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
Day 16: Next Man Up The Mantra For Reloading 2016 UH Linebackers
 

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HONOLULU – Practice No. 22 is in the books for the University of Hawaii football team after a final two-a-day session on the turf field at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex under first-year head coach Nick Rolovich.

The Rainbow Warriors have now settled into game planning for the season opener against California in Sydney, and there's a rhythm to the practices now as UH focuses on opponent No. 1. Every day, the Rainbow Warriors work to answer one of the biggest question marks heading into camp, who will man the defensive line. Notable losses and a ton of new personnel have given UH its share of challenges, but the Rainbow Warriors are up for it.

Guiding the unit is line coach Legi Suiaunoa, who's developed more than his share of all-conference and All-American lineman during his run at Montana. Griz protégés under Suiaunoa include Tyrone Holmes, who led the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in sacks and plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, in addition to Zach Wagenmann, who holds school records for sacks (37.5) and tackles for loss (53), currently playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

After having a short depth chart most of last season, the Rainbow Warriors return six active linemen from a year ago. UH will play this season without the efforts of Kennedy Tulimasealii, who amassed 63 tackles at defensive end, including 18.5 for loss. The UH returners registered 121 tackles last season, including 9.5 for loss with 4.5 sacks.

"You're going to see a bunch of guys that are hungry to win, guys that are playing really hard, been practicing really hard and came off a great summer," Suiaunoa said. "Their hearts are in the right place and they're going to come out ready to play."

Anchoring the middle at the Rainbow Warriors shift from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base, Kory Rasmussen earned his scholarship last season after beginning fall camp as a walk-on, putting up 43 tackles with 4.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks, also earning CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors. The senior from 'Ewa Beach is confident the defensive line will show increased productivity this season.

"We've had a question mark on us for a while now, everybody should just sit back and watch us be ready," Rasmussen said.

Joining him at tackle is junior Penitito Faalologo, who played in all 13 games with 24 tackles. After missing spring practices, sophomore Ka'aumoana Gifford has had an extremely productive fall after logging 22 tackles, two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries last year.

"I'm really proud of the progress he's made during the offseason and throughout camp," Suiaunoa said of Gifford.

Also back in the mix at tackle is sophomore Zeno Choi, who had his redshirt pulled to appear in five games late in the season, recording four tackles. In addition, freshman Samiuela Akoteu redshirted last season and could be a factor up front. Starting on both sides of the ball at Junipero Serra High School in California, Akoteu helped pave the way for 5,988 yards of offense, while making 61 tackles with 11 for loss. As a senior at 2013 state champion Kaiser High, Choi collected 27 tackles, with eight sacks, seven hurries and three fumble recoveries.

New to the interior line in 2016 are a pair of rookies from American Samoa, in Viane Moala and Alesana Sunia. The pair add some size in the middle with Moala checking in at 6-7, 270, while Sunia is 6-3, 305. Both players played multiple positions for their high schools and arrived with great talent and potential.
Looking outside, junior defensive end David Manoa played in all 13 games with 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while classmate Meffy Koloamatangi has proven productive in the spring and this fall after eight games and two starts last season, tallying 12 tackles.

"Meffy is really explosive," Manoa said. "He's very physical with long arms, and does a great job of using that to his advantage."

Joining the defensive ends after standing in for spot duty late last year, senior converted linebacker Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea projects to be a leader not only in the unit, but for the defense in general. The former Arizona linebacker will come off the edge for UH this year after tabbing 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks last year, as well as two hurries. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama like Rasmussen, the pair have teamed up since high school and feel blessed to finish their careers together at UH. Rasmussen started out at Colorado.

"We know when it's time and we know what to do," Rasmussen said of their bond. "It's just like we never left each other. When you play the game with somebody for so long, now we're so comfortable we know what each other are going to do in certain situations."

It's a youth movement at defensive end this season, with only a pair of additional players returning, in sophomore Tevarua Eldridge and freshman Manley Williams. Eldridge earned the team's defensive Scout Team Award last year and appeared in one game. A Wailuku, Maui native, Eldridge was a four-time all-league selection at Baldwin High. Williams redshirted last season, recording 44 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a senior at Farrington High School.

This offseason produced an extreme infusion of young talent at the defensive end position, as six freshmen join the unit's ranks this fall. The most prominent of the group is the poster-player for the College Football Sydney Cup. Melbourne, Australia-born Maxwell Hendrie is a talent with a huge upside after a standout prep rugby career due to his athleticism and aggressive skillset. Coming from Ashburn, Va. by way of Fork Union Military Academy, Cole Carter missed much of last year with an injury. Joey Nu-uanu-Kuh'iki from Wai'anae High School was an honorable mention all-stater. Mililani's Kaimana Padello racked up 47 career sacks as a two-time all-OIA player. 'Iolani School's Taaga Tuulima was a two-time state champion on offensive line, but made the shift to defense at UH. Finally, the last to join the Rainbow Warriors was Isaac Liva, also from Mililani, securing seven sacks as a senior and earning OIA West Division Player of the Year in volleyball last spring.

As opposed to the end of last season, in which UH was down to a small handful of defensive linemen at the end of the year, they entered fall camp with 18 for the 2016 season. While there are some experienced players as a foundation, a significant chunk are newcomers—eight to be specific—and some young guys will be expected to step up.

"There's a lot of young guys that came in and we're transitioning with a lot more defensive linemen," Suiaunoa said. "If they're ready to go, we're going to put them on the field."

Statehood Day aside tomorrow, the Rainbow Warriors will be at work bright and early on the T.C. Ching field, counting down to one more day before heading to Australia. The squad and staff will depart Saturday after a final morning practice on O'ahu.