HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i football team opens spring practice this Friday on the UH-Mānoa Lower Campus. The Rainbow Warriors will hold two practices this week (Friday/Saturday) and three for the next three weeks (Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday) until the final week of April. Spring practice concludes Saturday, April 27 with the annual spring game.
 
Head coach Nick Rolovich enters his fourth season and returns 21 starters from a team that qualified for the Hawai'i Bowl, the program's second bowl appearance in the last three years. Rolovich also returns his entire coaching staff including coordinators Brian Smith (offense), Corey Batoon (defense), and Michael Ghobrial (special teams).
 
The offense returns quarterback Cole McDonald, who finished among the nation's Top 10 in six categories and directed a passing attack that ranked ninth nationally. The La Mirada, Calif., native threw for 3,875 yards and 36 touchdowns and was an honorable mention all-Mountain West selection. His top back-up Chevan Cordeiro, who made one start and threw for 384 yards and six touchdowns on year, also returns.
 
In addition to McDonald, among the nine starters returning on offense are leading rusher Fred Holly III (468 yds., 4 TDs), receivers Cedric Byrd (970 yds., 9 TDs) and JoJo Ward (865 yds., 9 TDs), and entire offensive line – tackles Ilm Manning and Kohl Levao, guards J.R. Hensley and Solo Vaipulu, center Taaga Tuulima.
 
The defense also returns nine starters including the top three tacklers – linebacker Solomon Matautia (92 tackles, 4.5 TFL), safety Ikem Okeke (87 tackles), and linebacker Penei Pavihi (87 tackles, 6.5 TFL). The entire secondary returns, along with Okeke, Kalen Hicks (76 tackles), Rojesterman Farris II (12 PBU, 1 INT) and Eugene Ford (4 PBU, 1 INT).
 
Defensive lineman Kaimana Padello, a second-team all-Mountain West pick, also returns coming off a season in which he led the team and ranked among the league leaders in sacks (8.5) and tackles-for-loss (13.5).

Among the specialists, returning starters Ryan Meskell(placekicker) and Stan Gaudion(punter) return.
 
All practices are open to the public.
 
Spring Practice Schedule
Friday, March 29, 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 30, 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 2, 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, April 4, 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 6, 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 9, 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, April 11, 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 13, 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, April 18, 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 20, 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 23, 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, April 25, 7:00 a.m.
Friday, April 26, 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 27 (Spring Game), 4:00 p.m.