Warrior Pofele Ashlock commits to playing for UH next season
The University of Hawaii football team’s dynamic A-A battery will remain intact for the 2026 season.
Last week, quarterback Micah Alejado announced he would remain with the Rainbow Warriors. On Sunday, slotback Pofele Ashlock made a similar commitment following the Warriors’ 90-minute practice at the Ching Complex.
“Most definitely, I’m staying, ” said Ashlock, who will complete his junior season against Cal in Wednesday’s Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. “No doubt. No matter what, this is home. I came out here (in June 2022 ) as an 18-year-old kid, and I made a promise. I’m here for you all.”
The 15-day NCAA transfer portal opens on Jan. 2. Two weeks ago, UH wideout Jackson Harris, who transferred from Stanford in January, left the Warriors with the intent to enter the portal. Harris is projected to receive offers from $800, 000 annually.
Alejado, a second-year freshman who would command high six figures if he were to enter the portal, instead pledged to remain with the Warriors. Ashlock, who is UH active leader with 206 career receptions in 36 games, also would be considered an attractive prospect on the open market through name, image and likeness (NIL ) deals and another school’s payments..
But Ashlock said his decision is “bigger than money. No NIL deal could take away the love I have for over here.”
Ashlock also reaffirmed his commitment to UH head coach Timmy Chang.
“So appreciative of him trusting us, ” Chang said. “We believe in him. We love him. And we know he loves us back. It’s a special bond and build we have together.”
Ashlock, a 2022 graduate of Trinity High School in Euless, Texas, is impactful as a receiver and decoy. His break-off routes drew defenders away from Harris.
“If I can move two or three people off somebody to get a one-on-one, that’s what I’ve got to do for the team, ” Ashlock said. “It’s not glorifying, but it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
This season, Ashlock has caught 46 passes from Alejado (on 88 targets ).
“It’s that touch, ” Ashlock said of Alejado’s passes.
Receivers coach Jared Ursua said of Ashlock : “He’s got 12 more months to leave a stamp in Hawaii and be our next draft pick. When you’ve been around this long, there are very few surprises. He’s managed so many different things, He believes in the system. He believes in this place. He believes in these coaches. The way he can sit and talk with a recruit, he’ll be an excellent coach. He has the natural gift of bringing great emotion.”
The Warriors already have moved on from Harris, who had four TDs of 70-plus yards and was clutch on scramble plays (37 of his 49 receptions resulted in first downs ). Karsyn Pupunu, a senior from Maui, will start at left wideout.
“With Jackson, we wish him well, ” Ashlock said of his former housemate. “We wish him love. But we have guys who can go in there. Even if I went down, we still have guys like Tama (Uiliata ) and Blaze (Kamoku ) to be the next guy up. We have depth.”
Ursua recalled the early sessions of spring ball after Harris transferred from Stanford.
“Jackson gets in late January, ” Ursua said. “He’s coming from the ACC. He comes to the first run-through of spring ball, and he’s watching Karsyn. He’s like, ‘I need to watch what that guy does.’ Karsyn has been exemplary to not just Jackson but to Dekel (Crowdus in 2024 ) and, even further, Chuuky Hines (in 2023 ). Karsyn is incredibly reliable. He can execute the job, no matter what, play for play.”
Pupunu said : “Honestly, it hasn’t been anything crazy. I try to show up every day and be consistent. I feel that’s been my mindset since the start of the season. It’s going to be a huge opportunity to go out there and play the football the team knows and I know.”
