With his Blaze-ing speed, Soares is ready to deliver in a big way at linebacker

BY JASON KANESHIRO

It was a couple of years ago, and Cal Lee was watching some film footage of a speedy high school running back when another player’s performance forced him to sit up and edge closer to the screen.

“When I saw somebody chase (Kealoha) Pilares down, I found out who that was,” the Hawaii linebackers coach recalled, “and it was Blaze Soares.”

The speed the former Castle High standout displayed on that tape while hunting down Pilares, then the state’s most dynamic offensive threat and now a Warrior teammate, remains among the chief traits that has him poised to emerge as an impact player in his sophomore season.

“I think his strength is he’s got good size and he can run,”

Lee said. “Anytime you have a guy who can run to the ball, it’s something that’s hard to teach. You can work on your strength, but it’s hard to get speed.” Soares’ physical gifts bolster a deep Hawaii linebacker corps, but perhaps more important is an innate ability to read the flow of the action. “To me it just comes natural,” Soares said of making the reads from his outside linebacker position. “Just being out here, this is where I feel like I’m untouchable. It just clicks.”

Soares played in 12 games as a freshman and initially earned the praise of the coaching staff through his play on special teams. That eventually led to more time at linebacker and by the end of the season he had built enough trust to be left on the field in critical late-game situations. Among the highlights of his freshman year was a key fourth-quarter sack in Hawaii’s 42-35 win over Purdue.

With new defensive coordinator Greg McMackin installing a 4-3 package, Soares’ role will expand this fall. He was slotted as the first-team stub linebacker in the spring to play alongside junior standouts Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard.

“It’s going to be something,” Soares said. “You never know where we’re coming from. Coach McMackin has some good schemes for us and I can’t wait to see what we can do.

“I love to blitz personally - that’s just what I love to do. I think it fits perfect, because I ran that in high school and the reads are all the same, just faster.”

Though Soares honed his physique with an intense offseason training regimen, Lee traces his football acumen to another source.

“He’s got some good genes,” said Lee, who played with Soares’ grandfather at Kalani High School. “Blaze comes from that Soares mold and has a great passion for the game.”

Soares has yet to start a college game, but the Warriors still have ample experience at the position. Brad Kalilimoku is also expected to play extensively. Micah Lau started nine games and junior C.J. Allen-Jones had another four last year.