Former Stanford receiver Jackson Harris is greeted by teammates after catching the go-ahead touchdown to give Hawai’i a 14-13 lead against his former team. | Photo credit: Rayden Aoki, HSRN

A Season of Stars: Hawai‘i Football’s All-Mountain West Honors Mark a Turning Point

HSRN STAFF | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2, 2025

Hawai‘i football’s climb back into the Mountain West spotlight has been gradual, intentional and built on belief. This fall, that work finally materialized into one of the program’s most decorated conference award hauls ever: 11 Rainbow Warriors earned All-MW recognition, headlined by senior placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa, the Special Teams Player of the Year, and quarterback Micah Alejado, the Freshman of the Year. Together, their stories — alongside breakout stars like Jackson Harris and Jackie Johnson III — tie together a season defined by resilience and renewal.

Matsuzawa’s year was nothing short of historic. He led the nation with 25 made field goals, hit 25 straight to start the season, tied the Mountain West record for 26 consecutive makes dating back to last year, and never once missed from 40 yards or beyond. His game-winner against Stanford became the first of many moments that reshaped Hawai‘i’s special teams identity.

While the nation marveled at his accuracy, the locker room admired the discipline behind it. Matsuzawa often spoke about refining daily habits, embracing consistency and chasing small improvements — the mindset that ultimately turned him into a Lou Groza finalist and midseason All-American.

“It’s crazy… I’ve never been a big accolade guy,” Matsuzawa said. “But to be recognized like this, it means a lot. I’ve just tried to do the same thing every day, get 1% better, and trust the work. I just want to inspire the younger generation — show that if you put in the work, the results will come.”

If Matsuzawa brought steadiness, Alejado brought spark. Hawai‘i’s first-ever Mountain West Freshman of the Year threw for 2,832 yards and 21 touchdowns despite missing two games, ranking among the national leaders in passing yards, completions and total offense.

His back-to-back 400-yard performances against Air Force and Utah State marked the most electrifying midseason stretch by a UH quarterback since 2018 and helped power an 8-4 campaign that restored bowl eligibility and belief.

Around them, Hawai‘i’s roster blossomed with emerging stars. On offense, Jackson Harris became one of the nation’s premier deep-ball threats, earning First Team All-MW honors after posting 963 yards and 12 touchdowns, including an FBS-leading five scoring plays of 60 yards or more. His return from early-season injury became a turning point — not just physically, but mentally.

“You just got to stay hungry,” Harris said of his comeback. “Being injured made me want to get out there and play even more… it’s a blessing to be able to stay healthy for the rest of the season.”

With every long touchdown, Harris said he leaned on the foundation around him — family, coaches, teammates — adding:

“You can’t do it without a good foundation of people behind you… I just give thanks to everybody and the respect from the coaches in this conference.”

On defense, Jackie Johnson III delivered one of the most compelling stories in the league — a former undersized walk-on who became one of the Mountain West’s most disruptive pass rushers and a First Team selection. Johnson led UH with 7.5 sacks and ranked among the conference leaders in pressures and hurries, but the honor meant more than numbers to him.

“It’s an incredible achievement… but it’s just a testament to the coaching staff and the players in the locker room,” he said. “It’s not me that’s receiving this reward — it’s my teammates and my brothers.”

He spoke openly about the path that shaped him:

“I wouldn’t change anything… I love every second of being a Warrior. From the second I stepped in here, Coach Pu’u believed in me… What you put in is what you can get out.”

Associate head coach and linebackers coach Chris Brown noted that Johnson’s rise symbolizes the deeper rebuild happening within the program.

“He came to us as a walk-on and undersized… he’s a throwback,” Brown said. “Pretty amazing to see his story — to become a first-team all-conference guy.”

Brown added that this season felt like proof of the culture steadily taking hold:

“It took time to build, but to see these guys buy in… it’s been really special to see this thing come to life.”

The rest of Hawai‘i’s honorees reinforced that momentum. Second-team selections Pofele Ashlock, Cam Barfield, and De’Jon Benton each delivered breakout seasons. Honorable mentions Peter Manuma, Jamih Otis, Elijah Palmer and Zhen Sotelo rounded out the group with reliability and leadership across all phases.

Taken together, Hawai‘i’s All-Mountain West class doesn’t just reflect individual success — it represents years of investment finally bearing fruit. A kicker who became a national star, a freshman quarterback ready to define an era, a receiver and a pass rusher who rewrote their own narratives, and a supporting cast that elevated the program on both sides of the ball.

The Rainbow Warriors aren’t finished yet — a bowl game awaits. But this year’s honors serve as a milestone, a marker that the foundation is now firm, the culture is real, and Hawai‘i football is rising again.