HONOLULU — Jesse Sapolu let out a belly laugh as he gazed across Saint Louis School’s turf field and at hundreds of kids engaged in skills drills on a hot June afternoon.
The closest thing the four-time Super Bowl champion out of Farrington High had to that sight as he came of age in the 1970s?
“Absolutely nothing,” said Sapolu, 62. “Probably out there just playing around with your own friends.”
Sapolu had just finished guiding some 77 linemen in duels at the ninth annual Gridiron Performance Academy College Football Combine Showcase, a camp designed to give high schoolers the chance to be seen by college recruiters. Clips of their combine-style drills and head-to-head highlights are disseminated online. Select coaches are allowed to see the players live.
Sapolu, the former University of Hawaii and San Francisco 49ers legend, discovered he was of two minds about the level of exposure — envious that the current generation of local players can be seen so easily, and proud of himself that he put in the work in the days when no one was watching until the actual games happened.
“That’s where the times are and we’re going to adjust to make sure the kids from Hawaii get exposed,” Sapolu told Spectrum News. “I think it’s a great thing. Sometimes a little scary when kids get recruited a little heavily, all that stuff going on out there, (Name Image and Likeness) stuff. We’ll just plug away and hope that the kids can handle those types of things.”
Sapolu, who has helped out periodically at Rich Miano’s GPA camps, runs his own showcase annually for the Polynesian Bowl.
When the GPA camp first started, Sapolu said, it was designed to help local kids find homes at Division I-AA and Division II schools. But now, the talent pool and participation is such that mainstream FBS teams have shown interest in participants.
Former UH coach June Jones, now the offensive coordinator of the XFL franchise Seattle Sea Dragons, made the rounds at the camp, talking to two of his former UH assistant coaches, camp organizer Miano and Saint Louis coach Ron Lee.
As he did, campers split into two groups and competed in 7-on-7 drills, with quarterbacks repeatedly heaving it deep. There were some two dozen players bearing the red shirts of quarterbacks.
“Twenty years ago we never had this many receivers and quarterbacks,” Jones observed. “I think the influence that UH had when I was there, the success Ron’s had and Cal (Lee) over the years, teams are throwing the ball now. So kids want to play football. That’s why the numbers are so big. It used to be you couldn’t find one (a QB). Now they’re all over the place.”
As he spoke, a camper came down with a catch in traffic in the end zone.
"I’ve kind of been watching the receivers. They are quick and they catch the ball," Jones said. "Hawaii kids are basically tough. I see them making difficult catches around bodies. Like that right there, you know what I’m saying. It never used to happen like that. So it’s a real, real positive event for all these kids."
Two local quarterbacks who made it big, Marcus Mariota and Tua Tagovailoa, have lent their support to the camp through their foundations and families.
Saturday’s GPA camp had a fairly even spread of players preparing to enter high school as it did college hopefuls entering their final prep season.
Sapolu was impressed by the crop of linemen. “There’s a lot of kids that we saw today who should be Division I prospects when they become juniors and seniors,” he said.
He pointed out player No. 181, who carried an MVP plaque from the lineman showcase. That was Ben Mailo, an interior offensive lineman and an incoming senior at Mililani.
Mailo hadn’t received any scholarship offers as of Saturday afternoon, but he was hopeful that would change through participation in a few football camps, including one in Las Vegas. On Saturday, Mailo said Sapolu showed him how to improve his technique on run blocking with hand motions and driving his hips through the block.
“My goal was really just to compete. That was one of the things Coach (Rod) York told me,” Mailo said. “Come out and compete, and get work, as well as get exposure since it’s coming into my last year. It’s not only to make the most of my time here, but also my mom-them’s sacrifices with the prices and stuff to come out.”
Sapolu appreciated how Mailo went after the top defensive linemen in 1-on-1s and held his own.
“He is going to get some offers,” Sapolu said.
When the linemen wrapped up and the skill players had the run of the field, several receivers and defensive backs made impressive catches and break-ups, albeit without pads and full contact.
Saint Louis incoming senior Josiah Fetui arrived Saturday morning fresh off mainland camps at the University of the Redlands, UCLA and USC. He was at ease on the Crusaders’ field with Crusaders teammate Jahren Altura slinging him passes.
Fetui caught a couple of touchdowns on over-the-shoulder deep balls during 7-on-7s.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work recently, so it feels good to be able to come back home and be able to install and establish it,” Fetui said.
With his barrage of camps, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Fetui hoped to expand his offers beyond those from Minot State (N.D.), Lewis and Clark (Ore.) and Arizona Christian.
The camp also included a recruiting seminar for players and parents with Galu Tagovailoa, the father of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Some more shots from Saturday's camp:
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.