UCLA OL Commit Toleafoa “Sean” Auwae Talks about Five Potential Official Visits

Written by Ryan Wright

When UCLA picked up a verbal commitment from Toleafoa “Sean” Auwae on Thursday, they landed a Top 5 center in the 2016 recruiting class. The 6’3”, 296 pound, Kapolei High School star is quick on his feet and strong in the trenches, a key piece to any recruiting class.

The Semper-Fidelis All-American is a nice guy off the field but a beast on the field. Unlike a lot of big offensive linemen, he’s a solid near-300 pounds and uses his hands well, a play finisher for defenders when he gets his oven mitts on an opposing player, and has nice lateral movement in run and pass blocking. College coaches have taken notice with 17 programs extending offers. The schools in the mix hoping to land Auwae include Arizona State, Texas Tech, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Washington State, San Diego State, Oregon State, BYU, Hawaii, Nevada, and Louisville.

Also unlike other Class of 2016 members, Auwae is already two games into his senior season. Hawaii maybe a couple or a few hours behind the rest of the mainland day in and day out but when it comes to high school football they are a couple of weeks ahead of the curve. Thinking ahead is something all high school students have to do, especially student-athletes. One of the pressing questions all verbal commitments face before National Signing Day is “will you take all five of your official visits” with the underlying implications giving an opposing school the opportunity to flip a player.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview Sean gave some insight to the Hurricanes early season, discussed his personal and team goals for 2015, but broke some news about the five schools that could receive his official visits during his senior season.

Interview
Sean, Kapolei has started the season off 1-1, how is the team looking in your opinion going forward for 2015?

“Yeah, we’re 1-1 right now. We just lost this past week (27-7) to a big rival (Kahuku). We have a couple of things to work on and a couple of things to tweak. We have to get more familiar with our play calling and then we should be good. We have a young team but with hard work I think we can go far this year in our division.”

It blows my mind that you guys are already playing football.

“Yeah we started super early this year (Aug. 7 vs. Kaiser, won 49-28).”

How have you started out this year? Are you pleased with how you are playing?

“(I’ve started) pretty good. My first week I was pretty good but this past game I had some bad snaps under center. Other than that, my blocks are there. The key thing I need to work on is being constant with the snap.”

What are some of the other goals that you have set for yourself for your senior year?

“To be honest, there is this one school in Hawaii called Farrington (Honolulu), they are the only team we have not beaten since the opening of the school in 2002. That’s something that I want to do, and that is to be the first team to beat Farrington High Schoo. And also, put up a banner in the gym for the first time. We’re the youngest team on the island.”

Are there any other teams on the schedule that you are excited to play?

“Mililani, they’re the past state champs.”

Do you have any personal goals of things you want to improve upon for your senior year? You mentioned being more consistent with your snaps a minute ago.

“Yeah, getting my footwork faster, keep pushing myself to get quicker off the snap, moving my feet side to side, and my run blocking. Overall I just want to get faster and quicker.”

Most colleges have recruited you as a center but will you play any other positions for the Hurricanes this year?

“I’m actually playing center and everywhere on the line for right now, just on the O-line. I think this week I’m going to play left tackle.”

Are you excited about playing left tackle?

“Yeah, I like playing left tackle its pretty fun. I like being the quarterback’s blind side.”

You have 17 scholarship offers but committed to UCLA on Thursday. What influenced you to commit to the Bruins?

“I like the coaching staff; Coach (Adrian) Klemm (run game coordinator/offensive line), Coach (Kennedy) Polamalu (running backs), and Coach (Jim) Mora (head coach). They’ve been good about keeping in contact with my mom and my head coach as well (Darren Hernandez), not many coaches did that throughout the process. When I took my visit there, it felt good walking around the campus. I got a good vibe off it. I like the area around UCLA, it’s so nice. UCLA has always been a dream school when I’ve watched football on ESPN. I’ve always been like “oh man, I’d love to play for them.” One of my friends is up there playing O-line, Fred Ulu-Perry (true freshman from St. Louis High School, Honolulu). All in all it just felt like the right fit for me at the time.”

Will there be a fun competitive challenge between you and Ulu-Perry? He plays center also doesn’t he?

“Yeah. Coach Klemm said he’s playing guard and center right now and tearing it up there in camp. It’ll be great to have him there helping push me.”

When you committed to UCLA how did you do it?

“I did it on Twitter and the local news also came down.”

When did you actually tell one of the coaches?

“Right after I talked to Coach Klemm. The day before they Face-Timed me, all the coaches, so I got to talk to them then.”

What was Coach Klemm’s reaction when you told him you were committing? Was he excited?

“Yeah he was excited. He said, “I knew you would.” That was funny.”

Do you plan on taking all five of your official visits during your senior year?

“Right now, we’re discussing that, my mom and I. I already have Louisville visit set up. I did that before my commitment. If I do take it that would be the only trip I’d go on other than UCLA. But if I’m allowed I’ll probably take all five. “

What are the other three schools you that might receive your official visits?

“I’m thinking Oregon State, Vanderbilt, and probably Arizona State.”

Good luck this year Sean. We’ll be watching.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Sean Awaue; Sean at UCLA with Coach Polamalu (left) and Coach Klemm (right).

Photo credit: 247sports.com; Sean at the Nike Opening in LA.