Before opposing defenses began circling his name on scouting reports, before he became one of Hawaiʻi’s most prolific young quarterbacks, and before he started chasing records held by some of the biggest names the islands have ever produced, Caizel Jesus-Kapesi was simply “Fatboy.”

The nickname has followed him for as long as he can remember.

Born weighing 10 pounds, Jesus-Kapesi’s parents, Clisha and TeeJay Jesus-Kapesi, affectionately called their second child “Fatboy.” Sixteen years later, the name still sticks.

“I like it because it’s always been my nickname,” Jesus-Kapesi said. “But I rock with it because everyone knows me by Fatboy or they call me Fatz.”

These days, plenty of people across Hawaiʻi know exactly who “Fatboy” is.

The 6-foot-2, 265-pound sophomore quarterback enters the 2026 season as one of the state’s brightest young football stars after an eye-opening freshman campaign that placed him among elite company before he had even turned 16 years old.

As ‘Aiea prepares to open its season on Aug. 8 against Damien, expectations surrounding Jesus-Kapesi have only grown.

Last fall, he threw for a state-leading 3,264 yards and 33 touchdowns while helping lead the Na Aliʻi to the OIA Division I championship game. His production immediately put him on pace to challenge one of Hawaiʻi’s most prestigious passing records.

The state’s career passing leader belongs to current California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who finished his prep career with 10,653 passing yards. Before Sagapolutele, quarterbacks such as Dillon Gabriel, Tua Tagovailoa and Timmy Chang each spent time rewriting Hawaiʻi’s record books.

For Jesus-Kapesi, though, individual milestones aren’t what drive him.

“We’re just putting in the work, trusting in ourselves and we’ll bring the trophy home to ‘Aiea,” he said.

That team-first mentality is one of the qualities head coach Mika Liʻiliʻi appreciates most.

“Fatboy is just a coachable kid, coachable guy that wants to learn and trust in the system,” Liʻiliʻi said.

His freshman season, however, wasn’t an overnight success.

The first varsity start of Jesus-Kapesi’s career came with plenty of growing pains.

Facing Roosevelt to open the 2025 season, the freshman completed 13 passes for 172 yards with two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions in a 35-31 loss.

“My first game playing on varsity I was a little nervous,” Jesus-Kapesi admitted. “Following on to the second game and the rest of the season, I just had to put on my big boy pants and just play.”

He wasn’t asked to do much the following week during a 60-2 victory over Castle, but his breakout performance arrived shortly afterward.

Against perennial power ‘Iolani in Week 3, Jesus-Kapesi completed 20 of 36 passes for four touchdowns without committing a turnover, announcing himself as one of the state’s emerging quarterbacks.

From there, confidence replaced nervousness.

Week after week, his command of the offense continued to grow.

His finest statistical performance came during the regular-season finale against Nanakuli when he completed 23 passes for 495 yards and five touchdowns.

Even in the OIA Division I championship game against eventual champion Kailua, Jesus-Kapesi delivered one of his most poised performances.

He threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, nearly leading the Na Aliʻi to an upset before falling 21-19.

“Communicating and trusting in my players, my friends, the coaching just helped bring out a good season and we made it far,” Jesus-Kapesi said.

Those inside the program weren’t surprised.

Offensive coordinator Keola Willing had seen the quarterback’s potential years earlier.

Willing, who also operates QB Impact Hawaiʻi, first crossed paths with Jesus-Kapesi when the youngster was only 12 years old.

At the time, Willing was training former ‘Aiea standout Ezekiel Olie, the 2021 OIA Division I Offensive Player of the Year.

A young Jesus-Kapesi watched and learned.

“The first thing we had to fix was his feet,” Willing recalled of Jesus-Kapesi, who also played defensive line growing up. “He was super strong, he could throw the ball, but he had lazy footwork.”

The two eventually lost touch before reconnecting the summer before Jesus-Kapesi entered high school.

“We started training again and saw the potential that he could be the next ‘Aiea quarterback,” Willing said.

That opportunity arrived sooner than expected.

