Michael Hoomanawanui – Tight End – Illinois
Height: 6-3⅝ | Weight: 264 | 40-Time: 4.75
Awards & Honors
2009 Mackey Award Candidate
Athlon’s Preseason Second-Team All-Big Ten
Lindy’s Preseason Second-Team All-Big Ten
Phil Steele’s Preseason Third-Team All-Big Ten
2009: Played in eight games, starting five … Had one catch, but it was his career-long, a 30-yarder in the season finale against Fresno State … Returned to play against Cincinnati, but did not record any catches … Missed the Northwestern, Minnesota and Michigan games with an ankle injury … Had two catches for 18 yards at Purdue … Returned after missing two games with an ankle injury to start against Indiana, but didn’t record any catches … Missed three quarters of the Penn State game and the Michigan State game with an ankle injury … Had two catches for 13 yards at Ohio State … Caught three passes for 51 yards against Illinois State … Had one catch for two yards in the season opener vs. Missouri.
2008: Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by both the media and coaches … Played in all 12 games and started eight at tight end … Caught two passes for 21 yards in the season finale at Northwestern … Had two receptions for 13 yards against Ohio State … Caught four passes for 45 yards against Western Michigan … Had a 25-yard reception at Wisconsin … Caught a one-yard TD pass against Indiana … Caught two passes for 33 yards against Minnesota … Had two receptions for 23 yards at Penn State … Caught a career-high five passes for a career-high 74 yards against Lousiana-Lafayette … Caught two passes for 24 yards against Eastern Illinois … Had three receptions and a touchdown for 48 yards versus Missouri … Also returned an 18-yard kickoff against Mizzou.
2007: Played in 11 games, starting five at tight end … Caught one pass for 20 yards against Northwestern … Caught a three-yard touchdown pass at No. 1 Ohio State … Caught one pass for 12 yards at Iowa … Returned a kickoff 16 yards at the end of the first half against No. 5 Wisconsin … Hauled in his first career touchdown pass at Indiana, a two-yard connection with Juice Williams … Caught the first pass of his career at Syracuse, a 27-yard strike on third down.
High School: Chicago Tribune first-team All-State … Chicago Sun-Times first-team All-State … PrepStar All-Midwest Region … Champaign News-Gazette All-State … Bloomington Pantagraph All-State… First Team All-Cornbelt Conference … WJBC-AM Ron Smith Player of the Year … Three-star recruit, ranked as the No. 40 tight end in the country by Rivals.com … Made 50 receptions for 843 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior … Also, led team with 139 tackles and eight sacks on defense … Lettered in basketball during freshman, sophomore and junior years … High school coach was Bobby Moews … Chose Illinois over Purdue, Northern Illinois and Oregon State.
Personal: Full given name is Michael Patrick Hoomanawanui … Born July 4, 1988 … Son of Anne and Isy Hoomanawanui … Has one sister … Father played football for Illinois State… Majoring in sport management.
Career Highs:
Receptions: 5 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 9/13/08
Receiving Yards: 74 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 9/13/08
Long Reception: 27 at Syracuse, 9/15/07
Touchdowns: 1, four times (last time vs. Indiana, 10/18/08)
KO Returns: 1, three times (last time at Ohio State, 9/26/09)
KO Return Yards: 18 vs. Missouri, 8/30/08
Long KO Return: 18 vs. Missouri, 8/30/08
Strengths:
Good height and bulk with long arms — Big, reliable hands — Strong and Powerful — Terrific Blocker — Stout at the point of attack — Gets a good push in the run game — Able to fit in space — Knows how to use size to his advantage — Uses hands well — Tough and can take a hit — Runs hard after the catch and will break tackles — Team Player.
Weaknesses:
Just average speed — Not real explosive and lacks a burst — Isn’t a polished route runner — Doesn’t get much separation — Not a vertical threat who will stretch the field — Isn’t very elusive — Some issues with conditioning — Was not very productive — Upside is likely limited.
Notes:
Last name is pronounced “huh-oh-muh-NOW-uh-noo-ee” — Was a three-year starter for the Fighting Illini — Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in ’08 — From Illinois but is of Hawaiian heritage — Father, Isy, played football at Illinois St. — Missed some time with a sprained ankle in 2009 — Was underutilized in the Illini’s rather feeble passing attack — A better blocker than receiver but can be an effective pass catching threat in the short to intermediate range — Profiles as a #2 tight end at the next level and has the ability to excel in that capacity.