Filling a need at rush end and prestige, the Hawai'i football team yesterday secured a commitment from The Advertiser's co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Beau Yap of Kamehameha Schools notified the UH coaches of his decision to accept a Warrior scholarship offer, according to his father, Boyd Yap.

Boyd Yap was a running back who led Kamehameha to the O'ahu Prep Bowl title in 1978 and Kaiser to the championship in 1979. He was named The Advertiser's Back of the Year in 1979.

When Beau Yap puts his commitment in writing Wednesday, the first day recruits may sign binding national letters of intent, it will mark the first time the Warriors have had a second-generation Player of the Year.

"He's a great player," Kamehameha coach David Stant said of Beau Yap. "He's very coachable. He asks you what you want, then he goes up and beyond."

By accepting a UH scholarship, Yap is withdrawing a verbal commitment to Baylor. He notified the Baylor coaches yesterday.

Yap had visited Baylor a couple of weeks ago, then took a UH recruiting trip a week ago. He made a verbal commitment to Baylor last week.

But after returning from a recruiting trip to Oregon State yesterday, Yap called the UH coaches and said he changed his mind.

"Beau is staying home," Boyd Yap said.

Boyd Yap added: "It came on all of a sudden. I think it's great for Beau. ... We're happy for him. Basically, he decided to play at home. That's great."

Stant said he always tells his players to make college decisions based on long-range goals.

"Choose the place where you want to live the rest of your life," Stant said. "I played at UH, and I'm lucky to live and work here, hopefully for the rest of my life. If you go to school here, you're kind of known in the community after you graduate. If he wants to live here the rest of his life, I'm glad he's staying home."

Yap is 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds.

According to the Pacific Athletic Alliance, Yap is capable of running 40 yards in 4.8 seconds, bench pressing a maximum 325 pounds, and benching 185 pounds 27 times. His vertical jump is 30 inches.

He received three-star ratings from http://Rivals.com and http://ESPN.com. He had a two-star rating from http://Scout.com.

Boyd Yap said his son looks forward to being coached by UH assistants Dave Aranda and George Lumpkin.

Beau Yap practiced under Aranda during a camp on Maui last summer.

"They're both great coaches, and now he gets to play for them, and for coach Mack (Greg McMackin)," Boyd Yap said.

Boyd Yap also praised Brian Norwood, Baylor's defensive coordinator and a former UH teammate.

"Brian Norwood is just a first-class, genuine, very decent human being," Boyd Yap said of the former Radford High star athlete. "He's just a great guy, and we wish him and Baylor all of the luck in the world. Brian comes from UH. Brian is just a great guy."