So has Alabama put Hawaii on lockdown recruiting wise?

I'm the unofficial bagman for the coaching staff here on Oahu.

The REC is global bruh.

They can have Hawaii just give us the Poly kids in the states.

Highly doubt it.

A west coast 5 star DT isn’t the same beast as a southeastern 5 star DT. They just aren’t.

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Anoma is from NJ as well.

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St. Frances Academy - Baltimore, MD.

Alabama signee Latu 'inspired' by Tua, ready to work (embedded interview video)

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Alabama linebacker signee Cameron Latu is in Hawaii this week participating in the Polynesian Bowl.

“It’s really exciting because it’s my last high school game,” Latu told 247Sports’ Blair Angulo at check-in. “Some of my friends that I went to combines with, camps with, it’s going to be cool playing with them before everybody splits off to college. I just want to have some fun out here. I don’t think anyone’s out here trying to get recruiting views. I think they’re trying to have some fun in Hawaii.”

The Salt Lake City (Utah) Olympus product isn’t the only Latu playing in the all-star game. Cameron’s brother Nathan, a BYU linebacker commit, is also among the group.

“It’s going to be my last game with my brother before everyone starts splitting ways,” Cameron said. “It’ll be nice to play with him one last time.”

Latu, who signed with the Tide on Dec. 20 over several other big-time offer including USC and Utah, talked about his reaction to Alabama’s last-second win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff Championship.

“My whole heart was just racing the whole game,” he said. “My emotions were up and down the whole game. I was pissed at one point, I was super happy, it was just going crazy. Right when we won, oh man, my heart just settled down and I was like, ‘Alright, we just won, finally. Hope we get another one next year.’”

Latu has been able to form a bond with UA freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during his visits, and considering both are coming to Tuscaloosa from the opposite side of the country.

“I think it’s pretty sweet knowing Tua,” Latu said. “He’s just so humble about his actions and what he’s done. I’m inspired to be just like him on that stage. I’m going to bust my booty to get some playing time. I want to be the best I can be.”

Latu isn’t the only target of the Tide’s from Utah. Nick Saban and staff are hoping to land four-star offensive lineman Penei Sewell from St. George. While Latu isn’t going to pester others about their recruitments, he did offer up a recruiting pitch for kids from his region of the country.

“I’d say just give them a chance,” Latu said. “They’re winning for a reason. Check them out. It’s only four years of your life that your leaving your family. If distance is a problem, go grind for them and you’ll be back in four years. Just do you for a little bit and you’ll be back in a minute.”

At 6-foot-5, 236 pounds, Latu is rated the No. 8 weak-side defensive end and the No. 125 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. He’ll be in Tuscaloosa this upcoming summer to enroll.

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Anoma is from NJ as well.

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I thought he was from Baltimore?

The somoans/polynesian typically go to PAC-12 schools but it seems we are tapping into that pool. Genetically they are big so it makes sense

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So has Alabama put Hawaii on lockdown recruiting wise

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I don't know about lockdown but we might have a good pipeline to there if Tua gets the starting position. Not sure that's for a certainty just yet.

Not saying I don't think Tagovailoa is our best qb. I thought he was all year, but Saban might not agree with me, due to all those practice turnovers Boz keeps telling us about.