KEALAKEKUA— After committing to play football on scholarship at BYU this week, Konawaena Alex Muti celebrated the only way he knew how — by getting back to work.
“That’s all you can do right now,” said Muti, who just wrapped up his junior year at Konawaena. “There’s always going to be people stronger and faster than you out there. You just have to stay positive and put in the work to be great.”
A player getting a Division I scholarship is rare in the BIIF, let alone a player locking one up their junior year. Muti is glad to have the decision out of the way to focus on his senior season.
“It’s a good feeling,” Muti said. “I don’t have to stress if schools will offer me or anything like that. I know what I want, where I’m going and can focus.”
Muti received his offer from BYU a while back, but made his commitment to the Cougars official on Thursday. He was also drawing interest from Hawaii, Boise State, Utah State and Oregon State, according to 247Sports.com.
“I thought a lot about it,” Muti said, “but I’m glad I made this choice.”
Muti moved to the Big Island from Utah eight years ago, so it will be a homecoming of sorts for the Konawaena standout.
He’ll also be making his family proud. Muti noted that his grandmother was a big BYU fan, which aided him in the decision making process.
“I’m glad I was able to do it for her,” Muti said. “I feel accomplished, but I know I’m not done yet.”
He went on a visit to the Provo, Utah campus recently and had nothing bad to say about the experience.
“Everyone was so nice — it felt like home,” Muti said. “All the facilities were great too.”
Muti is the reigning BIIF defensive player of the year. The explosive defensive end recorded 17 sacks for the Wildcats last season, also notching 67 tackles and impacting the game in more ways than a box score could ever show.
“Alex brings an identity to our defense,” Konawaena head coach Brad Uemoto said. “He has great work ethic and effort that many of his teammates respect and try to replicate. When you couple these qualities with talent and great athleticism for his size, you have an outstanding football player.
“I’m so excited for Alex to play at the next level, but more importantly to represent Konawaena as a man that represents all the qualities we try to build in our players.”
What interested a lot of schools was Muti’s potential to grow both with his abilities and size. Listed at 6-foot-3 with a lanky frame and just under 200 pounds, he’s currently being looked at as an outside linebacker. But there’s plenty of room for Muti to put on some weight — especially in a college training program — and make the move to defensive end. With the Wildcats, he’s been most dominant with his hand on the ground, blazing past offensive lineman in the blink of an eye.
“They’re waiting for me to grow and see what my body will do to see where I’ll fit best,” Muti said. “Only time will tell.”
With the decision on where he’ll play at the next level out of the way, Muti will now just just stick with what he does best.
“I love to play football and I’m excited I get to do it in college,” Muti said. “I’m humbled by the whole experience and am ready to keep working hard.”