Signing day
Ex-Luna going to Southern Utah
Things have worked out for Devon Sa-Chisolm.
The former Lahainaluna High School football standout who transferred to Orem High School in Utah for his senior year signed a National Letter of Intent with Southern Utah University on Wednesday morning.
“It’s a relief, it’s just a blessing that I get the opportunity to play in college and go on a full-ride scholarship,” Sa-Chisolm said as he waited in the Phoenix airport for a flight to Maui for a holiday visit. “It helps out with everything in my situation.”
Sa-Chisolm will join a Thunderbirds team that includes former Baldwin standout Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis, currently a redshirt junior defensive back. The delayed Big Sky Conference season starts in February for the Thunderbirds,
who compete in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Sa-Chisolm will finish his high school experience in Utah — his mother recently moved there after Devon started the school year living with relatives.
He helped Orem to its fourth straight Utah 5-A state football title this fall, which was also the fourth state crown for Sa-Chisolm after three Division II state crowns with the Lunas.
“I can just focus on the high goals of going to college and playing football for SUU,” he said, adding that he will play wide receiver at Southern Utah after playing on both sides of the ball for Orem High. “I was more of an offensive threat, so I mostly stayed on offense. I love wide receiver and I prefer wide receiver, but safety is like a position I always loved as well.”
Sa-Chisolm had other offers from smaller schools and a preferred walk-on offer from Oregon, but the Thunderbirds came out on top. His decision to move to Utah looks like the right one now.
“It really did work out,” SaChisolm said. “Honestly, in my case, I just wish that I went sooner. I mean, the opportunities that opened up, it was just crazy. It opened my eyes to the things that I can show and I can do and the places that I could go.
“Just from this year, even with COVID being like a problem, I got a full-ride scholarship, I’ve been talking with more schools.”
He is looking forward to the opportunity at Southern Utah, which is in Cedar City, about 215 miles from Orem.
“At the end of the day, whatever gets me to school for free and not having to be in debt later on, where I feel I can have the most impact on where I play and who I play against,” he said. “I mean, there’s always the opportunity where I can transfer out. I’m still working, I’m still keeping my head down, trying to work hard and be humble.
“I’m just glad to be in the position where I’m at.”
Sa-Chisolm’s final decision was helped by the fact that Southern Utah was his first offer.
“I had some other offers from small schools, but to me it didn’t matter,” he said. “The coaching staff at SUU really reached out to me. They kind of showed the most love, so I kind of kept my focus on them. … SUU’s been showing love, they’ve been there from the beginning, so I just think that’s the best place for me to go.”
■ Robert Collias is at rcollias @mauinews.com