One to Watch Interview with 2019 Hawaii QB Kaunaloa Grace

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

A new era is about to begin at Kamehameha High School when the 2017 football season kicks off. The Warriors will have a new quarterback in the pocket bringing hope for the future. Before the season gets underway, the new gunslinger for the Warriors is making his way to seemingly every other camp along the west coast of the mainland picking up playmaking tips and key fundamental mechanical advice from top college coaches in the Pac-12 and Mountain West Conference. When all is said and done, big things are expected of Class of 2019 Hawaii quarterback Kaunaloa Grace this season.

Season stats were not kept for the Warriors during the 2016 campaign. Money Ball and stat fans will have to refer to the eyeball test with Grace for now. The 6-1, 200 pound, quarterback is an emerging talent with a strong and accurate arm. The needed reps and compiling game experience is mounting for Grace making him a “One to Watch” recruit going forward. He is in the process of putting his skillset to the test and growing his knowledge base of the game with a grueling camp circuit that includes a completed satellite camp at Azusa Pacific with Stanford, Boise State, Oregon State, and Utah State in attendance, among others, and a completed camp with San Diego State. The thick of the circuit is about to take off with a two-day camp at Arizona followed by camps conducted by Cal, Arizona State, Oregon State, San Jose State, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, and USC.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Grace after the Azusa Pacifica satellite camp and the San Diego State Aztecs camp to get insight on what he has learned thus far and how his game is growing in front of the watchful eyes of college quarterback coaches.

Interview

Kaunaloa, which camps have you attended so far?

“The Azusa Pacific satellite camp on June 3rd (Prime Time Polynesian Kumite) and a San Diego State camp on June 4th.”

How did the Azusa Pacific camp go for you?

“It was pretty good. I got a lot of extra help from different coaches. I needed that advice. There was a lot of healthy competition out there as well. It was fun.”

What were some of the things you did well at that camp?

“I think I did well in the quarterback competitions especially with the quick drop drill. I got second place on that drill. I did well during the one-on-ones and seven-on-seven competitions.”

What were some of the techniques in your game that were strengthened at that camp?

“One thing I strengthen was my touch on fade routes.”

Did you get any feedback from the college coaches at the Kumite?

“Not really. It was a fast-paced camp. We did not have a lot of time to talk to the coaches.”

How did the San Diego State camp go?

“The San Diego State camp was a great camp. I enjoyed that one a lot. I connected with a few of their coaches. I got to show what I could do. It was fun.”

What were some of the drills they had you do there?

“We had to do stations in the beginning. Then we did agility drills, then individuals, and then one-on-ones.”

What were some of the things you did well there?

“I thought I did well during the one-on-ones and during individuals. They broke us up by grade levels. I could compare myself to others my age. I thought I did well. There was a big difference between the grades.”

Did you get any feedback from the SDSU coaches?

“I got good feedback from Coach (Jeff) Horton (offensive coordinator) and Coach (Kevin) McGarry (director of player personnel). Coach Horton said I had a lot of nice throws and that I did well with the people I was working with at the camp. I did really well that day.”

Which camp is up next for you?

“I have Arizona starting on Friday. That is a two-day camp.”

What has you excited about the Arizona camp?

“This is my first time in Arizona. I want to see all the competition out here. It will be interesting performing in a different weather environment that I am not used to. I’m excited to see how it goes.”

After the two-day Arizona camp, which camps are lined up after that?

“Next is Cal-Berkeley on the 11th.”

What has you excited about the Cal camp?

“I like Cal. I have attended a camp up there before. I enjoyed it. I am hoping that camp goes well too.”

How do you close out your camp circuit on the west coast?

“After Cal, we fly to Arizona State and then we have Oregon State, San Jose State, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, and then USC. The Colorado to USC camps are from June 22 through the 25th.”

You’ve had a chance to square up against some west coast talent at two camps so far, what do you think about the competition level among quarterbacks on the mainland?

“I have mad respect for the quarterback on the mainland. They know their stuff and can throw the ball. I know I can do as well if not better. There is a lot of healthy competition out here.”

Kaunaloa, thanks for your time today and good luck with all of the remaining camps.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Kaunaloa Grace at the Santa Monica Pier (June 3, 2017).

Photo credit: Grace family; Kaunaloa Grace at a San Diego State camp (June 4, 2017).