When projected starter Elijah Mendoza transferred to Campbell before the season, Jesus-Kapesi suddenly found himself preparing to lead a varsity offense as a freshman.

“He was forced into that role,” Willing said. “He had to learn how to read defenses right away for the offense.”

The learning curve was steep.

But so was the growth.

“Last year was super good,” Willing said. “He caught on, asked questions when he needed to and he just kind of clicked. The offense clicked.”

Among all the quarterbacks Willing has trained, Jesus-Kapesi stands near the top despite being one of the youngest.

“He’s really the youngest one that I’ve worked with on the varsity ranks,” Willing said. “With the guys I train, he’s right there on top with the talent level, the strength. His footwork is a whole lot better.”

Now, the next phase of development has less to do with mechanics and more to do with leadership.

“One thing he’s trying to work on this year is his leadership because he’s so young,” Willing said. “He’s working with seniors and juniors and it’s there. They respect him.”

Willing has also watched Jesus-Kapesi’s football IQ evolve rapidly, particularly in recognizing defensive coverages and keeping his eyes downfield while extending plays outside the pocket.

Those improvements have become focal points throughout the offseason.

Jesus-Kapesi has concentrated on becoming more vocal on and off the field while expanding his ability to throw from multiple arm angles and become more elusive inside the pocket.

He also reshaped his body.

Although his listed weight remains around 265 pounds, Jesus-Kapesi said his physique has changed considerably.

He lost body fat while adding muscle.

“I’m more solid,” he said.

Replacing last season’s weapons will present another challenge.

Graduation left a significant void with the departure of All-State receiver Hiki Kim Choy-Keb Ah Lo, one of the state’s most dangerous playmakers.

Jesus-Kapesi isn’t concerned.

“It’s just the next man up,” he said. “The next man up is Legend Byrd-Tauala, Kila Spencer, Colby Kojima, Keola Spruill and we got a new guy Cason Brooke. All of them is my weapons. They’re willing to put in the work and get this season onto a great start.”

That confidence stems from relationships built long before Friday night lights.

Away from varsity football, Jesus-Kapesi volunteers with the ‘Aiea Jr. Aliʻis youth football program, giving back to the same organization where his own football journey began.

“I played there and that’s our feeder program,” he said.

Football has always been a family affair.

His father, TeeJay, helps coach the Na Aliʻi junior varsity program, while older sister Calize competed for the ‘Aiea girls volleyball team.

Their influence extends well beyond the sidelines.

“My family helps me a lot by being my biggest supporters, but also being my biggest critics,” Jesus-Kapesi said. “They keep me motivated, but grounded as well.”

Grounded is a fitting word for someone who has suddenly become one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognizable high school athletes.

Despite the attention, Jesus-Kapesi’s roots remain firmly planted in Halawa.

“Playing for ‘Aiea means a lot to me,” he said. “I’m born and raised in Halawa so this is, and will always be home. ‘Aiea is more than a place to me, it’s family.”

His perspective also reflects an appreciation for the generations of Na Aliʻi players who came before him.

“Putting A-Town on the map was never the dream because the guys before me already did that,” Jesus-Kapesi said. “I just have to make sure I do my part in continuing the story.”

That commitment extends beyond football.

This season, the Jesus-Kapesi family partnered with the My Other Brothers (MOB) Foundation on a signature T-shirt campaign, with proceeds supporting programs that assist troubled and underprivileged youth throughout Hawaiʻi.

For Jesus-Kapesi, using football as a platform to impact others matters just as much as wins and statistics.

Still, the numbers remain impossible to ignore.

One remarkable freshman season has already placed him on a trajectory shared by some of the greatest quarterbacks Hawaiʻi has ever produced.

There are still three seasons remaining, countless passes left to throw and championships left to pursue.

Records can wait.

For now, the sophomore quarterback known across the islands simply as “Fatboy” is focused on something much closer to home — leading the Na Aliʻi back to the top of the OIA and, ultimately, bringing another championship trophy back to the community that raised him.

Because for Jesus-Kapesi, every touchdown, every victory and every milestone represents more than personal success.

It’s another chapter in the continuing story of ‘Aiea football.