Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele is ready to carry the torch.
After seeing Tua Tagovailoa stockpile trophies at Alabama on his way to the NFL and closely studying Dillon Gabriel as he’s accumulated thousands of passing yards, first at UCF and then Oklahoma en route to Oregon, the next star left-handed quarterback from the state of Hawaii aims to follow their lead.
Sagapolutele (pronunced: SANG-ah-poh-lu-tele) is a three-star prospect from Ewa Beach (Hawaii) Campbell and is one of just two uncommitted signal callers with a ticket to the prestigious Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles next month. Although he doesn’t possess any scholarships from schools located east of Denver, Sagapolutele ranks No. 1 among players in the Aloha State for the 2025 class, No. 26 nationally among quarterbacks, per 247Sports, and heads into the premier summer event brimming with confidence.
“Coming from Hawaii, we don’t often get these opportunities to be among a selected few,” Sagapolutele said. “The Elite 11 Finals is a huge platform. This is everything and I really want to prove that I am one of the top guys. I believe I am and hopefully I’m able to show the amount of work I have put in.”
There is a reason Sagapolutele’s self belief is high — the 6-foot-3, 205-pound gunslinger has passed for more than 7,200 yards and 68 touchdowns dating back to the start of his sophomore year. If those numbers suggest that the sport has been easy for Sagapolutele, consider that his preparation for Friday nights began when coaches allowed him to throw against high schoolers as a fifth grader.
Even when his older brother, John, was making noise as a freshman starter on varsity for renowned Punahou School on his way to signing with the hometown Rainbow Warriors, there was already significant buzz around Jaron and how the promising lefty had something special to his game.
“Hawaii is so small that, growing up, you’re always aware of the guys in front of you and those coming behind you,” said Gabriel, who was Hawaii’s Gatorade player of the year for the 2018 season. “Looking at it now Jaron has everything you want. From a physical standpoint he’s taller than me and Tua, and he can sling it just as good. You look at the person and you’re getting a genuine, authentic kid from the islands who is all about family. Who wouldn’t want a guy like that in their program?”
Campbell head coach Darren Johnson argues that his star player would…
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