VIDEO: Offensive Coordinator Lee on the Offense  |  VIDEO: Defensive Coordinator Kaumeyer on the Defense

Outlook Part #1: Quarterbacks  |  Outlook Part #2: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends  |  Outlook Part #3: Running Backs  |  Outlook Part #4: Offensive Line  |  Outlook Part #5: Defensive Line

Fall camp is underway for the University of Hawai'i football team and its season-opener at USC is less than a month away. HawaiiAthletics.com will breakdown the 2012 Warrior football team, position-by-position. Today's feature is the linebackers.

VIDEO: Coach Tuioti on the Linebackers
 
Starter Returning: Art Laurel
Starters Lost: Aaron Brown, Corey Paredes
Letterwinners Returning: Kamalani Alo, George Daily-Lyles, Rykin Enos, Darryl McBride, Jr., TJ Taimatuia
Squadman Returning: Dylan McCagg, Alema Tachibana
Redshirts: Brenden Daley, Kendrick Van Ackeren
Newcomers: Benetton Fonua, Jerrol Garcia-Williams, Jonathan Makaiau, Giovanni Stevenson, Lance Williams
 
Two-thirds of UH's starting linebackers last season – leading tacklers Corey Paredes and Aaron Brown – took with them their 511 career tackles to the NFL as Paredes is free agent with the Minnesota Vikings and Brown was drafted by the St. Louis Rams.
 
The remaining starter, Art Laurel, a junior from Wahiawa, O'ahu, returns as the veteran of the group. He was the team's fourth leading tackler (61) a year ago and team-leader in tackles-for-loss (14.5) and sacks (9).
 
Penciled behind Laurel at the SAM backer position is Darryl McBride, Jr., a senior from Philadelphia, Pa., who saw action in nine games last season as a hybrid backer/defensive end.
 
The middle backer position will be occupied by sophomore TJ Taimatuia, of Fagasa, American Samoa, and redshirt junior Brenden Daley, of Moorpark, Calif. Taimatuia mainly saw action on special teams last season but still recorded one sack and one fumble recovery against UC Davis. Daley redshirted last season.
 
Fourth-year junior George Daily-Lyles is atop the WILL backer spot. The Long Beach, Calif., native has three starts over his career totaling 38 tackles. Behind him is Kamalani Alo, a junior from Hau'ula, O'ahu, who made a name for himself on special teams the past two seasons.
 
Redshirt freshman Kendrick Van Ackeren of Bellevue, Wash., had a standout spring game that included an interception and several key tackles. Freshman Benetton Fonua was the state's Defensive Player of the Year out of Kahuku High School. Both could see time at middle backer.
      
Freshman Jerrol Garcia-Williams, son of former Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker Jerrol Williams, was a top recruit out of Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas and is a SAM backer while grayshirt Lance Williams was a two-sport star at Honolulu's Farrington High School and is slated to play at WILL.