Proving it is never too early to plan ahead, the Hawai'i football team received a highlight DVD and hand-written note from an athletic player who is interested in joining the Warriors in the future.

There is a slight problem. The prospect is 10 years old.

But after the Warriors' successful recruiting blitz — in which they wooed and then received commitments from 19 players during a three-week spree — maybe it is wise to ask to be added to the waiting list.

Wednesday was the first day recruits could sign binding national letters of intent, and yesterday was the first time head coach Greg McMackin was allowed to comment on his 2008 recruiting class.

McMackin was hired as June Jones' successor a little more than three weeks ago. He acknowledged that he had to start recruiting nearly from scratch. He reaffirmed verbal commitments from two defensive backs — Christian Vasconcellos of Damien Memorial School and Steven Christian of Kennedy High School in Sacramento — then went out and signed 19 additional players.

McMackin and his staff filled immediate needs at quarterback, slotback, wideout and cornerback.

In the process, he rebuilt ties with junior colleges in California, and unclogged the pipeline to Kahuku High School.

Here is the 2008 class, including grayshirt cornerback Steve Stepter. (He was not announced with the four other grayshirts last year.)

GREG ALEXANDER

Position: Quarterback.

Height: 6-5.

Weight: 240.

School: Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Second among JC passers with 3,876 yards last season. ... 40 TD passes in 2007, and 71 in two-year JC career.

UH recruiter: Nick Rolovich.

McMackin: "I like his size, his quick release, his numbers. He makes all of the throws. He's physical. He runs 4.65 (in the 40), and it shows on film. He can run over people."

CRAIG BELL

Position: Wideout.

Height: 6-1.

Weight: 185.

School: Cerritos College (Calif.).

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Successfully recovered from knee surgery 18 months ago. ... Caught 21 passes for 275 yards as a sophomore. ... Has been timed at 4.36 in the 40.

UH recruiter: Rich Milano.

McMackin: "We watched him, and he played all season with an injury. He runs a 4.36. He healed up during the season. He made the catches. I really like his toughness."

CHRIS BLACK

Position: Cornerback.

Height: 5-10.

Weight: 170.

School: College of the Canyons (Calif.).

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Named to All-Western State Conference Mountain Division's second team. ... Made team-record 15 pass breakups.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "I like him because he's a hitter, and he makes plays, and he has good speed."

DUSTIN BLOUNT

Position: Slotback.

Height: 5-9.

Weight: 165.

School: Compton (Calif.) College.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Named to JC Gridwire All-America second team. ... Western State Conference Co-Player of the Year. ... Ranked third in state in catches per game (7.4).

UH recruiter: George Lumpkin.

McMackin: "I love him because he's a big-play guy. He's as quick as anybody I've seen. He makes people miss. He runs a 4.3 40. He has great lateral movement, and is a great impact player."

JERAMY BRYANT

Position: Cornerback.

Height: 5-9.

Weight: 175.

School: Los Angeles Harbor College.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Named to Western State Conference Mountain Division's first team. ... 17 pass breakups as a sophomore. Recruited by Washington State and Akron.

UH recruiter: Lumpkin.

McMackin: "Jeramy Bryant is very physical. He's very intense. He had several interceptions in his two-year (JC) career. He's a playmaker."

STEVE CHRISTIAN

Position: Cornerback.

Height: 6-1.

Weight: 175.

School: Kennedy High School (Sacramento).

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to Sacramento All-Metro first team. ... Received offers from San Jose State, Nevada and SMU.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "Steven Christian is a very athletic, very fast player, who makes big plays and is a returner, also. He's been recognized for academics."

HAKU CORREA

Position: Defensive end.

Height: 6-1.

Weight: 270.

School: Damien Memorial School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to The Advertiser's Division II All-State first team. ... Rated as nation's 61st best defensive tackle. ... Member of Damien's basketball and track and field teams.

UH recruiter: Cal Lee.

McMackin: "Haku Correa is a good-sized physical guy who we can lay the foundation for our young defensive linemen. He's a big playmaker, and he takes a very ferocious attitude toward the game."

PAIPAI FALEMALU

Position: Linebacker.

Height: 6-3.

Weight: 220.

School: Kahuku High School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to Advertiser's All-State first team. ... Rated the state's top recruit. ... Received offers from Washington, California, Oregon State and Utah.

UH recruiter: Cal Lee.

McMackin: "Paipai is a great athlete, great all-around football player. He has a great attitude. He's a guy we think will fit in right away."

GEORDON HANOHANO

Position: Defensive end.

Height: 6-2.

Weight: 270.

School: Saint Louis School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to Advertiser's All-State first team. ... Rated 34th best defensive tackle in the nation. ... Received offers from Arizona, Nevada-Las Vegas and San Diego State.

UH recruiter: Cal Lee.

McMackin: "He's very physical. He has quick feet. He's a big-time hitter, a big-time playmaker."

RYAN HENRY

Position: Receiver.

Height: 5-10.

Weight: 175.

School: West Los Angeles College.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Ranked 14th in California community colleges in receptions per game (5.7). ... Led team with 105.9 all-purpose yards per game.

UH recruiter: Lumpkin.

McMackin: "He's a speed guy who has great lateral movement and an excellent attitude. He stood by his word in coming to the University of Hawai'i because he was pursued by Pac-10 teams after he signed with us."

