Warriors backup QB Luke Weaver to enter transfer portal
by Stephen Tsai · Star-AdvertiserJAMM AQUINO / SEPT. 13
Hawaii quarterback Luke Weaver passed against Portland State at the Ching Complex in September.
A week after coming off the sideline to throw the winning touchdown pass in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, quarterback Luke Weaver is leaving the University of Hawaii football team with the intent of entering the NCAA transfer portal.
“It was obviously very tough (decision),” Weaver told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a phone interview this morning. “The relationships I’ve grown in Hawaii the past year have been insane. Obviously, the relationship with Micah (Alejado, the starting quarterback), Coach Kap (quarterbacks coach Chad Kapanui) and Coach (Timmy) Chang are so tight. Luckily, they want to see me succeed, and I want to see them succeed. Those relationships won’t drift apart.”
Weaver was named a junior college All-American after a standout 2024 season at Modesto Junior College, where he spent five semesters. He joined the Warriors in January.
With Alejado, who was named the Mountain West’s 2025 Freshman of the Year, pledging to return as a third-year sophomore in 2026, Weaver is seeking a program where he can compete for a starting job.
“That was the only reason,” Weaver said. “My relationship with Hawaii is so great. Even the coaches want to see me succeed, as well.”
As an injury replacement for Alejado, Weaver led the Warriors to nonconference victories over Sam Houston and Portland State. Weaver played in only four regular-season games, the maximum to still count this as a redshirt season and extend his NCAA career. But the limit does not apply to the postseason, and Weaver was allowed to play in last week’s Hawaii Bowl without jeopardizing his redshirt status.
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With 15 seconds left and UH trailing 31-28 in the bowl, Alejado aggravated an injury. Chang summoned Weaver, who then completed the decisive 22-yard scoring pass to slotback Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds to play.
“It was a little bit of an out-of-body experience,” Weaver said. “I couldn’t really process what was going on at the moment.”
After returning to his family’s home in California on Christmas Day, Weaver reflected on his football future. Because he was granted a medical hardship at Modesto, Weaver has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“I felt the way the game ended, it was God telling me it was a good way to close that chapter,” Weaver said. “It was a huge time of prayer during this process.”
He said he will submit his application on Friday, the first of the 15-day portal.
See more:UH football
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