Rivals Camp Series: Marcus Wakato is something to watch in the 2028 class
Monterey Park, California. – When a normal person on the street sees Marcus Wakhato, they can’t believe he is just a freshman in high school.
The 2028 defensive side from Orange (Calif.) measured Smidges taller than Sunday’s 6-foot-7, which is actually hard to believe. Rivals Camp Series Stop by here in Southern California.
“They were shocked to see me,” Whakato said.
“The first thing people ask me is whether I can move at my size as I’m not only tall but 270 people. I tell them I can move, and I’m flexible with that.”
The fakatou is the real thing. He played as a freshman in arguably the best high school football league in the country – and sometimes he looked really good. His physical size and 80-inch wingspan are one of the best defensive linemen at camp on Sunday, reminding him of one of the deforested backers at the same stage.
Buckner, a former four-star Honolulu (Hawaii) Punahou who played for Oregon, is his seventh overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and is still in the league.
The orange Lutheran standout is not yet thinking far ahead as he is learning ropes at the high school level.
“It definitely was a big deal for me,” Whakato said. “I don’t think I was going to get that much playing time because I walked last season with the idea that if I had the chance to step into the field, I was going to ball out because I had a starter in front of me.
“If he had the opportunity to get hurt and step up, I’d put it all in. I’ve ruined it a few times, but I was able to take it all in and learn from it, so next season I could know what to expect from it.
“I just see opportunities to get better as every opportunity. I like to be humble. If I lose, I lose, but at least I’m learning. I take something from all the reps – win or lose. I take something from everything and learn from it.”
And what helped Whakato’s admission dominate at the high school level is that he is surrounded by other elite players from Orange Lutheran who have or are doing the recruitment process.
Five teammates signed the Power 4 program in this past recruitment cycle led by quarterback TJ Latef. Nebraska And then tight end Aaron IA Arizona. The 4-star Talanoa Ili is a superstar linebacker of this class. There are many more, and Whakato learns something from all of them.
“They told me to keep my head straight,” Whakato said.
“Many college coaches are trying to sell you and tell you what you want to hear, but when it comes to hiring, they tell me everything you really aren’t going to get it. They kept my head straight and told me not to buy it right away, and told me to keep the main thing the main thing.”
The main thing about recruiting now is that Oregon is Wakato’s dream school and teams win early.
The defensive side in 2028 is approaching Dave Uiagaleray, whose son Matayo is already playing for the duck. USC and Notre Dame There is also another player who is deeply involved in the early days of Whakato’s recruitment, but he admires the growth he could pull on Eugene.
“Haloti Ngata went there and he was a D-tackle and I loved watching him,” Fakatou said. “He was Polynesian, Tongan, seeing him go there like me, and I definitely wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
