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 (Aug. 5): Warriors Gunning for Greater Offensive Improvement in 2017
Day 9 (Aug. 7): Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Preview
Day 11 (Aug. 9): Secondary Preview
Day 14 (Aug. 12): Special Teams Preview with Coordinator Mayur Chaudhari
Day 15 (Aug. 14): Running Backs Preview
Day 16 (Aug. 15): Defensive Line Preview
Day 18 (Aug. 17): Offensive Line Preview
Day 19 (Aug. 18): Defensive Preview with Coordinator Legi Suiaunoa
Day 20 (Aug. 19): Fall Camp Concludes
 
HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i football team closed out its second week of fall camp action on Saturday at Clarence T.C. Ching Field, holding a scrimmage in the final open public practice of the camp.
 
In the latter stages of the session, the Warriors put the offensive-defensive tug-of-war on display across a 50-play scrimmage. The offense quickly got on track, striking first on a 35-yard scoring pass from Cole McDonald to Komoku Noa. McDonald went on to add another, connecting with Kade Greeley on a fourth-down toss, while Cole Brownholtz chalked up a pair of touchdowns to Davine Tullis and Kalakaua Timoteo. Larry Tuileta took his first full contact reps under center and hit Drake Stallworth in the endzone in overtime. Meanwhile Freddie Holly III and Ryan Tuiasoa also crossed the goal via the ground game.
 
Entering the 2017 campaign, the offense is working with a head start over this time last year, when the Warriors were still gaining familiarity of the system under then-first-year head coach Nick Rolovich. The Warriors look expand the ground gained in last year's turn-around season, which saw UH improve scoring by 10.7 points per game (from 118th to 69th in the NCAA rankings) and total offense by 75 yards per game – a 41-position jump in the rankings.
 
"There's a lot of explosive players within this personnel," associate head coach and offensive coordinator Brian Smith said. "I think having the returning core back, in terms of quarterback, running back, some of our skill players and a couple offensive linemen, there's a lot of opportunities for explosive plays out of the offense this year.
 
"I want us to be a physical run team. I want us to have the ability to wear teams out at the end of games and be explosive passing down the field. I think we showed both of those last year and we continue to get better at them."
 
Last year, the Rainbow Warrior offense put up 5,478 total yards (391.3 ypg) and 50 touchdowns, gaining 13 scores over the 2015 squad. At the heart of the difference was the introduction of quarterback Dru Brown, who made his first start in game five against Nevada. Brown went on to complete 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,488 yards and 19 TDs – he returns as the Warriors' signal caller in the 2017 campaign. Brown led the Warriors out of 2016 with momentum, as UH became eligible for and won the Hawai'i Bowl, but also averaged 50 points across the final two contests.
 
"Any time you have a returning quarterback that's had success within your system, I think it's a big boost of confidence," Smith said. "There's someone in the huddle that everyone has confidence in, that they've been in those situations before, they've excelled under fire before. It improves the trust process and I think it allows the offense to play with a lot more confidence in each other."
 
UH also retains the services of senior running back Diocemy Saint Juste, who presented a major challenge for many opponents with his quickness, collecting 1,006 yards and three scores on 165 carries – a 6.1 ypc average. Saint Juste cracked the century mark in four games and had 10 rushes in excess of 20 yards.
 
"They know that he can be the spark within the offense, that on any given play he can make a really tremendous big play for the team," Smith said. "I think that the offensive line has a lot of fun blocking for a player like that. I know that when I was a player, I did."
 
The Warriors will seek to replace another stretch running back in Paul Harris and short-yardage back Steven Lakalaka. The pair combined for 984 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns – the bulk of the UH ground scoring bent to Lakalaka with 13 scores. However, Brown contributed heavily to the rushing attach, with 482 yards and four scores. Tuiasoa and highly-rated redshirt Holly III are expected to quickly contribute, alongside a ready stable of transfer Elijah Dale, redshirt Genta Ito and freshmen Hekili Keliiliki and Miles Reed.
 
On the aerial front, the Warriors will look to replace two-year starter Marcus Kemp, who became the first UH receiver to hit the millennium mark in five years, hauling in 73 passes for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. Highlighted by slot receivers John Ursua (652 yards, 3 TD) and Dylan Collie (322 yards, 4 TD), UH returns 1,812 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, split among eight receivers and tight ends.
 
Their presence heavily felt but rarely showing explicitly in the stats, the Rainbow Warriors also will be replacing right tackle RJ Hollis and guard/center Leo Koloamatangi. However, upperclass leadership from preseason all-Mountain West left tackle Dejon Allen and guard John Wa'a will help cushion the blow, along with the return of Rimington Award watch-lister Asotui Eli at center, and the addition of UCLA transfer Fred Ulu-Perry.  Some young players could also see action in the trenches this season.
 
"Our offensive line is extremely important, and how they develop and the leadership in that group – losing a couple seniors – is big," Smith said. "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. "
 
Despite many improvements last season, the Rainbow Warriors still have room to grow offensively with an additional year of familiarity in the system and Smith has placed emphasis on improving situational awareness.
 
"We weren't nearly as good on third downs as we need to be," Smith noted. "I thought we performed pretty well in the redzone, so we want to continue to excel in that area and get better. I think just having a better understanding of what we're doing offensively and better familiarity with our coaching staff, we can continue to grow the situational awareness of our offense."
 
UH boosted third down conversion by five percent, but saw huge swings in other areas. Fourth down conversion bumped up from .318 to .600, and the Warriors were dangerous in the redzone, clocking a score an NCAA 19th-best 89.8 percent of the time, rising 12.4 percent and 86 spots in the rankings.
 
The passing offense gained an additional 35.1 ypg and the running attack moved up 39.9 ypg to create a more aggressive and balanced attack. Not to mention, UH sliced its sacks allowed to 1.71 per game, climbing to 41st nationally. The most obvious boost in the 2016 season was improved ball control to swing the time of possession 6:03 in UH's favor, moving from last nationally to No. 70, despite facing three run-heavy opponents.
 
Mini-Packs on Sale Until Sunday Night
Hawai'i Athletics is offering a three-game football mini-pack with the hopes to "Pack The House" for the team's season-opener. Mini-packs are on sale now and will run for a limited time through Sunday, Aug. 6 at 11:59 p.m., and are available for purchase online only.
 
The football mini-pack starts at $60, which includes the home-opener against Western Carolina (Sept. 2) and a choice of two of the remaining five home games. Mini-packs are available in select sections at Aloha Stadium. Limited accessible seating is also available. For this limited time offer, the department is waiving online fees.
 
All Remaining Practices Closed
The Rainbow Warriors will take Sunday off again and be back in action on Monday morning at Cooke Practice Field. All further practices for the Rainbow Warriors are closed to the general public.