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 | Safeties | Special Teams: Kickers, Returners and Snappers |

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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior footbal teaml went back to helmets and pads—shells—in Thursday's eighth practice of fall camp at Cooke Practice Field, running through several team periods, including an 11-on-11 section, plus the two-minute drill and redzone.

After reviewing special teams yesterday, today we take a look at the most anticipated position battle of the fall—but also the most settled—in who will be running the revamped offense at quarterback for the Rainbow Warriors on Sept. 3 against Colorado.

That question was answered as spring practices closed out, with head coach Norm Chow not only naming fifth-year Southern California transfer Max Wittek as the starting quarterback, but also a team captain.

"Their confidence in letting me be the guy has allowed me to develop my game and has helped me a lot," Wittek said. "Every day, I get more confident and the more we perform, the more confident I get. I think we're doing a great job as an offense right now."

Redshirting last season as required by NCAA transfer rules, Wittek (6-4, 240, Norwalk, Conn.) was an integrated part of the team building a bond with his teammates.

"He's a fifth-year senior, he understands how it works and how we've got to get guys together," first-year offensive coordinator Don Bailey said. "I think it's a big deal when you get voted captain when you've been here such a short time. We told him to dive right in and be a part of it, and he's done that."

During three seasons at USC, Wittek played in 14 career games, completing 52.6 percent of his passes for 600 yards in Lane Kiffen's pro-style offense that often placed the signal caller under center. Wittek earned significant stats in a pair of starts for the Trojans, replacing an injured Matt Barkley—including in the Sun Bowl—and putting 294 yards on 28-of-60 passing, with two scores.

"Day-to-day, going into every drill knowing that I'm the guy, I'm jumping in there and the level of communication that I'm getting when I come to the sideline, not only with the players, but from coach Bailey, has been a great help," Wittek said.

Those relationships that have helped Wittek to earn the confidence of his teammates in the captain vote and his coaches on the depth chart were only strengthened with the work the offense put in over the summer in voluntary workouts.

"He worked at it this summer, building continuity and chemistry with his teammates," Bailey said. "Everybody runs and lifts, everybody gets stronger, but creating the chemistry to work as one—that's the work he put in during the summer."

 

The cupboard is plenty full for the Rainbow Warriors at the position, with three quarterbacks getting their shots in during the competition for the backup role between junior Ikaika Woolsey, freshman Beau Reilly and freshman Aaron Zwahlen.

The starter in 11-of-12 games a year ago for UH, Woolsey (6-1, 215, Rodeo, Calif.) brings a significant amount of experience to the race, and has been holding down the largest portion of second-team reps. Last year, Woolsey passed for 2,538 yards with a 50.5 percent completion rate, registering 13 touchdowns, while running for another with 203 yards total rushing. As a freshman, Woolsey served as a backup with 143 yards. The past two years' experience has proven a maturing process for Woolsey.

"I've been able to handle being a quarterback better," Woolsey said. "Last year after being a starter, I learned a lot of life lessons and I've grown both on and off the field. It's definitely exciting being in this high-power offense and we'll definitely put a lot more points on the board this year."

A newcomer to camp is pressing Woolsey for reps, as Zwahlen (6-3, 200, Modesto, Calif.) arrived on Manoa during the summer after serving a two-year Mormon mission in Baltimore, Md. Picking up the offense quickly, Zwahlen was highly-touted under center coming out of high school, racking up 3,852 yards on 244-for-379 passing, with 49 scores as a senior. His efforts earned him a No. 155 ranking in the ESPN 300 and a spot in the Elite 11 competition, ranking as the 11th-best quarterback in the nation.

 

Rounding out the quartet competing for playing time is Reilly (6-6, 190, Valley Center, Calif.), who redshirted in 2014 after serving a two-year Mormon mission in São Paulo, Brazil. A notable leader in high school, Reilly racked up a 23-3 record as a starter, passing for 2,798 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior.

"We're coming along really well," Woolsey noted of the unit. "When coach Bailey came in and put in the new offense, it made it a lot easier and a lot more free. We've come a long way and we get better every day, and we've got to continue that progress and play consistent."

Bailey has targeted the offensive goal at 75 touchdowns this season, a sentiment backed by Wittek to several outlets at Mountain West Media Day. While the 'Bows notched only 30 scores last season, Bailey's approach to offense is a proven commodity. In 2014, at Idaho State as coordinator, Bailey's unit scored 64 times and led the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in passing with 348 yards per game, also finishing second in total offense and sixth in scoring offense (40.3 points per game). Any visitor to the eight open practices this fall can see that offensive efficiency is on the rise.

"I think we're a little underrated," Woolsey said. "Last year, I didn't play as consistent as I wanted to, but at the same time, we've got to have the underdog mentality and just keep moving forward, prove people wrong and stay hungry."

The Rainbow Warriors return to work for the ninth of the camp's practices, closing their doors to the public in a first trip to Aloha Stadium. The team will be back at Cooke Field for open practices, and their first two-a-day, on Saturday.