Mana Carvalho continues family legacy with commitment to Utah

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO
PUBLISHED JULY 15, 2024

Following in his families’ footsteps.

Kahuku standout Kaimana Carvalho made his commitment to continue his football career at the University of Utah Friday afternoon at the Ko’olau Plantation Estate in Ka’a’awa.

Carvalho, who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors last season after making the move from receiver to safety, will attend the school where father Stewart played his collegiate career at in the late 1990s. Older brother Kainoa “Kaikai” will also play there in the 2025 season after completing a two-year church mission.

“Utah is a special place for me and my family,” said Carvalho. “I have one of my brothers that’s committed there, my cousin is committed there, he’s on his mission in Tonga right now and then his brother too is a walk-on there so the bloodline is strong for us.”

Utah won the services of Carvalho over the likes of Arizona, Boise State and Nevada. Ultimately, blood is thicker than water.

“It wasn’t that easy, it was kind of hard,” said Carvalho. “I love all the schools, the coaching staffs. They’re great people, but when it came down to it, the needs I wanted was having family, having that Polynesian culture around me and Utah had the best fit having my brothers and people that live just right down the road from me, from my house, so it was a blessing to have those people there and making it easier for me.”

Head coach Kyle Whittingham and the rest of the Utes’ coaching staff also made Carvalho feel wanted.

“Being on the recruiting visit and seeing how the coaches value me over some other people, it meant something to me so that’s why I felt like it was home.”

Carvalho, who sees himself playing at safety and in the return game, is excited for a chance to help the Utes win a national championship as they make the move from the Pac-12 conference to the BIG 12.

“I’m really excited, especially since they expanded the playoffs for twelve teams,” he said. “It’ll give us a better shot to make the playoffs. I’m just trying to go there, find a starting job either special teams or defense and go for that ‘natty.”

The class of 2025 Kahuku standout plans to graduate high school early and enroll in January.