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 | Quarterbacks | Defensive Line | Offensive Line | Running Backs

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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team fought through torrential downpours in Halawa throughout the lone afternoon practice on Thursday, taking in the second trip to Aloha Stadium and the 16th practice of fall camp. Going full pads with live tackling, the day's session was highlighted with aggressiveness and physicality, and the two-week countdown to game day has begun.

Right in the thick of the physical team sessions were the inside linebackers, the focus for today's position breakdown. Coached by a veteran play caller, in defensive coordinator Tom Mason, the unit holds a significant level of on-field experience as well, but has benefitted from heavy competition from players of all class levels.

"I'm impressed with who we've got in there," Mason said. "There's about six guys that are vying for a considerable amount of playing time, so there's good competition and some solid linebackers, and I'm waiting for someone to separate themselves."

Regularly noted by Mason as some of the most talented linebackers he's worked with in his 37-year career, the 'Bows' middle guys exhibit highly-experienced senior leadership in Simon Poti (6-0, 235, Fullerton, Calif.), Benetton Fonua (6-0, 235, Kahuku, O'ahu), Julian Gener (5-11, 225, West Covina, Calif.) and classmate Jerrol Garcia-Williams (6-2, 235, Las Vegas, Nev.), who lists as a junior after an injury cut last season short.

 

Joining the 'Bows last season from Fullerton College, Poti anchored the linebacker corps in 2014 along with Tevita Lataimua, with 12 starts in 13 games, ranking second on the team with 63 stops, including three for loss and two sacks—garnering a forced fumble an interception and three hurries. Poti recognizes the importance of his role and experience in his final campaign at UH.

"This is a new year and I've got to help out and be a leader, especially with all the young guys," Poti said.

Returning from a knee injury during the second game of the 2014 season, Garcia-Williams' imposing size and speed will help to anchor the middle, and his skillset has earned a lot of looks in the fall. Closing in on beginning his third full season with the 'Bows, Garcia-Williams has collected 102 career tackles, with seven for loss, two sacks and three fumble recoveries.

"He's a big, NFL-caliber kid," Mason said. "Jerrol just keeps getting better and better."

Although he's playing inside for the first year in a full-time capacity, he's rotated through both spots during the past three seasons.

"It's different techniques, keys, reads and footwork, but I had played both before," Garcia-Williams noted.

Happy to help the unit where he's needed, the would-be senior sees even the positives that came from his setback.

"I've matured a lot, going through that injury," Garcia-Williams said. "I had to sit back and watch a lot of film, work out more and dedicate myself to rehab—just grow as a player."

 

Gener is also very much in play for lots of reps this fall, entering his third year on Manoa with 10 games of action under his belt. Last season, Gener tallied 46 tackles, including five for loss and a sack, starting four games.

"Julian really separated himself in the spring," Mason noted. "He's like a general out there."

Coming into year four of his UH playing career, Fonua holds the most game experience of any linebacker, appearing in 32 career games. Last season, he made three starts and finished with 42 tackles, and has shown the aggressive hustle Mason is seeking in the fall, including the practice-closing pick-six of Wednesday's practice.

"Overall, we're an older group position-wise, with three seniors in the middle," Poti said. "We're really mature and this could possibly be the strongest unit on the team. We all play together and feed off each other, and relate to each other really well."

However, the teamwork of the unit extends well beyond the extensive shared playing time.

"There's a lot of chemistry with all the linebackers, it's like a brotherhood," Garcia-Williams said. "We all help each other out, even the younger guys."

 

Some of those younger players are taking the teaching to heart, and are right there fighting for playing time. Highlighting the bunch is sophomore Russell Williams, Jr. (6-1, 230, Elk Grove, Calif.). A January enrollee from Sacramento City College, Williams drew notice in the spring, and hasn't slowed his accelerated learning in the fall. At SCC last season, he was named a first team All-American and racked up 77 stops, with 11 for loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles.

"Russell has as much talent as anyone, he's just young," Mason said. "He's just got to keep going and fighting. Once he gets everything all figured out, he's going to be a real force to be reckoned with."

Temua Tuinei (5-9, 210, Honolulu, O'ahu) and Tevarua Eldridge (6-2, 230, Wailuku, Maui) both are coming off redshirts—Tuinei earned the Defense Scout Team Award last season. Also in the mix for playing time is freshman converted safety Solomon Matautia (6-1, 220, 'Ewa Beach, O'ahu), a consensus first team all-state player who has taken quickly to his new role. Also in his rookie season, mid-year enrollee Dayton Furuta (5-11, 230, Mililani, O'ahu) is taking reps in the middle.

Depth is always a nice problem to have, but the experienced Mason knows talent isn't the challenge, but rather determining playing time—one reason he works his corps for maximum versatility.

"The first few ballgames, all of those guys are going to get in, the biggest thing I've got to do is monitor their reps," Mason said. "What I'm trying to do is make them all learn both positions inside and trying different combinations to get the best chemistry in there—everybody has got a different game to them."

Coming down the stretch, the Rainbow Warriors close out the final days of fall camp at the end of this week, with the second-to-last camp practice date slated for 12:50 p.m. on the UH campus on Friday.