Throughout the course of fall camp, HawaiiAthletics.com will provide an in-depth breakdown of the 2015 Rainbow Warrior football team, position-by-position, leading up to the first week of regular-practices in preparation for UH's season opener against against Colorado on Sept. 3.
Outside Receivers |  Inside Receivers and Tight Ends | Cornerbacks |

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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team scaled back on contact Tuesday at Cooke Practice Field, in preparation for Wednesday's full pads outing, but the defense took the opportunity to refine assignments and had a nose for the ball all day.

After reviewing the cornerbacks yesterday, today we take a look at the safeties, who also bear significant game experience, led by returning junior starter Trayvon Henderson (6-0, 200, Sacramento, Calif.), who started in 10-of-11 games a year ago

"He brings a lot of athleticism to the group," secondary coach Abe Elimimian said. "He's physical and can play multiple positions for us back there—as a drop-down safety and free safety."

In 2015, Henderson is the defense's top returning tackler, recording 54 tackles, including three for loss—also grabbing an interception and forcing a fumble. He has played 22 games for the Rainbow Warriors. His cohort last season at safety, senior Taz Stevenson, led the team in tackles. However, Henderson sees a poised supporting cast up to the task of filling the role.

"We've made great strides and our chemistry is much better, especially when we start to move people around and get into different personnel," Henderson said. "I'm feeling really confident, we've got really good talent and we've just got to get them in there and get more reps to get the feel of the game to understand the new concepts—keep working hard on technique, reading and reacting and watch film."

 

Penciled into the opposite safety position coming out of the spring is senior Marrell Jackson (6-0, 200, Miramar, Fla.), who has played 31 games for the Green and White, racking up 100 career tackles. During his rookie season in 2012, Jackson shared the team lead in tackles.

"It's his senior year," Henderson said. "He's pretty hard on himself and I know he's going to come out and do good."

Having that extensive experience is a blessing for the secondary and coach Elimimian, who is quick to give praise for Jackson's adaptation to the adjusted schemes under new defensive coordinator Tom Mason.

"He's a guy that's another coach on the field," Elimimian. "He's very cerebral, has tremendous instincts and is going to be where he needs to be on almost every play."

Despite the thorough amount of in-game experience of both slated starters, Elimimian previously noted that the heavy camp competition will determine who takes the field at Aloha Stadium on Sept. 3 against Colorado and there's plenty of talent to go around.

 

"When you see guys that probably didn't play that much last year doing well in practice, everybody understands that they can start and could be one play away from seeing the field," Elimimian said. "That's what you're seeing in practice—these guys are ready to go."

Sophomore Daniel Lewis, Jr. (5-11, 180, New Iberia, La.) appeared in 11 games last season and made a pair of starts, but is seeing plenty of action in fall camp. A year ago, he tallied 21 tackles and two interceptions for the 'Bows.

"He has made more strides than any defensive back that I've had from spring to training camp, and he is doing a phenomenal job," Elimimian noted.

Another young defensive back, redshirt freshman Dany Mulanga (6-3, 200, Bedford, Texas) is also pushing for playing time. Earning a spot as Class 5-A all-state honorable mention in Texas, he made 75 tackles and four interceptions as a senior at Trinity High School, and redshirted last season at UH.

 

"Dany is a young guy, but he's really bought in to what we're trying to do," Elimimian said. "He's focusing on his task and assignments, and he is biting at the bit to go in and prove that he can be that safety for us."

After moving over from cornerback in the spring, senior Gaetano DeMattei (5-8, 175, Rio Vista, Calif.) has made a comfortable transition to safety and also continues to work into packages as a nickelback, appearing in all 13 games last season with 26 tackles.

In addition, depth chart players have been pushed for reps by junior Damien Packer (5-11, 210, Kea'au, Hawai'i) and freshman Austin Borengasser (6-2, 185, Honolulu, O'ahu). Packer spent much of the last campaign as a wide receiver, but shifted back to defense this spring. Also seeing the field is senior Joshua Donovan (6-0, 210, Honolulu, O'ahu), who mixes in at corner as well.

"As a safety, you've got multiple jobs within that scheme that you have to make sure you're on top of," Elimimian explained. "Your responsibilities change, moreso based on the routes you see, and you have to think while you're moving."

From what he's observed through six days of fall camp, Elimimian can spot the unit's potential and the talent has bred competition that will put the best players on the field to open the 2015 campaign.

"They're competing day-in and day-out, and as a coach, you love to see that because you're seeing guys do things at their highest level," Elimimian concluded.

The Rainbow Warriors return to action on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m., taking on the first day in full pads at Cooke Practice Field in the eighth practice of fall camp. Hawai'i kicks takes on Colorado in the season opener at 7:00 p.m. on September 3 on Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.