HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i football program signed nine prospects on the first day of the early signing period. The group includes two FBS transfers, two junior college transfers, and five high school standouts. Six of the nine signees are on the defensive side of the ball.
 
"Our focus and our needs were on the defensive side of the ball, specifically the defensive back position," head coach Todd Graham said.  "We were in the market for smart, physical guys who can close out in space. We feel these guys are great fits for our culture, our team and our quest to build a championship- caliber football program."
 
In addition to this year's signees, three from the Class of 2021 – all of whom from Hawai'i high schools – will join the team in January. Defensive back Matagi Thompson (6-2, 185, Honolulu, O'ahu) of Punahou School, defensive lineman/linebacker Sonny Semeatu (6-1, 240, Tafuna, American Samoa) of Mililani High School, and defensive back Peter Manuma (6-0, 170, 'Ewa Beach, O'ahu) of Campbell High School will enroll in the spring semester as grayshirts.
 
The Saint Louis Brotherhood: Defensive back Kona Moore and offensive lineman Ethan Spencer of powerhouse Saint Louis School in Honolulu will join at least eight other former Crusaders on the Rainbow Warriors roster. Both are rated Top 10 prospects in the state of Hawai'i – Moore is the top defensive back while Spencer is a three-year starter and the second-best interior lineman. The duo are currently helping Saint Louis seek a fifth straight Open Division state title.
 
Graham says: "Kona is a guy that knows what it takes to win, with great ability. He's smart and physical and we're excited for him to join our class. From the time we watched Ethan, we loved this guy. He's athletic, smart, tough and transitions well to our system. These are the type of guys we want to recruit."
 
Aussie Connection: The 2021 roster did not feature a player from Australia for the first time in a number of years. That changes in 2022 with the addition of offensive lineman Junior Ta'ase of Melbourne, Australia, who comes to UH by way of Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, Calif. Hawai'i has traditionally recruited Down Under and had as many as four players from Australia in the 2017 & '18 seasons. Ta'ase, who moved to the United States prior to the sophomore season, picked UH over Arizona State and San Diego State among others.
 
Graham says: "Junior is a former rugby player and played two-way in high school. We're excited about his athleticism and how he fits our program. We think he's going to make a great right tackle."
 
In Plano View: The Texas-Hawai'i pipeline continues with the signing of Plano's Virdel Edwards II and Tylan Hines. Edwards, a transfer from Iowa State, prepped at Prestonwood Academy, where several current UH players attended while Hines graduated from Plano Senior High School prior to signing with Air Force last December. Since Todd Graham's arrival in Mānoa in January 2020, UH has signed a total of 13 players from The Lone Star State, which is the most of any state.
 
Graham says: "To have that kind of size, speed, explosiveness and experience (that Virdell provides) was important. Tylan will play the hybrid position for us. He's a guy that is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. He's explosive and a great kick returner."
 
Bounceback Kids: Cal transfer Chigozie Anusiem and Iowa State transfer Virdel Edwards II are the latest bounceback players to join the Rainbow Warriors. Anusiem appeared in 25 games in four seasons with the Golden Bears, including three starts at cornerback in 2021. Edwards spent parts of three seasons at ISU, where he was a teammate of current UH safety Chima Azunna. Last season, UH inked eight FBS transfers, including seven from Power 5 programs.
 
Graham says: "Chigozie is a physical corner who is going to be impactful and fit in great. They (Chigozie and Virdel) both had strong relationships with our players on our team and fit the culture very well."
 
From State To State: Linebacker Noah Kema and Cam'ron Bell have traveled the country in their pursuit of playing football. Kema, who is of Hawaiian decent and has family in the islands, is originally from Kansas where he prepped at Independence High. He then attended Snow Junior College in Utah for two seasons and was a preseason first-team All-American heading into the 2021 campaign. Bell, a native of Pampano Beach, Fla., is a graduate of Coral Springs High in the Sunshine State and travelled cross-country to play at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., for two seasons.
 
Graham says: "Bell is a guy who is going come in and be impactful. Our focus was to get DBs that have great cover ability and improve on our ability to tackle in space. Kema has family from here and has connections here. He was a preseason All-American linebacker. We wanted guys with unbelievable character and these guys fit in with us and our scheme with their great blitz ability." 
 
Going Back to Cali: Putting pen to paper is California native defensive lineman Malachi Finau of powerhouse St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif. Finau was a two-year starter for one of the nation's top football schools and was named second-team all-league as a senior.
 
Graham says: "It's a headscratcher for me how in the world (Malachi) didn't have everyone in the world offering him. He's a three-technique player and he's going to be unbelievable here. He has family from here and loves this place."
 
