The newest future University of Hawai'i football player led all California high school quarterbacks in passing yards last season.

A more significant achievement is Corey Nielsen's 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. He ranks No. 1 in his class at Gahr High in Cerritos.

His football and classroom accomplishments have the same goal: Hawai'i.

"My Auntie Pat (Chang) said if I get a 4.0 every year, she's going to send me to Hawai'i on her dime," Nielsen said. "That's been my motivation."

Yesterday, he fulfilled his football dream when he accepted a scholarship offer from the Warriors. He will join the team in August 2009.

"It feels great," said Nielsen, who participated in UH's Skills Camp yesterday at the school's grass practice fields. "This feels like home already."

Nielsen made his decision Tuesday night.

"I told my friends and family I was going to commit," Nielsen said. "They told me: 'Congratulations. I'm so excited for you. This is what you've always wanted. It finally comes true. I'm happy for you.' "

Yesterday morning, Nielsen called head coach Greg McMackin in Los Angeles, where he was preparing to attend the taping of the ESPY Awards show.

"He was ecstatic," Nielsen said. "I was even happier. It was crazy. It all happened so fast. But it feels right."

Nielsen said he has followed the Warriors for several years.

His mother, Cheryl, is a Punahou School graduate.

"We go to Hawai'i a lot," said his father, Don Nakaya Nielsen, a former world kick-boxing champion. "He's been exposed to UH football for a long time."

Nielsen's grandmother videotaped all of the Warriors' games the past several years. Chang, who visits California frequently, then delivers the videos.

"We've been doing that for years," Don Nakaya Nielsen said. "We have a system."

In March, Nielsen accompanied his uncle, Jon Nielsen, to UH's Pro Day in Carson, Calif. Nielsen met his idol, Colt Brennan, and slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins.

"Colt's a cool dude," Nielsen said. "I got to hang out with Ryan and Davone. It was all good."

Chang fueled Nielsen's Warrior passion by sending him UH T-shirts.

"I'd wear them at school," Nielsen said. "Everybody would say, 'Where'd you get that?' Nobody wears it back home. It was good to wear."

Last season, Nielsen passed for 4,363 yards and 35 touchdowns.

He was named to the All-California Interscholastic Federation's first team.

Nielsen has received scholarship offers from Arizona, Nevada-Las Vegas and Idaho. He chose: None of the Above.

"Hawai'i was always No. 1," Nielsen said. "I liked Hawai'i since I was a little kid. I always said: 'I want to be a Warrior.' Now, to finally be a Warrior, it feels great. No words can explain it."

Nielsen, who is 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, said he hopes to "grow a little bit this year."

Nielsen is the second 2009 recruit to commit to the Warriors this week.

On Monday, wide receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School accepted a UH scholarship.

Nielsen returned to California last night. Stutzmann is among more than 325 players participating in the Skills Camp, which runs through tomorrow.

UH's Big Man's Camp for linemen will be held July 21 to 23. It is open to ages 13 and older. For details call 956-4516 or go to: www.hawaiiathletics.com.