HAWAII GROWN: Mata’afa to declare for NFL Draft

Hercules Mata‘afa, the former Lahainaluna Lunas star, tweeted Sunday that he is declaring for the NFL Draft.

Mata‘afa, a defensive tackle for Washington State, will skip his senior season with the Cougars. He was a consensus All-American and finished as a semifinalist for the Bednariki and Watler Camp Awaards.

“I’ve decided to forego my senior year … to pursue a dream I’ve had since I was a kid,” he wrote on Twitter. “I have had an incredible journey at WSU and I couldn’t be more grateful for the coaches, teammates, fans, friends, community and family who have helped me along the way.”