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
Day 11: Cornerbacks Rely On Experience, Depth To Reload In 2016
Day 12: The Combination Of Experience And Youth Strengthens 2016 Safeties
Day 13: Few Questions Exist Among Football's 2016 Specialists
Day 14: H-TV: Defense Bought With Coordinator Lempa's Culture Changes
Day 15: A Variety Of Game-Tested Tight Ends Available For UH In 2016
HONOLULU – The University of Hawaii football team moved one day closer to departure with a steady morning practice at Cooke Practice Field on Wednesday under first-year head coach
Nick Rolovich.
All the fanfare of cheerleaders and soccer were removed this morning as the Rainbow Warriors went to work with scout team work and the beginnings of preparation for California. During last night's SportsCenter broadcast, UH was once again featured for its non-playing activities, reaching the No. 4 on the Top Plays for the documentation of
Brodie Nakama's scholarship reveal. In fact, UH made an encore tonight for the footage of the penalty kick challenge with Rainbow Wahine Soccer, coming in at No. 6. That's now four times on the top 10 without yet taking a snap under Rolovich.
Continuing our look at the position groups, we preview a unit that was the core of the defense a year ago, and has continued to draw praise throughout fall practices—the linebackers. Despite losing 2-of-4 starters from last season, the talent waiting in the wings has rallied around linebackers coach
Sean Duggan, the youngest Division I assistant coach in the nation.
"They're a hard-working group," Duggan said. "I expect them to play hard, be fundamentally sound and just play fast and aggressive. They're also a pretty tight-knit group, they all pull for each other, all want the best for each other and these guys want to be great. That's a key element to building a great linebacking unit."
Losing four prominent players to graduation, the Rainbow Warriors are missing 53 games of starting experience. Finishing up their eligibility last year were
Julian Gener (95 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 1 INT, 2 FF),
Benetton Fonua (68 tackles, 1 FF),
Lance Williams (59 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR) and
Simon Poti (30 tackles, 3.5 TFL). Among the group were three of the top six tacklers last year. However, with plenty of talent remaining on the roster, the unit seemingly hasn't missed a step in 2016.
"These guys are playing with a chip on their shoulder, they're out there to prove something," Duggan noted. "Each day they come out here and just get better and better. It's hard to pinpoint one guy. All of them have gotten better and we've got guys that are playing really good football."
One of only two returning starters, sophomore
Jahlani Tavai is back in a leadership role for the Rainbow Warriors, but has made the shift inside after starting 11 games at outside linebacker in 2015.
"He's a guy that comes to work every single day," Duggan said. "Never really complains and just keeps getting better and better. He's got to be a leader for us and he's really taken that on."
Last season, Tavai collected 56 tackles, with 5.0 for loss and three sacks. He made at least four tackles in nine games last year. As a player who rose to a starting position last season coming off a redshirt, Tavai knows the difference an offseason can make in getting game-ready.
"As a linebacker corps, we can't make any excuses. Even if we lost players, that happens every year, Tavai said. "We've been playing together and we have to make sure we trust each other to make plays. That trust is important and it's probably the closest the team has been since I've been here."
Also returning to a position shift is senior
Jerrol Garcia-Williams, who has moved outside but will be available for both positions. If not for a late-season injury, he would have held the team lead in tackles. Instead, he came in second at 89 after registering two of the top tackling performances in the Mountain West—stopping 17 versus Air Force and 15 against UC Davis.
"He's really athletic and moves really well," Duggan said. "He's fluid and really football intelligent. He's got a lot of experience and that's something you can always rely on in coaching guys who have played a lot of football."
He tied for 10th in the conference and 44th nationally in solo tackles (55). Garcia-Williams returns extremely focused on taking care of business in 2016.
"I expect us to compete, work hard, stay disciplined and be good teammates," Garcia-Williams said. "As long as we do our jobs, we'll be good. I've just got to keep working, nothing is promised. I'm just taking it day-by-day to try and be the best player I can be."
In the hunt for a starting position on the outside of the new 4-3 alignment implemented by defensive coordinator
Kevin Lempa, junior Russell Williams and sophomore
Malachi Mageo have each made huge strides in the offseason. Neither started last year, but both saw significant action, appearing in 12 games apiece. Williams made 19 tackles on the year, while Mageo picked up five.
"He's aggressive, man, he'll hit you," Duggan commented on Williams. "He's a physical player, the scheme's really starting to slow down for him and he's starting to understand more and more what's going on in our defense, which allows him to play faster within the system."
Making a full position switch from the secondary, moving up to capitalize on his speed and tackling ability,
Dany Mulanga arrives from safety to outside linebacker—making a speedy conversion. Mulanga started four games in 10 appearances in 2015, recording 40 tackles with an interception and two forced fumbles. He's hardly alone, as several have shifted for the greater good of the defense with great success under the first-year staff.
"They've taken it on and really embraced it," Duggan said of the converts. "As a defense, we have a chance to be great, and guys understand that if they have to switch position, it's all to help the defense."
Coming back for the outsides, senior
Max Broman and sophomore
Tumua Tuinei look to expand their roles this year, while freshman Daytona Furuta comes off of redshirt. Joining the Rainbow Warriors from the signing class, freshmen
Jeremiah Pritchard and
Ikem Okeke have put themselves in good position to see the field through their effort in fall camp. Pritchard was a second team all-stater in Nevada at Silverado High under NFL legend Randall Cunningham. Okeke started for two-time defending National Champion Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, recording 42 tackles and one interception, forcing one fumble and recovering two.
Moving inside, a bulked-up
Solomon Matautia is coming off a redshirt season. A consensus first team all-state player, Matautia was among the top players in the state, coming out of Campbell High School. Also coming in for their first season of action after redshirting are
Rashaan Falemalu and
Dalton Gouveia—both all-state selections in Hawai'i and North Carolina, respectively.
The latest to join the fray is freshman
La'akea Look, a two-time state champion who logged 116 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception for Punahou School to become the ILH Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
All-in-all, the depth looks pretty solid for the linebackers, especially with the position trimmed to three spots. The Warriors will also hope to keep a steady rotation going in 2016.
"It's looking good right now, I don't see anyone getting tired," Williams said. "We've just got to be ready mentally, because I believe we're there physically. We're supposed to be the leaders of the defense. All of us know what everybody has to do, so we've got to be the generals out there. So far, we're doing our job."
Back at it with three days to go before shipping out, the Rainbow Warriors begin to practice on Turf tomorrow with a 6:30 a.m. practice. The move to the T.C. Ching Athletics Complex helps the squad avoid troublesome agricultural issues.
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