 
 2022 Football Early Period Signing Class

Chigozie Anusiem
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 205 | Jr.
La Habra, Calif. | California
Grad transfer...name is pronounced CHIH-go-zay uh-NOO-see-um...appeared in 25 games and made six starts over four seasons at the University of California...made three starts in 2021 at cornerback...career totals of 40 tackles and seven pass breakups…redshirted in 2018...appeared in 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 with one starts in the Redbox Bowl against Illinois...made two starts in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and had four tackles each against UCLA and Oregon State...career-high five tackles and two pass breakups against TCU in 2021...a two-way player at Sonora High School in California...finished his three-year career with 139 tackles, five interceptions, 28 passes defended and three forced fumbles on defense while posting 51 receptions for 1,151 yards and 13 touchdowns as a receiver...as a senior in 2017, totaled 35 tackles, four interceptions and 12 passes deflected on defense and 30 receptions for 605 yards and 13 touchdown on offense...helped team to the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs.
 
Cam'ron Bell
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 195 | Jr.
Pompano Beach, Fla. | College of the Canyons (Calif.)
Played two seasons at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif...played in 10 games during sophomore season and finished with 19 tackles, 1.0 TFL, and one interception...appeared in four games in 2019 and tallied four tackles, including one for loss...a 2019 graduate of Coral Springs High School in Florida…two-way player who saw action at cornerback and receiver.
 
Virdel Edwards II
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 205 | So.
Plano, Texas | Iowa State
Spent the last three seasons at Iowa State...has played in seven career games…appeared in two games in 2021 and five in 2020...redshirted as a freshman in 2019…rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN out Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas…rated as a top-115 safety by 247Sports and as a top-115 cornerback by ESPN…a three-year starter and all-state and all-district selection as a senior...high school teammates at Prestonwood with current Rainbow Warriors Dayton Toney and Riley Wilson.
 
Malachi Finau
Defensive Line | 6-2 | 285 | Fr.
Lomita, Calif. | St. John Bosco HS
Attends St. John Bosco HIgh School in Bellflower, Calif...rated three stars by 247sports...key defensive player and two-year starter for a program perennially ranked amongst the nation's best...helped St. John's to the CIF-SS semifinal in 2021...amassed 31 tackles and a sack during his senior campaign…named to the all-Trinity League second team…competed in a league that boasts three teams ranked in the top 10 nationally in 2021. 
 
Tylan Hines
Running Back | 5-8 | 170 | Fr.
Plano, Texas | Plano Senior High School
Enjoyed two standout seasons at Plano Senior High School in Texas…rated three stars by 247sports...as a junior, rushed for 1,082 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, while earning all-district first-team honors...as a sophomore rushed for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named 9-6A's Offensive Newcomer of the Year…also a track standout who ran a 11.14 100-meters…played at Mount Pleasant as a freshman...signed with Air Force in December 2020…attended the Air Force Prep Academy in Colorado in 2021.
 
Noah Kema  
Linebacker | 6-2 | 235 | Jr.
Lawrence, Kan. | Snow College (Utah)
Played at Snow College in Emphrain, Utah the last two seasons…named a preseason first-team junior college All-American by Rivals in 2021...included on ESPN's JUCO Top 50 list...helped Snow achieve a No. 1 national ranking for much of the season before ending its year with a 7-2 mark and a spot in the NJCAA national semifinals...as a freshman at Snow, part of squad that advanced to the national championship game...compiled nine tackles in that game...finished with 79 tackles, 11 for-loss, three forced fumbles and six pass break-ups in a six-game, COVID-abbrevieated season...served a two-year church mission in California before attending Snow College...grew up in Utah, Texas and Kansas...was a standout defensive player for Independence (Kan.) High School in Kansas...played in the 2017 Polynesian Bowl in Honolulu...is of Hawaiian ancestry.
 
Kona Moore  
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 185 | Fr.
Kapolei, O'ahu | Saint Louis School
Attends Saint Louis School in Honolulu…rated a a three-star recruit by ESPN.com…rated as the No. 8 recruit and top defensive back in the state of Hawai'i by ESPN.com and 247sports...as a senior, concluded the regular-season with 19 tackles and five pass breakups in seven games...tallied five interceptions as a sophomore in 2019 season...member of the 2019 state championship squad and has helped the Crusaders to two league titles, including in 2021...did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the football season in Hawai'i...selected to play in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl.
 
Ethan Spencer  
Offensive Line | 6-1 | 285 | Fr.
Kailua, O'ahu | Saint Louis School
Attends Saint Louis School in Honolulu…rated the No. 10 recruit and No. 2 interior lineman in the state of Hawai'i by 247sports…a three-year starter at center for the Crusaders...has won two state titles and three league titles at Saint Louis...did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the football season in Hawai'i...selected to play in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl.
 
Junior Ta'ase
Offensive Line | 6-4 | 320 | Fr.
Melbourne, Australia | Aquinas HS
Attends Aquinas HIgh School in San Bernardino, Calif…a two-way player for Aquinas, lining up at guard and defensive tackle...received all-state honors from Cal-Hi Sports as a junior...as a senior, helped lead the Falcons to a CIF-SS Division 7 championship and a spot in the 3-AA state championship game…originally from Melbourne, Australia, moving to the U.S. prior to his sophomore season...also received offers from Arizona State, San Diego State and Morgan State.