Buffanblu bigger, better in 2014 with healthy Kaumatule

Evan Asato | SL

Sometimes the rich become richer.

The Punahou football team is undoubtedly rich in talent — much as the case was with last year's Division I state-championship winning team — but the 2014 version of the Buffanblu will have an added benefit going into season: a healthy Canton Kaumatule.

Kaumatule, a 6-foot-7, 290-pound defensive end, terrorized opposing offensive linemen — and quarterbacks and running backs alike — in 2012, when he had a breakout sophomore season. Before his junior year, Kaumatule was rated by some national recruiting experts as the top overall prospect at any position in the class of 2015.

However, a multitude of nagging injuries largely kept Kaumatule off the field in 2013. When he did suit up, he was far from 100 percent.

Punahou coach Kale Ane said Kaumatule underwent a pair of "minor surgeries, according to the guy who operated on him," on his shoulder and knee. Kaumatule has been undergoing rehabilitation since shortly after his surgeries and is nearing the end of his road to recovery, Ane said.

"He's taken it well because I think he understands the process takes time and he had his surgeries early in the year, so he's able to get some rest," Ane said. "It's actually been good for him to rest because he's a three-sport guy, so this has allowed him to rest and recover and work on his studies, so it's been a good process."

Kaumatule's return bolsters an already menacing defensive unit that has eight starters returning from last year. He is rated as a four-star (out of five) prospect by most national recruiting websites and is the 48th-ranked player in the ESPN 300 list of top prep players in the country.

"Having him back is great, we can sleep at night," Ane said. "He's just a solid, solid player and a great performer and his injuries are just about complete. We've tried to bring him around slowly. He's transitioned smoothy through the process so we're looking forward to having him play."

Ane said Kaumatule did not play in Punahou's scrimmage against Farrington Saturday morning as a precaution.

With the cancelation of their season opener at Leilehua on Aug. 8, the Buffanblu will not play until Aug. 29, when they take on Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium to open the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season.

2014 Punahou football schedule
Aug. 8 — at Leilehua
Aug. 29 — Saint Louis
Sep. 5 — Damien @ Aloha
Sep. 13 — Saint Francis
Sep. 26 — Iolani
Oct. 3 — Pac-Five @ Aloha
Oct. 10 — Kamehameha @ Aloha

Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].