Growing up in Hawaii, UTSA senior center Ahofitu Maka was surrounded by football.
"I started playing football in sixth grade with my cousins," Maka said. "My cousins, my friends, and most of the guys I knew played football, so it was always something that I was a part of."
Maka's decision to leave home and come to UTSA was a difficult one, but one that has led to great success and many accomplishments.
"When I came on my visit to UTSA, my parents told me that I should commit," Maka said. "They fell in love with the school and the program first. It is definitely hard being away from home because I am a big mama's boy, so not being able to see my mom was hard. But then I fell in love with the school and the program here, which made it a lot easier."
During his time at UTSA, Maka has been the starter at center all four years and is currently a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman. Maka credits his accomplishments on the field to his adaptability.
"I think that my biggest asset is being adaptable," Maka explains. "Whatever the coaches, need I am able to step into that and give them what they need, especially with having a whole new coaching staff. I really had to change my techniques."
He credits his academic accomplishments to his consistency and effort in the classroom.
"I always found time to do my homework and put my academics as a priority," Maka said. "Working hard on my assignments helped me to understand the material better and do better on the tests. I always felt like I had the support I needed from my team, my coaches and my teachers if I ever needed help."
Maka hopes to play football professionally but knows that he has many options within his field of study.
"I have my cybersecurity degree and my sister is a computer engineer, so I tell her all the time that when I am done I am going to come live with you so you can show me the ropes."
Some important advice he hopes others take away from him during his time here is just to treat people equally.
"Football is so short, don't get caught up in thinking 'oh, I am the man because I start,'" Maka said. "That doesn't mean you can treat other people less, because at the end of the day people aren't going to remember that you made a game-winning block. They are going to remember how you treated them and the kind of person you were."
