Punahou running back Wayne Taulapapa is taking an official football recruiting visit to Virginia this weekend.
Taulapapa was recently offered scholarships by the Cavaliers and Navy, his father Mani Taualapapa said Wednesday.
“He won’t be making any decisions until after the visit to Virginia,” Mani Taulapapa said.
Taulapapa had an earlier commitment to BYU, but that scholarship offer was pulled in December, when new head coach Kalani Sitake replaced Bronco Mendenhall.
“He (Wayne) visited BYU last summer and he made his commitment right away,” Mani Taulapapa said. “His focus was there. It upset him that the coaching change happened and he doesn’t want to make the same mistake.”
Punahou football coach Kale Ane told Hawaii Prep World on Tuesday that Taulapapa is “looking hard at Virginia.”
Taulapapa, who is 6 feet and 202 pounds, rushed for 3,279 yards and 52 touchdowns as a three-year starter for the Buffanblu. He was a member of the 2013 D-I state championship team and the 2014 runners-up and was a two-time Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State first-team choice.
Due to last week’s snowstorm on the East Coast, Taulapapa postponed his trip to Virginia until this week. He had planned to visit Navy this week. Instead, the Midshipmen’s offensive line coach came to Hawaii to talk to him this week, according to Mani Taulapapa.
Taulapapa also has offers from Colorado, Hawaii, UNLV and Air Force.
In other recruiting news, Ane said that Punahou’s Ephraim Tuliloa, a two-year starter at quarterback, is still looking at his options. Of his 34 career touchdown passes, two came while he was a freshman backup to Larry Tuileta in 2012.
Tuliloa also has offers from Colorado and UNLV.
In addition, Radford wide receiver Thomas Reid has been asked to be a preferred walk-on at Hawaii and is being looked at by Air Force, according to former Rams coach Fred Salanoa.
It’s unclear if Reid’s scholarship offer to Nevada still stands, now that former Wolfpack offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich is Hawaii’s new head coach.
Under Salanoa, who stepped down after the season, Reid was a part of the 2015 Radford Division II state championship team.
Seems like there’s this dilemma whereas you either in or don’t ask don’t tell..response now that’s UH;…so sad that our local boys got awesome numbers that means achievements but still not awesome enough for home scholarship;…or are them for just a few selected premium .
Tutu, he wasn’t offered by UH?
If possible he should go to Virginia. Virginia has one of the top law schools in the nation. I am not saying the kid will go into law. But typically when a school has a top law school, the undergraduate programs are solid also.
The Navy Academy offers law degree too,..remembering them exciting drama “JAG”;..like most military service academy do offer a group of professional career and not to leave out working underwater, on the water and in the air along with shore duty;…Go Navy..