2016 Hawai'i Football Fall Camp
Day 1: Into The Fire: Football Opens 2016 Camp With Strong First Day
Day 2: Football Building The Team Behind The Team
Day 3: Shells On And It's Sweet Home Hawai'i For Football Staff
Day 4: Summer Dedication Paying Off As Football Camp Rolls Into Day Four
Day 5: Football's Offensive Line Leading The Drive Into 2016
Day 6: Experienced Outside Receivers Unit Looking For Big Plays In 2016
Day 7: Returning Inside Men Provide Versatility For Football's Offense
Day 8: 'Bows Rise To Meet Challenges
Day 9: Deep, Experienced Running Backs Look To Propel Offense In 2016

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HONOLULU – The University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors concluded its second week of action on Saturday at Aloha Stadium with a full-bore scrimmage over a two-hour stretch, officially concluding the fall camp portion of the August practices under first-year head coach Nick Rolovich.

The squad enacted its first full game-experience preparation, traveling from campus with all the aspects of a typical gameday. With a full officiating crew on hand, the Rainbow Warriors went through a regular pregame before convening in the locker room, emerging with a run-out intro.

Occupying the mauka sideline with both units, the team ran through three full quarters of play, concluding with a running clock in the fourth quarter. After a pair of early touchdown strikes, the defense locked in and both units continued to make some highlights throughout the night.

"It was very successful, everything from our appreciation of the new turf to the setup of the equipment and the headsets, to the communication by the coaches and the effort of the players," Rolovich said. "The whole day from start to finish, they were dialed in and that's a really good sign; it means they care."

One of the most experienced units this season, the safeties unit played a major role on Saturday and figure to be a major component of the 2016 defense. The unit is under the guidance of returned defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa, who also works along with Abe Elimimian in coaching the men deep in the defensive backfield.

"We have depth, which is great because it's a long season, and we're trying to get six safeties ready to play," Lempa said. "We've got some work to do, but they're progressing very well. It helps us that we've got experience and these young guys are learning from them; young guys not far off from playing."

The unit has the personnel to push past just one major loss with Marrell Jackson graduating. Jackson was fourth on the team with 64 tackles on the year. There is plenty of starting experience in the secondary cupboard for Lempa's defense, with the benefit of one returning starter from a year ago, junior Daniel Lewis, previous starter back in junior Trayvon Henderson, and senior Damien Packer.

One of the Hawai'i representatives at the Mountain West media days, Lewis played in each contest last year and started in 10 games, accruing 47 stops, including 3.0 for loss, in addition to three pass breakups. Starting out as a running back, Lewis also made three starts in 11 appearances in 2014, making two interceptions and 21 tackles.

Henderson received a medical hardship after sustaining an injury during the second game last season at Ohio State. However, he started in 10-of-11 appearances in 2014, tying for second among UH tacklers with 63 stops, including 54 solo shots. Henderson collected two picks and 3.0 tackles for loss. He also led the Rainbow Warriors with three interceptions during the 2013 campaign.

"I feel pretty confident about the safeties," Henderson said. "We're more of a family than teammates. All the connections are there, the chemistry is there on and off the field, and that makes us care more about each other and the team."

Another position conversion, Packer was shifted from wide receiver to defensive back before last season and played extensively on special teams in 2015. He's appeared in 35 games and has proven himself as not only a weight room warrior, but has also worked steadily into the defensive backfield rotation.

"I'm definitely ready for this situation," Packer said. "The guys that I play with, we're all brothers out there and we want to just do the best we can for the man next to us. You can definitely look forward to us making plays out there and trying to be leaders on this defense. I'm just excited to get out here, make plays and win some football games."

The recruiting cycle was extremely fruitful for the safety position, picking up three freshmen to build for the future—while all three have drawn praise for their rapid development and could find a place in the rotation.

Rookies Keala Santiago and Scheyenne Sanitoa were both members of the original signing class in February, while Kalen Hicks was a late addition to the unit.
"Scheyenne, Austin [Gerard] and Kalen all showed up tonight," Lempa said following Saturday's scrimmage. "A lot of young guys have showed they've got some ability to play."

A standout safety for state champion Kahuku High School, which boasted one of the most dominant defenses in state history, Santiago made eight interceptions as a senior, including two for scores. He was named the USA Today Hawaii Defensive Player of the Year and received the Cover2 Chad Owens Award for his special teams efforts—he registered three punts returns for touchdowns.

Hailing from American Samoa, Sanitoa is a football standout with a track background, representing his home nation in the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships and World Indoor Championships. He turned heads and developed an affinity for Hawaii when he was named Defensive MVP at the JPS Paradise Classic, collecting two picks in the championship game.

Hailing from National Champion Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada, Hicks is a special talent who was overlooked by many as he was forced to redshirt due to a senior-year injury when it came his time to start for the deeply-talented program.

Another from the recruiting class, and another from a nationally-ranked program, Mykal Tolliver has seen work with both the corners and the safeties this fall camp. Last year, he helped St. John Bosco High School (Calif.) to a 14-1 mark and No. 11 ranking, making an interception, 13 pass breakups and 38 tackles.

The Austins, Borengasser and Gerard, return to the program and the safety group in fall 2016. Borengasser redshirted last year after graduating from Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama, recording three interceptions, 15 breakups and 59 tackles as a senior strong safety. Also from Kamehameha by way of College of the Sequoias, Gerard joined the program as a walk-on in the spring. He started as a wide receiver and was all-ILH, but never settled into a position in junior college. Also working on finding a position to match his physical gifts, Texas sophomore and converted receiver Terrence Sayles is expected to see some success in the defensive backfield.

Working in tandem with the cornerbacks, who project senior Jalen Rogers high among the rotation, the Rainbow Warriors sport significant defensive backfield experience. Rogers worked at both safety and corner last season as injuries mounted and thinned the rotation.

The Rainbow Warriors get their second break from the field on Sunday. With the conclusion of the fall camp portion, UH begins to turn its focus to Cal and the trip to Australia next week, beginning with a 6:30 a.m. practice on Monday. All practices next week are closed to the public.