UH lands 3 Power 4 transfers, including a former Kahuku title-game star
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The hero of Hawaii’s 2023 Open Division championship is among three Power 4 receivers joining the University of Hawaii football team this week.
The Rainbow Warriors secured commitments from Diezel Kamoku of Utah, Devin Alves of Virginia Tech and Carson Brown of Iowa State. All three are expected to join the Warriors’ offseason strength /conditioning program and participate in spring training. The first of 15 spring practices is Feb. 3.
“Just to be able to get an opportunity like this means the world to me and my family, ” said Kamoku, a 2024 graduate of Kahuku High.
Kamoku is looking to run it back at the Ching Complex on the UH campus. In 2023, Kamoku scored on an 86-yard punt return with 2 :59 remaining to deliver Kahuku a 21-19 victory over Mililani in the HHSAA Open Division championship game.
“It was crazy, ” Kamoku recalled. “It was the first championship to be held at TC Ching. To take that punt back, it was something I’ll never forget the rest of my life.”
This past Christmas Eve, Kamoku and his family were in the Ching stands to watch his brother Blaze Kamoku, a UH slotback, compete in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Warriors won 35-31 on Nick Cenacle’s go-ahead touchdown catch with 10 seconds to play.
“To see that on that same turf, miracles do happen in Hawaii, ” Kamoku said.
Kamoku, who is 5 feet 9 and 184 pounds, redshirted as a Utah freshman in 2024 and did not record any catches this past season. When head coach Kyle Whittingham left Utah to accept the Michigan job, Kamoku decided to enter the transfer portal.
A factor in Kamoku choosing the Warriors was the chance to work under UH receivers coach Jared Ursua. Kamoku said he has known Ursua since he was a Kahuku student-athlete.
“He’s a coach I know I can put my faith in, ” Kamoku said. “To come home and suit up for him means the world.”
Kamoku also looks forward to playing alongside his older brother.
“I watched (telecasts ) of every (UH ) game, ” Kamoku said. “After every game, (Blaze ) told me, ‘Man, I wish you were here.’ Just for him to want me to come back home … it means the world to get to suit up next to my brother.”
Alves, who is 6-3 and 195 pounds, sought a fresh start amid the coaching changes at Virginia Tech. Brent Pry was fired as head coach after an 0-3 start to the 2025 season. After James Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech’s head coach in November, Pry was brought back as the Hokies’ defensive coordinator.
After entering the portal, Alves received a strong endorsement from UH cornerback Caleb “C-Bo ” Brown, who rejoined the Warriors after spending the 2025 season with the Hokies.
“Coach JU got my number through C-Bo, ” Alves said. “He asked CB if he had any receivers in the portal to pick up. He found me. He got my number from C-Bo, and the rest is history.”
Alves added : “C-Bo told me I’d be in good hands going (to Hawaii ). It would be a great opportunity.”
Alves, who has been timed at 21 mph in the flying-10 sprint, is projected to compete at wideout. Two UH wideouts transferred—Jackson Harris to LSU, Brandon White to Kansas State.
Carson Brown, who is 6-1 and 200 pounds, also brings speed (21 mph ) to the outside-receiver position.
Choosing UH, Brown said, is “the best opportunity for me to showcase all my skills.”
Similar to the Utah and Virginia Tech situations, Iowa State also experienced a coaching change. Jimmy Rogers was hired to replace Matt Campbell, who became Penn State’s head coach.
“My head coach left, and I felt it was time for a fresh start and a new opportunity for me, ” Brown said.
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