'25 HI LB Josiah Ko'o Kia (Notre Dame Signee)

LB
Honolulu, HI
Punahou HS

Measurements
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 210

Ratings
247 Comp:
247:
Rivals:
ESPN:
On3:

Offers
Notre Dame ..... Offered: 1-17-23
Oregon
Texas
SC
Utah
AZ
ASU
BYU
Cal
Hawaii
Mich St
Nebraska
Vandy
Washington
Wazzzu

 

[clashmore_mike]

 

[BoredIrish]

When does Kahanu return?

He probably could have helped out at vyper next year.

 

[clashmore_mike]

When does Kahanu return?

He probably could have helped out at vyper next year.

Not sure when he actually started his mission, but assuming it was the typical 2 year deal, he should be back sometime this year. He was class of 2021.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Not sure when he actually started his mission, but assuming it was the typical 2 year deal, he should be back sometime this year. He was class of 2021.

I believe the word was that he‘d be available for the 2024 season.

 

[NDFAN2008]

When does Kahanu return?

He probably could have helped out at vyper next year.

He should be back after this year so the 2024 Season I believe he will have 3-4 years left then

 

[jprue24]

When does Kahanu return?

He probably could have helped out at vyper next year.

He was with the team his freshman year ('21-'22) and only played in two game.

Left for his 2 year mission before the '22 season.

Should be back in '24 with 4 years left.

 

[DONTH8]

Not sure when he actually started his mission, but assuming it was the typical 2 year deal, he should be back sometime this year. He was class of 2021.

He left in February 2022.

 

[dublinirish]

https://www.si.com/college/notredame/recruiting/notre-dame-football-josiah-kia-could-continue-irish-success-in-hawaii

 

[BobbyMac]

Loy toying with the idea of dropping some CB's and Ko'o is a potential recipient.

 

[arrowryan]

Loy CB while the site was down

 

[SoIll]

mission?

 

[NDPhilly]

Offer list says this kid is underrated

 

[fightingirish26]

mission?

Per loy undecided on that but would be after freshman year if so

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Does it make sense to take LDS guys anymore with transfer portal? Everything seems like a 1 year thing now.

 

[fightingirish26]

Does it make sense to take LDS guys anymore with transfer portal? Everything seems like a 1 year thing now.

Considering how many Polynesians are LDS, of course it makes sense

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Considering how many Polynesians are LDS, of course it makes sense

Who is to say they will return to the school that they originally committed to? 18 months is a long time for this age group. My point is that its new territory. Having lived in Polynesia, I'm aware of the LDS connection.

 

[fightingirish26]

Who is to say they will return to the school that they originally committed to? 18 months is a long time for this age group. My point is that its new territory. Having lived in Polynesia, I'm aware of the LDS connection.

I mean ND arguably has more appeal to polynesians than any other school east of mountain time so I guess I see very little reason to give that up. Plus, with the portal there really isn't much of a risk. ND plays the game with transfers and we can obtain one year stopgaps when necessary.

 

[BobbyMac]

Does it make sense to take LDS guys anymore with transfer portal? Everything seems like a 1 year thing now.

They don't count until they show up so who cares... right?

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Just for curiosity. Who was the last big time player at ND who returned from a LDS mission?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Given how much impact polynesian players have in NCAA and NFL football, I'd have a whole office of my football operation aimed at scouting Hawaii, Samoa et al. I must be wrong about the following, but I swear those guys are made of heavier-than-normal body parts --- collisions look like freight train wrecks. Coach Kelly said that Manti had the "heaviest hands" he'd ever seen hitting the equipment in field drills. ... so, YES!!! Draft all you can!!!

 

[OhioIrish]

Just for curiosity. Who was the last big time player at ND who returned from a LDS mission?

Both fair questions. I think it a wash ultimately, but if you really believe in a kid you gotta do it. I haven’t seen any kids that have really paid off, but am open to being persuaded.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

I'm definitely a fan of Polynesian players, but unsure how LDS missions fit into the current landscape. That being said if Manti says he is going on a mission you get him a flight.

 

[BobbyMac]

Just for curiosity. Who was the last big time player at ND who returned from a LDS mission?

No one.

 

[stlnd01]

I don't really see what the downside is. If they go, they go. And if they come back, they come back two years older, wiser and - once they're back in a college S&C program - more physically mature. Is this the younger brother of Kahanu?

 

[fightingirish26]

Who even left on missions?

Badger-miss
Kia-tbd, but he played above expectations as a true freshman and is now returning to the program. Also played for a top HS program we'd like to keep ins with.

So just those two?

 

[Old Man Mike]

We don't have the extra draw to bring LDS missioneers back to our campus. The schools with good success with their returneees are (of course) BYU where over half of the football team are mission returnees, Utah, Utah State, Weber State, Boise State, and oddly Stanford. These players often get a just-fine college career, but some of them get NFL bypassed. Why? Certainly there are multiple reasons, but one general issue with missioneers is that they are OLDER than the other college grads and are felt by the NFL to have less career ahead of them. When it comes to splitting hairs then on giving a UDFA contract to "X" or "Y", the younger guy wins. This is an NFL problem and shouldn't be a factor for ND, but we do need a real selling point (Like Manti gave us) to get players who want to play first, or come back if they go. But everytime I see a Te'o, an MTA, a MaristL etc I say RECRUIT RECRUIT RECRUIT and let it fall as it may.

 

[Rocketman84]

Just for curiosity. Who was the last big time player at ND who returned from a LDS mission?

None of them have really produced

 

[BobbyMac]

But you have to recruit the ones you want.

Some go on missions like the Kia's, some don't like Manti or Alohi, some aren't LDS like MTA and some I have no idea if they are or not like Liafau & Botelho.

Until the downside risk or opportunity cost makes taking a mission bound kid a loser, full steam ahead on the Poly prospects.

 

[jprue24]

Always take the poly kids and figure out the religion stuff later. The really, really good ones probably aren't taking missions unless they are devoted. If they are devote, they are probably not coming to ND anyway.