JAKE HEUN

Position: Running back.

Height: 6-2.

Weight: 250.

School: City College of San Francisco.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: CCSF's second-leading tackler as a linebacker. He was used as a running back in short-yard situations. ... CCSF captured a national title in 2007.

UH recruiter: Lumpkin.

McMackin: "Jake Heun is a tough, hard-nosed, rugged guy. Everything you know about toughness and hard work, that's what he's about."

KAINOA LACOUNT

Position: Offensive tackle.

Height: 6-7.

Weight: 290.

School: College of the Canyons.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Named to the All-Western State Conference Mountain Division first team. .... JC led the state in scoring (45.1 points per game) and ranked fifth in total offense. ... Younger brother of former UH lineman Kahai LaCount.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "He has quick feet, long arms, and is an excellent pass blocker. He's tough and physical, when the need arises."

ART LAUREL

Position: Linebacker.

Height: 6-1.

Weight: 205.

School: Leilehua High School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to The Advertiser's All-State first team. ... Member of state championship team. .... Younger brother of UH lineman Clayton Laurel.

UH recruiter: Cal Lee.

McMackin: "He's very athletic. He's a playmaker. He plays basketball. He has excellent speed and football instincts."

BRENT RAUSCH

Position: Quarterback.

Height: 6-4.

Weight: 190.

School: College of the Desert.

UH eligibility: Three seasons.

Background: Named Foothill Conference Player of the Year. ... Threw for 2,365 yards and 26 touchdowns (only five interceptions) in 2007.

UH recruiter: Ron Lee.

McMackin: "Brent Rausch has three years to play. He's early in his career but excellent in his game. He can throw. He can run. He's very smart. He has great instincts."

EARVIN SIONE

Position: Wideout/safety.

Height: 6-5.

Weight: 190.

School: McKinley High School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Played quarterback. ... His basketball team won the state's Division II title as a junior.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "Earvin Sione is a physical, tough athlete who makes plays and will have a great career here. He has excellent speed. Right now we're planning on using him as a wide receiver because of his height."

STEVE STEPTER

Position: Cornerback.

Height: 5-10.

Weight: 180.

School: Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles).

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named All-League and All-City Section. .... Had nearly 70 tackles as a senior.

UH recruiter: Lumpkin.

McMackin: "He's a grayshirt freshman. What I've seen of him is he's very athletic, and he has an excellent attitude. He's very quick."

ALEMA TACHIBANA

Position: Linebacker/defensive end.

Height: 6-3.

Weight: 200.

School: Kahuku High School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to the All-OIA second team. ... Rated as one of the state's top linebackers. ... Received offer from Utah.

UH recruiter: Cal Lee.

McMackin: "I really like Alema's pass rush and his size. He's got great height. He will get bigger as he matures. He's young. I think he has a real future as a pass-rusher as a defensive end. He's almost 6-4, and he can run. Through weights and eating, he's going to grow into an excellent player."

JOVONTE TAYLOR

Position: Slotback.

Height: 5-9.

Weight: 185.

School: Los Angeles Southwest College.

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Named the California State sprint champion. ... Ranked eighth in the conference with an average of 117.2 all-purpose yards per game. ... Received offers from Oregon and Nevada-Las Vegas.

UH recruiter: Lumpkin.

McMackin: "He's a 10.3 100-meter guy. He has world-class 40 speed. He's a big-play guy. He can return punts or kickoffs. He's another guy who can help us right away. He's very smart. He will make plays for us on Saturdays."

MIKE TINOCO

Position: Wideout.

Height: 6-2.

Weight: 200.

School: Saddleback Community College (Calif.).

UH eligibility: Two seasons.

Background: Named to All-Mission Conference National Division's second team. ... Has a 40-inch vertical jump. ... Received offers from Boise State and Connecticut.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "He's tall, very athletic, and can jump. He has 40-inch vertical. He's very athletic. He was very productive for his team. He's a guy we think will fit in right away."

TUIATUA TUIASOSOPO

Position: Offensive guard.

Height: 6-1.

Weight: 290.

School: Saint Louis School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to The Advertiser's All-State first team. ... Named MVP of the All-Poly Football Camp. ... Benched 33 repetitions of 185 pounds. .... Son of Ana Tuiasosopo, a former UH lineman. ... Received offers from Washington, Arizona and Oregon.

UH recruiter: Cal Lee.

McMackin: "Tui is a special guy. He's such a great student from a great family tradition. He's as physical and tough as any high school offensive lineman I've seen. He's in a class by himself with strength. He was very highly recruited. He's a guy we're proud of."

CHRISTIAN VASCONCELLOS

Position: Defensive back.

Height: 6-2.

Weight: 190.

School: Damien Memorial School.

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Named to The Advertiser's All-State Division II first team. ... Member of the winning 4x100 relay team in last year's state track meet.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "We've always really liked him. We saw him at a camp, and offered him (a scholarship) early."

LEWIS WALKER

Position: Cornerback.

Height: 5-11.

Weight: 170.

School: Judge Memorial High School (Salt Lake City).

UH eligibility: Four seasons.

Background: Rated as the fifth-best recruit in Utah. ... Rated as the 41st-best cornerback in the nation by one scouting service.

UH recruiter: Miano.

McMackin: "I was really impressed with his athletic ability and speed. For a high school player, he was really productive."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.