Valley City State University football has a growing number of Hawai’i athletes in North Dakota

There’s ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ — and then there’s ‘Hawai’i’s Eleven.’

Valley City State University in North Dakota was home to eleven football players from Hawai’i during the fall 2024 season.

But just like the movie franchise, that number will probably grow.

VCSU offensive coordinator Dustin Yorek, the Hawai’i recruiter for the Vikings, is looking to continue the pipeline from across the Pacific Ocean.

Players from Hawai’i on VCSU’s roster include ‘Iolani running back Ka’ua Nishigaya, Waipahu offensive linemen Moziah Rogers-Tivao, Kishaun Salavea-Glover and Taison Tisalona and Kaiser skill position players Mason Nelson and Hunter Phelps.

Also on the roster are Castle’s Ksen Warren, ‘Aiea’s Micah Kealoha, Kea’au’s Malachi Torres, Campbell’s Rowen Bucao and Pearl City’s Tobias Vazquez.

“It feels more like home because we have each other and we always talk to each other and hang out with each other so so it feels just like home with all of them,” Vazquez said.

Yorek credits the coaching that players in Hawai’i get that allows them to be successful at the next level.

“Football is loved in Hawai’i and kids there can train year round with great coaches,” said Yorek.

“Our offensive linemen we get from Hawai’i are polished because of organizations like Trench Warriors or Trench Dawgz that train these guys year round.”

Yorek added that players from Hawai’i have a higher chance to see the field early in their careers playing for the Vikings.

“We have had offensive lineman come here and travel right away. I think part of the reason is we cap our roster at 100-110 players so each athlete has a real shot at making the 57-man travel roster. Hawai’i athletes also have a hand up getting onto the field early in their careers because like Texas, there are some tremendous coaches that coach these athletes and football year round.”

VCSU competes in the NAIA, which is very similar to Division II college athletics, but because it is not affiliated with the NCAA, a different governing body allows for slightly different eligibility and recruiting rules.

This allows the university to stack academic and athletic scholarships together. Combined with the low cost of living in North Dakota, the school provides a great opportunity for higher education with little to no debt.

“We have had great success with Hawai’i players coming here first and foremost because we are an affordable option,” Yorek said.

In addition to academic and athletic scholarships provided by the university, Fantastic Sams Hawai’i has partnered with VCSU on additional scholarship opportunities to Hawai’i student-athletes.

“Fantastic Sams has been a huge supporter of youth, high school and college sports in Hawai’i for over two decades now,” said regional director Chad Nelson.

Last year, Fantastic Sams awarded scholarships to five football players from five different OIA schools.

“In 2021-2022, I discovered that VCSU was recruiting heavily in Hawai’i, and I had to find out why and wanted to learn more about their program,” Nelson added.

“When I asked one of the of the assistant coaches why a small school from North Dakota would come so far to recruit these local boys, he gave me the answer we already knew ‘They’re straight dawgs on the field, I don’t know what it is, but they’re built different.’ And the second part of his answer we already knew too. ‘Off the field they’re some of the kindest, most respectful young men we’ve seen…

“They get it. The decision to support local athletes committing to VCSU was easy, and through the Fantastic Sams scholarship, we’re able to bring more awareness to this great opportunity, helping them get to that next level.”

Athletes in Hawai’i that are interested in these scholarship can apply by going to vcsuvkings.com and fill out the ‘Recruit Me’ form.