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.
Part #1 Linebackers |
Part #2 Secondary | Part #3 Defensive Line | Part #4 Special Teams
Part #5 Receivers | Part #6 Offensive Line | Part #7 Running Backs | Part #8 Quarterbacks
Part #3 Defensive Line
Starters Returning:
Samiuela Akoteu
Starters Lost:
Meffy Koloamatangi,
David Manoa,
Viane Moala
Lettermen Returning:
Tevarua Eldridge,
Manly Williams,
Eperone Moananu,
Zeno Choi,
Kaimana Padello,
Maxwell Hendrie
Others Returning:
Makai Manuwai,
KK Padello
Redshirts:
Doug Russell,
Azia Se'ei,
Fanupo Peapealalo
Newcomers:
Kendall Hune,
Jonah Kahahawai-Welch,
Jeffery Keene,
Jonah Laulu,
Mason Mataafa,
Zach Ritner,
Blessman Ta'ala,
Justus Tavai,
Derek Thomas,
Foi Shaw
University of Hawai'i defensive line coach
Ricky Logo will have his hands full replacing three starters from a season ago, who accounted for 31 starts and 102 tackles including 19 for loss and seven sacks. But Logo will have plenty of options, including six returning letterman and total of 12 newcomers jockeying for playing time.
Redshirt junior
Samiuela Akoteu is the lone returning starter and will be looked upon to provide leadership. Last season the Inglewood, Calif., native slotted seven starts as an interior lineman, while recording 26 tackles, including 12 solo, one tackle-for-loss and one QB hurry.
Returnee
Zeno Choi played in all 12 games last season with one start and is primed for a breakout senior season. The Honolulu native finished fifth among defensive lineman with 19 tackles, while also recording 2.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks and one interception and was named to the academic all-Mountain West team for the second straight year. Choi, along with wide receiver
John Ursua, represented the Rainbow Warriors at last week's MW Media Summit.
Junior end
Kaimana Padello and junior tackle
Eperone Moananu will compete for starting positions as both played in all 12 games last season, combining for 13 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Senior
Tevarua Eldridge and sophomore
Maxwell Hendrie each appeared in nine games last season while combining for 27 tackles, 1.5 for loss and one sack.
Defensive line position was a point of emphasis for the Warriors during the Signing Day which included three-star recruit
Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama and
Blessman Ta'ala of Faga'itua High School. Kahahawai-Welch was considered the top weakside defensive player in the state by 247Sports while Ta'ala was the No. 2 prospect in American Samoa.
Among the other signees include several junior college transfers –
Derek Thomas (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who tallied 48 tackles and six sacks in one season at Cerritos College;
Jeffery Keene (Temple Hills, Md.), who posted a league-leading 9.5 sacks last season at Fort Scott Community College in 2017;
Kendall Hune (Carmel, Ind.), who began his collegiate career at Toledo before ending up at Eastern Arizona College; and
Mason Mataafa (Costa Mesa, Calif.), who played one season at Orange Coast College.
In addition, El Camino College transfer
Justus Tavai followed his brother Jahlani's footsteps to Manoa after recording 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles and one forced fumble in 11 games last season.
