Creek HS
Played two seasons for Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Fla….competed as a cornerback and return specialist…a three-star prospect by 247Sports…named all-area honorable mention by
The Daytona Beach News-Journal…runs a 4.4 40-yard dash.
Djuan Matthews | Defensive Line | 5-11 | 280 | Jr. | Houston, Texas | Blinn College
Played two seasons at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas…named to the all-conference first team during his sophomore campaign…accounted for 46 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 10.0 tackles-for-loss, and a fumble recovery…as a freshman, played in eight games for the Buccaneers…recorded 51 wrap-ups with 29 unassisted tackles…notched 1.0 sack, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble…prepped at Cypress Ridge High School in Houston, Texas where he was a two-time all-district player…appeared in 14 games as a senior, racking up 75 tackles with 46 solos…accounted for 13 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, and a blocked field goal.
Lincoln Victor | Athlete | 5-10 | 165 | Fr. | Vancouver, Wash. | Union High School
Rated three stars by 247Sports…earned numerous accolades as a dual threat quarterback for Union High School in Vancouver, Wash…named Washington's state player of the year by
The Associated Press…led his team to the class 4A state championship, after throwing more than 300 yards and a title-game record five touchdowns…as a senior, completed 71.1 percent of his passes for 2,546 yards with just eight interceptions…added another 755 rushing yards, and scored 36 total touchdowns…accumulated 4,542 yards on 309-of-483 (64.0%) passing and 52 touchdowns over his high school career… on the ground, accounted for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdown on 181 carries…averaged 229.6 all-purpose yards per game…served time on special teams as a punter, racked up 21 punts for 803 yards…born in Hawai'i before moving to Washington as a toddler…played in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl.
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