A football team's need and a recruit's dream were fulfilled when the University of Hawai'i secured a commitment from defensive end/linebacker Waylon Lolotai of Centaurus High School in Colorado.

"I love the atmosphere, the coaches, everything about the program," Lolotai said. "That's why I picked UH."

Lolotai, who is 6 feet 2 1/2 and 215 pounds, is the son of Tiloi Lolotai, a former All-State lineman at Iolani School. The elder Lolotai, who played at the University of Colorado, is now a firefighter.

"Ever since he was little, he wanted to play for UH," Tiloi Lolotai said. "He wants to experience that island lifestyle. Every time (the Warriors are) on ESPN, we're always looking them up. He loves the team, and he loves the Warrior (mascot) guy beating on the drum."

At Centaurus, Waylon Lolotai played tight end and defensive end. In 2005, he caught seven passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He also made 67 tackles, including two sacks. Lolotai is expected to serve as a pass rusher at UH, one of the top needs on the Warriors' wish list.

He said he can run 40 yards in 4.8 seconds, and bench press 185 pounds 21 times.

He also competes in track and field in the 4x200 relay and discus.

The past weekend, he placed seventh in the 215-pound division of a national wrestling tournament in Utah.

In volleyball, he is a starting middle blocker.

Although Lolotai has deep roots in Hawai'i — his father was a high school teammate of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann — he was raised in Lafayette, Colo., a suburb of Boulder.

Each time after accompanying his parents on trips to Hawai'i, "he always wanted to go back, because of all of the fun we had," Tiloi Lolotai said. "He and his younger sister said, 'Let's move back.' I told him, 'It's not that easy. I have so much invested here.' "

The elder Lolotai said he sent several videotapes of his son's games to the UH coaches. "I guess they liked them," he said.

The elder Lolotai recalled that when he was at Iolani, "I felt like, 'I've got to go away.' Now, when my son told me he wanted to go to UH, I was like, 'Yes. Good, son, good. You need to go.' It's a good excuse for us to go back."

Lolotai will put his commitment in writing on Feb. 1, the first day high school recruits may sign binding national letters of intent.

UH already has received commitments from cornerback Chris "Pacman" Camacho of Citrus College, wideout Carroll Joseph "C.J." Hawthorne of Mississippi Gulf Coast College, defensive end David Veikune of Fresno City College and Campbell High, and safety Stanford Leti and linebacker Quinton Tang of Moanalua High. In addition, three players who committed last year — wideout Rick Taylor of Nease High in Florida, and offensive linemen Brysen Ginlack of Kahuku High and Adrian Thomas of Gymea Tech in Australia — enrolled in school last week.

In the meantime, wide receiver Aaron Nichols of Kamehameha Schools is pondering whether to accept a gray-shirt offer from UH. As a gray shirt, Nichols would delay enrolling at UH until January 2007. He then could participate in spring practice in 2007, and still have five years to play four seasons.

"I'm really undecided now," said Nichols, who is scheduled to visit the University of San Diego next week. San Diego competes in Division I-AA.

He said he also has been "in contact" with Boise State.

"This is new for me," Nichols said of the recruiting process. "I'm not experienced. Once my trips are over, and I get to see all of the places, I'll make a decision."

Nichols, who is 6 feet 1 and 170 pounds, was named to The Advertiser's All-State second team for high school football.

He said he completed his UH recruiting trip yesterday.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.