LAS VEGAS — Two days full of activities associated with Mountain West media days was both a reward and responsibility for University of Hawai‘i teammates Pofele Ashlock and Jamih Otis.
When a Division I head football coach chooses a pair of players to choose to send to media day, veterans with strong leadership skills and on-field production top the list. In 2025, UH head coach Timmy Chang bestowed his two selections to Ashlock and Otis, who served as program representatives over the course of dozens on media appearances on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Ashlock and Otis got to explore the city, sneaking in a quick session at Topgolf.
"It's very much a blessing," Ashlock told Aloha State Daily on Wednesday. "I'm just a boy from Texas."
Ashlock grew up in Euless, Texas, a town known for having one of the largest Tongan populations outside of Tonga. The key tenets in his childhood were faith, football, and his Black and Tongan roots. After tearing his ACL prior to his senior year of high school, Ashlock's college prospects were thin. By the time signing day rolled around, his only offer was from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, an NCAA Division II school. He recalls being overcome with sadness, knowing deep down he was destined for more.
"I started crying. I just remember praying, man, God, show me that I can be able to play football again," Ashlock said.
Ashlock decided not to sign. His aunt sent his highlight tape to the University of Hawai‘i, catching the eye of former UH running back Nate Ilaoa, the school's director of recruiting at the time. Hawai‘i, which saw its roster decimated by the transfer portal under former coach Todd Graham, ended up needed to replace 53 players. Chang, the school's new head coach, decided Ashlock was worth taking a shot on.
"I'll never forget that time, and how I felt at that time and the relief that just came off my shoulders," Ashlock said. "Man, my faith just grew that much more."
As a true freshman, Ashlock redshirted as he got his bearings in college. As a redshirt freshman, he became one of the country's breakout wide receivers, beginning the 2023 campaign with consecutive 100-yard games, becoming the first UH freshman to do so.
In all, Ashlock hauled in 83 receptions for 832 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the first Hawai‘i freshman to lead the team in receiving since Davone Bess in 2023.
Injuries, which included a concussion, limited Ashlock's availability in 2024. He still finished with 61 receptions and six touchdowns on 629 yards. In 2025, he was named to the preseason Mountain West All-Conference team along with Nick Cencale, giving the Rainbow Warriors two preseason All-Conference players on offense for the first time in program history.
During an era where standout players from conferences such as the Mountain West get poached by bigger schools, Ashlock has resisted overtures and stayed loyal to Hawai‘i, where his younger brother, Jarvis Heimuli, is also on the roster.
"Just from the from the get go. They came and got me. It's a morale thing for me and I really, truly love Hawai‘i," Ashlock said. "I've been over here and they changed a little boy to a man, and gave me lessons that I'll never forget. So, it's been a blessing. And just being out here and just to give back to the community of Hawai‘i, I feel like that's what I'm doing."
Otis, despite being a star linebacker at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, only had four scholarship offers to choose from in high school.
"Hawai‘i just stuck out because they were super genuine. The love felt there. I felt wanted at Hawai‘i, and I think truly they they had a plan, and they told me how I was going to contribute to that plan," said Otis, who reunited with his high school linebackers coach Chris Brown at UH.
"And from there, I fell in love with Hawai‘i, the coaches, the brotherhood, and I'm glad to say I'm a part of it. I feel like not too many people get to experience the love, the kindness from the Island, and just the community, and all the ‘ohana, so I'm just thankful."
Although not as lightly recruited as Ashlock, Otis still carries the chip he had on his shoulder into college, turning into a dependable starting linebacker for the 'Bows.
Ashlock and Otis also partook in a photoshoot at the Circa Hotel & Casino. Otis, in his hometown, was able to have his parents watch and take their own photos.
The Rainbow Warriors were picked to finish seventh out of 12 teams in the conference's preseason poll released Wednesday morning. Being overlooked is old hat to Ashlock and Otis, who took the news in stride.
"For sure it's motivating, but we're not really focusing on that," Otis said. "Honestly, we're just doing all we can, day in and day out, control what we can control, and understanding our goals and our standards and that anything on the outside really can't affect us and it won't affect us. So just, I mean, focus on what we need to focus on."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
