Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado has lived a life of personal bests.
On a dare, he decided to try out for the Bishop Gorman High School’s bowling team. After studying several techniques, he chose a 16-pound ball for greatest impact on struck pins, and a two-handed roll for controlled spin. He bowled two perfect games and, ultimately, was named Clark County’s Bowler of the Year.
A month after picking up golf clubs, he was shooting in the low 80s, a few times in the 70s. In January, Alejado competed in the Sony Open Pro-Am at the Waialae Country Club. UH head coach Timmy Chang was his caddie.
Then a few weeks ago, Alejado accomplished what was thought to be impossible. He fed his offensive linemen until they unbuckled their belts and collectively declared “no mas.”
“Kale’s Hale,” said right tackle Dean Briski, dreamily reminiscing about the all-you-can-eat yakiniku experience.
It was an open menu, including unlimited Kagoshima wagyu.
Don’t miss out on what’s happening!
Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It’s FREE!
“The server was like, back and forth, back and forth,” Briski recalled. “The O-line was happy. When you feed us, we’re good. Micah always takes care of us.”
Alejado said: “That was the easiest. It was all-you-can-eat, and those guys eat a lot. We put the workers to work.”
“That’s Micah,” said associate head coach Chris Brown, who has known the Alejado family for a decade. “He does everything the best. All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue? That’s a smart kid.”
Alejado has fostered a competitive drive since he was 3, mimicking his older brother’s moves in Pop Warner practices.
“Whatever I do, I wanted to be the best at it,” Alejado said. “Having that competitive nature, I don’t like to lose. If I play soccer or water polo or whatever, I want to be the best at it. Dad raised me hard, for sure. I played football at a young age. He was my coach all the way through high school.”
Paul Alejado knew his son would excel in sports because of a strong and accurate left arm. The younger Alejado played baseball to make use of a biting curveball. He was a quarterback, like his dad, because of the way he could spin a football.
Passing sessions under Paul Alejado and Galu Tagovailoa, father of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, were long and draining.
“He loved it, eventually,” the elder Alejado said.
“Not letting me slack,” Micah Alejado said, “that took over. It helped me grow up. It was a blessing.”
Alejado moved to Las Vegas ahead of his freshman year at Saint Louis School. As a standout with Game Changers Sports Academy, Alejado drew interest from football powerhouses St. John Bosco High School, Mater Dei High and Bishop Gorman.
Brown, who was Bishop Gorman’s assistant head coach and strength coordinator at the time, made a pitch that piqued Alejado.
“I told him about the (quarterbacks) who came before him — Tate Martell and Dorian Thompson-Robinson,” Brown said. “He would be the next one.”
Alejado enrolled at Bishop Gorman, which soon became a school of hard knocks. The Gaels’ defense of 4- and 5-star athletes did everything but hit Alejado in practices.
“When you go up against that competition on a daily basis, it makes you better,” Brown said.
With the Gaels, Alejado, optimistically listed at 5 feet 10, learned through video sessions and practices how to operate behind a towering offensive line. Alejado was able to decipher defenses, master a quick release, and connect with receivers in full stride.
“The kid lost only two games in four years,” Brown said of Alejado’s success with the Gaels.
Those skills accompanied Alejado to UH, where he was reunited with Brown and several Bishop Gorman teammates.
“Micah’s the GOAT,” Briski said. “He’s a go-getter. I don’t have to question anything he does. I know Micah’s going to get it done.”
From a receiver’s perspective, Alejado sometimes is hidden behind a wall of blockers. But like a snowball thrower behind a fort, the football will find its way to the targeted area.
“Last week, I caught a pass from Micah I couldn’t see,” 5-6 slotback Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho said. “I saw the ball spit out. Some of those times, you just see the ball coming at you. He’s amazing. He knows his reads. He knows where we’re going to be. That trust. He throws it to the spot, and we just have to go and catch the ball.”
Wideout Carson Brown, who transferred from Iowa State in January, said months of workouts built the connection with Alejado.
“Throwing every single day with him has been really good,” Brown said. “(No.) 12 is great. It’s up to us to get to spots on time, and he’ll put it there.”
Alejado has proven to be football’s William Tell, with precise aim toward a receiver’s Adam’s apple, the sweet spot.
“Right under the chin,” tight end Frank Abreu said. “He’s a good-assed QB, man. He’s got that accuracy. He’s got everything you need to be a good QB. He’s the best.”