The North Shore on the campus of BYU-Hawaii is the setting for the annual Game Plan Football Academy. It is a four-day event that allows prospects from the island to receive instruction from college coaches as well take part in padded competition. This year's camp had a little over 150 players taking part and included college coaches from all levels, from JUCO to FBS. The camp has been around for five years and is based on football instruction and college academic preparation. Executive Director Asai Gilman said the purpose of the camp was to help kids "understand the process of going to college, graduate, and then contribute back to society."
While on-field instruction is the key element for the kids hoping to improve their football skills and fundamentals, educational guidance is also emphasized. Players enrolled are able to participate in an eight-month process called "Chalk Talk" which offers help in such areas as SAT prep and the NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse).
Defensive Line Impressive
It didn't take long to see there was a lot of defensive line talent at the Game Plan Football Academy. Three defensive linemen stood out against the offensive line in the one-on-one competition, and in both the base blocking and pass-protection drills it was these three who dominated the opposition and refused to be blocked:
Hauoli Jamora, DE, (Kahuku, HI)
Jamora was extremely impressive in his overall performance. He was consistently quick out of his stance and immediately struck a jarring blow with his hands into the frame of the blocker. He played with great leverage and was able to press every opposing lineman into the backfield on run blocks, extending his arms and churning his legs while maintaining inside pad control.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was equally successful during pass-rush competition. He did a good job of mixing up his techniques and counters by using the short swim and power rip moves, among others, to make penetration and defeat the man across from him. It's not surprising that this guy is coming on strong on the recruiting front and already has been offered by BYU and Wyoming.
Jamora can develop into a very solid player once he adds some bulk. We look forward to further evaluating him, but based off his performance at the camp he is certainly a serious sleeper at the end position in the 2010 class.
Kona Schwenke, DE, (Kahuku, HI)
Schwenke was identified early as one of the highest-ranked players on the island of Oahu. He is a tall athlete with exceptional range and his long arms help him separate and disengage from the opponent. At the Game Plan camp he was solid when playing run defense, but even more dominant in the pass rush drills. He is a true speed rusher off the edge who can get to the outside before the offensive tackle can set back and anchor down. Active with his hands, Schwenke would often chop the outside hand of the pass blocker as he accelerated upfield practically untouched.
He also proved he could mix it up by setting the offensive blocker up to the outside with his first two steps then slant back underneath by using the short swim technique. Schwenke comes out of his stance a little high and needs to improve his overall strength, but he has the athleticism, size and quickness that has attracted over half-a-dozen offers.
Charles Tuaau, DT, (Leilehua, HI)
Tuaau is the most raw of the three defensive ends, but has a huge upside due to his aggressive attitude and affinity for physical play. A University of Hawaii commit, Tuaau has the build and strength to play defensive tackle, which is where he will likely end up in college.
He gets off the ball quickly for a 275-pounder and usually handles the man across the line of scrimmage. He needs to use his hands better and not give up his chest to the blocker, though he often simply overpowers the opposition. Tuaau is big and strong in the lower body and should be a very solid player, once he better channels his aggression and fine-tunes his skills and fundamentals.
