PIAA/Scout.com combine preview

HONOLULU - While most people go to the Hawaiian islands to get away from the stresses of work, there are others that come strictly for business. College football coaches are hitting the islands hard right now, combing the high schools for talent. The biggest showcase for prep talent out here is the PIAA Hawaii High School Football Combine, and Scout.com will be there on Saturday at the Saint Louis School to check out all the best the island have to offer.

Coaches from all over the country are congregating near Waikiki in the hopes they will find the next Jonathan Mapu or Chris Kemoeatu. The coaches listed below have confirmed for both the combine and the coaches clinic:

University of Hawaii (Rich Miano, Ron Lee and Dan Morrison*)
Mike Tuiasosopo, Arizona*
Dino Babers, UCLA*
Viliami Tuivai, Boise State*
Chris Tormey, Washington*
Mike Walker, Washington State
Keith Uperesa, UNLV*
Mike Fanoga, New Mexico State*
Ken Delgado, California*
Tom Kaumeyer, SDSU*
Brian Cabral, Colorado*
Kyle Whittingham & Kalani Sitake, Utah
Steve Kaufusi, BYU
Chuck Walker, Pasadena CC
Steve Caldwell, Tennessee
Mark Banker, Oregon State
Johnny Nancen, Idaho
Brent Myers, Arizona State
Tim Bowman, Western Oregon*
Lole Takapu, College of the Canyons
Tom Williams, San Jose State
Kim McCloud, Nevada*
Arizona Western JC

* - will be speaking at the coaches' clinic.

The combine will consist of the normal athletic tests; 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, l-cone test and the bench press. The PIAA combine is unique in that they allow their prospects to bench reps at 185 pounds or 225 pounds.

Here is a list of the players we have already seen at the various combines and camps in the past year. Led by linebacker Jacob Barit from Saint Louis, DE/LB Sam-Earl Fehoko from Farrington, OL Sione Tau from Damien and DT Kaniela Tuipulotu from Kahuku, this is a talented crop of players and all have an excellent chance of going D1 when it's all said and done.

QB Bryson Beirne - Mid Pacific
RB Devan Essner - Saint Louis
WR Leaualofa Liilii - Aiea
WR Justin Lord - Radford
S  Marc Moody - Saint Louis
DT Ana Tuiasosopo - Saint Louis
WR Blair Kyle Radford

TE Savai'i Eselu from Moanalua, QB Brett Kan from Punahou, OL/DL Matthew Masifilo from Campbell and Alex Tupulua from Waianae headline those players that we are excited to see perform. Here's a list of other players that headline the group of newcomers to the combine.

TE Kaneakua Friel - Kamehameha
OL Elmer 'Tahi' Lim - Kamehameha
OL Adam Lino - Kamehameha
S  Kori Lopati - Copper Hills (Utah)
OL Kealakai 'Baby' Maiava - Baldwin
OL John Manu-Olevao - Kahuku
DT Joshua Manupuna - Kamehameha
DT Vaughn Meatoga - Kamehameha
LB Quinton Petersen - Aiea
LB Kenneth Rossi - Damien
WR T.J. Simpson - Peoria (Ariz.)
LB George Tafuna - Kahuku
OL Jonah Venenciano - Kamehameha

The 2008 class will be represented as well, with Safety/RB Teo Shiloah from Kahuku and OL Tui'atua Tuiasosopo from Saint Louis leading the way. Look for articles Saturday night on the combine, as well as the day's top competitors.