2017 Hawai'i Football Fall Camp Coverage | For more, visit @HawaiiFootball on Twitter
Day 1: Rainbow Warriors Open Fall Camp Hungry to Prove Themselves
Day 4: Brown Provides Stability at Quarterback in 2017 Offense
Day 7: Linebackers Unified Around Experienced Core
Day 8: Warriors Gunning for Greater Offensive Improvement in 2017
Day 9: Versatile Tight Ends and Receivers Look to Push Passing Attack to Next Level
Day 11: Warrior Secondary Uses Veterans to Balance Talented but Inexperienced Depth
Day 15: Warrior Special Teams Solidifying Components in Fall Camp
Day 16: Saint Juste Headlines Multi-Talented Running Back Corps
Day 17: Defensive Line a Seasoned Group After Trial by Fire Last Season
Day 18 (Aug. 17): Allen, Wa'a and Eli Lead Versatile Offensive Line Unit
Day 19 (Aug. 18): Defensive Preview with Coordinator Legi Suiaunoa
Day 20 (Aug. 19): Fall Camp Concludes

HONOLULU – The calendar is showing nine more days until game day for the University of Hawai'i football team. The Rainbow Warriors put in their final fully-padded practice Thursday morning at Cooke Practice Field, pushing further into Massachusetts preparation.
 
Reviewing the defensive line yesterday, it's their counterpart that will drive the offensive attack for the Rainbow Warriors this season, as UH looks to build upon the turnaround 7-7 finish that featured a Hawai'i Bowl victory in 2016.
 
"Our offensive line is extremely important, and how they develop and the leadership in that group – losing a couple seniors – is big," offensive coordinator Brian Smith said early in fall camp. "A couple guys have stepped up in camp and started to take reins of that group, and that's big for us, because we can only go as far as the big guys are going to take us in the end."
 
It's never easy to work around replacing long-time players, but that's a fact of life in college football – especially for the offensive line, which often sees players work from redshirt to backup before earning their first start. The Rainbow Warriors lost both right tackle RJ Hollis and guard/center Leo Koloamatangi, both in the starting rotation over the past two seasons. However, there's plenty of experience returning for the unit, with a foundation surrounding two seniors.
 
"Their experience and being second year in the system has really helped out a lot," former Hawai'i center and current offensive graduate assistant John Estes said. "We are picking up more stuff, we're seeing the bigger picture, we're not just playing in our own little bubble…we've got a lot of good players up front…they come to work hard."
 
Leading the pack of Hawai'i offensive line returners is preseason All-Mountain West senior tackle Dejon Allen (6-3, 290, Compton, Calif.), a 2016 All-MW second teamer. Allen has started the last 38 consecutive games, moving from guard to left tackle last season. He led an offensive line unit that laid the foundation for 2,293 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing, while UH sliced sacks allowed down to 1.71 per game, rising to rank 41st nationally.
 
"He's a great player," Estes said. "He is what you want to call a cornerstone left tackle."
 
Extremely athletic for a big player and framed like a heavyweight boxer, Allen will anchor the offensive line as its most experienced player. However, he's hardly alone with his count on game reps.
 
"This fall camp, we've done a tremendous job I'd say," Allen said. "We've got guys like John Wa'a coming back, and Tui [Asotui] Eli. Those guys almost have as much experience as me, so that just puts us at a good level to win a lot of games."
 
A senior captain, Wa'a (6-4, 315, Hau'ula, O'ahu) started all 14 games at left guard in the 2016 season, and has played 38 games for the Rainbow Warriors. Wa'a leads the unit by example and when he speaks, his teammates listen, as he's truly worked his way to his standing among the starters.
 
"John Wa'a is a guy that everybody is rallying around," Estes said. "He was voted team captain, so he's got a lot of respect from his peers, especially on the offensive line…he comes to work every day to do things to get better."
 
Rounding out the most experienced trio in the unit, junior Asotui Eli (6-4, 315, Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i) was named to the Rimington (center) Award watch list for the second time after starting 25 games over the past two seasons. The incumbent at center, Eli has proven a smart player and has also served UH at guard. Going through a body transformation in the offseason, Eli is expected to be a big boost for the unit.
 
The tackle spot opposite Allen remains a competition as the Warriors work though the final days of camp. Senior Matt Norman (6-5, 270, Monrovia, Calif.) appeared in nine games after redshirting his first season out of Fullerton College, where he was named first team all-Region III. Freshman Brandon Kipper (6-7, 270, Caldwell, Idaho) also is working his way into reps, coming to Manoa as a three-star recruit; an All-American wrestler and a two-time all-state lineman at Columbia High School.
 
However, with offensive line coach Chris Naeole's approach to cross-training his personnel for multiple positions, several players may be available to take on various roles.
 
Highly-touted local sophomore Fred Ulu-Perry redshirted last season after transferring from UCLA, where he played in eight games as a true freshman. Ranking as the No. 1 guard and No. 5 center coming out of high school at Saint Louis School, Ulu-Perry is a savvy player with the established ability to play all five positions on the line, with plenty of time appearing at guard.
 
Starting out his UH career as an interior lineman, sophomore J.R. Hensley (6-5, 310, Edmond, Okla.) made six appearances last year and earned his first career start at right guard in the bowl game. Joining UH last year from the 2015 National Champion Alabama program as a graduate, senior Chris Posa (6-4, 290, Commerce, Mich.) appeared in four games a year ago, and can play both guard and tackle, bringing three years of experience with zone and gap schemes.
 
Coming out of the 2017 recruiting class, Micah Vanterpool and Emil Graves both have seen time at guard, and are both able to line up in multiple spots. An all-state player at Phoenix Central High School, Vanterpool (6-6, 285, Phoenix, Ariz.) was credited with allowing no sacks in his prep career. A junior, Graves (6-3, 275, Lynwood, Calif.) was an all-California Region IV first team performer and helped Fullerton College's high scoring offense to the 2016 CCCAA Junior College National Championship. A newcomer to offense, freshman Taaga Tuulima (6-2, 280, 'Ewa Beach, O'ahu) switched sides of the ball and has earned reps at center. He aided 'Iolani School to an ILH title.
 
The Rainbow Warriors also have the support of some additional young players, all freshmen; Alesana Sunia (6-3, 305, Leone, American Samoa), Ramsey Aviu (6-2, 300, 'Aiea, O'ahu) and Stephan Bernal-Wendt (6-4, 315, Honolulu, O'ahu).
 
"They're seeing the bigger picture, that's what really excites me," Estes said, "that they're playing with anticipation. They're knowing what the defense is going to do it. That's the plan."
 
The Rainbow Warriors have two more practices remaining in the fall camp portion of 2017 practices, on Friday and Saturday. Game week begins Monday morning, as UH begins final preparations to open the season on Aug. 26 in a rematch with Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass.