Sagapolutele reflects on Hawaii QB legacy before bowl matchup

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele displayed an informed knowledge of the history of successful Division I quarterbacks from Hawaii.

Even if it did remind the two head coaches leading their respective teams in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl that they’re not so young anymore.

“You grow up watching these guys, or knowing who they are. Obviously they played before I was born, ” Sagapolutele said during Monday’s press conference for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, drawing a loud laugh from the crowd gathered.

“But you know, just being able to go back and what all of their past. Rolo (Cal interim coach Nick Rolovich ) and the BYU game, (Hawaii head coach ) Timmy (Chang ) and the touchdown record, he had it before, everything they have done, growing up a Hawaii fan and seeing what they have done, it’s amazing for me to follow in that legacy and those steps and it’s really just been a blessing to be able to watch and be inspired by guys like these—two great people that I always look up to.”

Sagapolutele, who set Hawaii’s high school career passing record with 10, 653 yards and 114 touchdowns in three seasons at Campbell, started every game for the Golden Bears as a true freshman.

He completed 63.6 % of his passes for 3.117 yards and 17 touchdowns with nine picks in his first season of Division I football, leading Cal to a 7-5 record and a berth in a bowl game back home.

Cal went 4-4 in its second season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and it was good enough to earn a bowl bid against Hawaii and head coach Timmy Chang.

Chang, who in his fourth season as Hawaii’s head coach, had nothing but positive remarks to make about Sagapolutele, whose older brother, John-Keawe, played for UH for two seasons before transferring to Portland State this past year.

Jaron-Keawe was a regular visitor at both practices and games. Chang, who threw for 113 touchdowns in his high school career at Saint Louis, was only surpassed by quarterbacks playing on Oahu by Jaron-Keawe, who did it in his final high school game.

“Just months ago, Jaron would be on the field with us for our games and coming in and joining us as senior and just months later the young man is playing in (Ching Complex in a bowl game ), ” Chang said. “It’s pretty special. You just knew he was very talented. Jaron really with his opportunity when you walk into these quarterback rooms just like me and Nick walked into battle together and there’s only one that plays, you know he’s truly special when he’s the one to emerge as a true freshman.”

Sagapolutele is the only Power 4 and second FBS true freshman to record 12 straight games of 200 yards or more passing to begin a collegiate career.

His 3, 117 passing yards rank sixth on Cal’s single-season career list.

Cal has four players who graduated from high school in Hawaii on its roster. Aiden Manutai, a freshman defensive back who joined Sagapolutele at Monday’s press conference, graduated from Kahuku last season.

Defensive lineman Stanley Saole-McKenzie, a fifth-year redshirt senior, is a Saint Louis alum. LeBron Williams is a freshman defensive lineman who played with Manutai at Kahuku.

“I would say it was pretty exciting once we got to know that we were in the Hawaii Bowl, ” Manutai said. “We had a long season and I think sometimes we get caught up and forget Hawaii is our home, so, we’re just super grateful and super excited to show our other teammates around.”

“It was just really a blessing. To be able to play in any bowl game is a blessing, ” Sagapolutele added. “I think it was just a big opportunity for us to play against guys we’ve played before, play against guys we’ve played with before. Just being able to do that and play in front of our family meant the world. I’m just truly grateful and blessed.”

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos