Leilehua offensive lineman Chaysten Maauga takes part in a drill at the second annual 808 P.R.O. Day on May 17. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

OL Chaysten Maauga emerging as one of Hawaii’s top class of 2028 prospects

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 24, 2025

As he wraps up his freshman year at Leilehua High School, it’s becoming clear that Chaysten Maauga will be playing at the next level in a few years.

The scholarship offers from Division I football programs has already started to pour in for the 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive linemen with four offers from FBS schools.

San Diego State was the first university to formally show its interest in the class of 2028 prospect before UNLV and the University of California, Berkeley offered Maauga a few days apart from each other in mid-May. Colorado State was the latest to offer the upcoming sophomore after a strong showing at the second annual 808 P.R.O. Day.

“Feeling great, feeling emotional,” Maauga said last weekend before his offer from the Rams. “All the hard work I’ve been doing is actually paying off.”

Maauga first posted the news of his offer from the Aztecs in early April, but he noted that first contact with the coaches came earlier in the year.

He described the moment of receiving his first offer as “shocking.”

“I was in class, my head coach called me, told me to come to his class and said that San Diego (State) wants to offer,” Maauga said. “Started crying, called my dad, let him know the news and celebrated at night.”

Then in a span of two days leading up to the 808 P.R.O. Day, Maauga received offers from the Rebels and the Golden Bears.

“Amazing, my phone been blowing up, God is great, got two offers last week,” he said at last weekend’s event.

Maauga was a key contributor on a Leilehua team that went 10-4 overall and 8-1 in OIA Division I play that went on a nine-game winning streak en route to the league title and a state semifinal appearance. He was selected by ScoringLive as a second-team pick in the conference honorees and also earned second team distinction in the All-Hawaii selections.

As a freshman, the young lineman also got to play alongside Arizona State-bound Manamo’ui Muti, who was recruited by nearly 20 universities.

“It was great getting work from him helping me,” Maauga said of Muti.

“Season was great, love my players, love the boys over there, love the coaches, let’s get it back this year.”

The successes of the Mules in 2024 also sees them being promoted up a tier as they will play in the Open Division and play the likes of Kahuku, Campbell, Mililani, Kapolei and Farrington in the regular season.

As an up-and-coming prospect, Maauga is ready to show his skills against tougher competition.

“Let’s get the win,” Maauga said.

Maauga and the Mules will open the 2025 season with a non-league road game at Waipahu on Friday, Aug. 8.

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