With fall camp underway, HawaiiAthletics.com will breakdown the 2018 Rainbow Warrior football team, position-by-position. UH's season-opener against Mountain West rival Colorado State is less than a month away. Today's first feature is on the UH linebackers.
Part #1 Linebackers
Starters Returning: Solomon Matautia, Jahlani Tavai
Starter Lost: Russell Williams Jr.
Lettermen Returning: Jeremiah Pritchard, Penei Pavihi
Others Returning: Malachi Mageo, Rashaan Falemalu, Dalton Gouveia, Scheyenne Sanitoa
Redshirts: Paul Scott, Kana'i Picanco
Newcomers: Manase Time
The UH linebacking corp boasts a pair of the team's top players in senior Jahlani Tavai and junior Solomon Matautia, who combined for 209 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks last year.
Tavai, a two-time all-Mountain West player, enters his final season at UH on pace to become one of the most prolific tacklers in school history. The native of Inglewood, Calif., has terrorized opponents from his middle linebacker spot the last two seasons and has already been named to the 2018 preseason watch lists for the Dick Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Matautia, meanwhile, looks to follow up strong after a breakthrough sophomore campaign. The 'Ewa Beach product tallied 83 tackles and had a knack for big plays in 2017 with a team-leading three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and pair of defensive touchdowns coming off a fumble recovery and pick-six.
Junior Jeremiah Pritchard is another seasoned player who has two solid seasons under his belt. Pritchard looks to move up the depth chart after finishing third on the team in tackles-for-loss (6.5), while notching 31 total tackles and three sacks. Sophomore Penei Pavihi also looks to elevate his game after lining up as a reserve linebacker and playing on special teams in all 12 games as a true freshman last year.
Paul Scott was among the cream of the crop in UH's 2017 recruiting class. The graduate of McClymonds Senior High School in Oakland Calif., came to UH ranked as the 10th-best outside linebacker in the state of California. After redshirting last year, the Warriors hope to tap into his huge potential.
Manase Time, a hard-hitting junior college transfer from Golden West College in Huntington Beach, also joins the mix this year.
