Throughout the course of fall camp, HawaiiAthletics.com will provide a breakdown of the 2021 Rainbow Warrior football team, position-by-position, as the team prepares for its season opener at UCLA on Saturday, Aug. 28. 
 
When looking at the top of the depth chart, no position group may be as solid defensively as the linebackers. With the trio of Penei Pavihi, Darius Muasau, and Isaiah Tufaga, position coach Jacob Yoro boasts a group that is battle-tested and won't be intimidated by any situation.
 
"I think it's a talented group and the standard we have in the linebacker room is high," Yoro said. "We have a saying that we're held to a higher standard and we love it. They've really taken that on both on and off the field; the way we practice, the mental approach to the game. Because they've bought in, you're starting to see the fruits of that labor." 
 
The linebackers – evidenced by Muasau's monster 2020 campaign – should again be front and center in head coach Todd Graham's War Dog defense.
 
"We operate an attacking style defense so it's about being playmakers," Yoro said. "It's about being explosive blitzers, it about them flying around to the ball. It's a scheme that is set up for linebackers to have success."


Returnees
 

Linebackers	Ht	Wt	Cl	2020 Stats
Payton Awaya	6-0	215	Sr.	Scout Team
Noa Kamana*	6-0	190	Jr.	9 GP, 3 tkls
Penei Pavihi	6-3	245	Jr.	16 tkls, 4.0 TFLs, 1.5 sk
Logan Taylor*	6-1	200	Jr.	8 GP, 5 tkls,
Jonah Kahahawai-Welch*	6-2	230	So.	Sidelined
Darius Muasau	6-1	230	So.	104 tksl, 9.5 TFLs, 4.5 sks
Isaiah Tufaga	6-1	225	So.	19 tkls, 2 FR, 1FF, 1 INT
Kalani Kamakawiwo'ole	6-0	220	R-Fr.	2 GP
Kila Kamakawiwo'ole	6-0	225	R-Fr.	Scout Team
Riley Wilson*	6-2	190	Fr.	20 tkls, 3.0 TFL, 1 INT

                              


 
 
 
 
 


 

2020 linebackers lost: Tauivi Ho-Ching, Jeremiah Pritchard, Paul Scott 
*position change

Newcomers
 

Defensive Line	Ht	Wt	Cl	Hometown (Last School)
George Hooker	6-0	220	Jr.	Nashville, Tenn. (Father Ryan HS)
Josh Bertholotte	6-1	215	Fr.	New Orleans, La. (Landry-Walker HS)
Kamalu DeBlake	5-10	210	Fr.	Honolulu, O'ahu (Saint Louis School)
D.J. Utu	6-1	220	Fr.	Honolulu, O'ahu (Punahou School)

A Tackling Machine: Darius Muasau was simply all over the field last season. The sophomore ranked fifth nationally in tackles per game (11.8) while also leading the team in in team in tackles-for-loss (9.5) sacks (4.5), and quarterback hurries (7). He was one of just two UH players in the last nine seasons to hit the century mark in season tackles (104) and he amazingly did it during an abbreviated nine-game season.
 
The scary prospect for UH opponents is that he's just getting started. "We're expecting an even bigger year from him," Yoro said. "He had a great off season. He put on really good lean body weight. He's explosive, he's faster, he has a better understanding of what we're doing defensively. As long as he continues to do the things that have gotten him to this point so far, the sky's the limit on what he can do."
 
Turning Heads: After two seasons Muasau is no longer under the radar. He was named to the preseason All-Mountain West first team and to the watch lists for both the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards which are presented to the nation's top defensive player.
 
Back at Home: After being shelved for the entire 2019 campaign due to injury, Penei Pavihi came back slowly in 2020. In an effort to get his considerable skills on the field he started the year at defensive end, before moving back to his more natural linebacker position later in the year. Expect a fully healthy Pavihi in 2021 and with it the productivity of he enjoyed prior ot injury.
 
"Penei is 100 percent," Yoro said. "He's the best I've ever seen him in regards to the way his body looks and the way he's moving. Penei is such a presence for us. He's a big body, has got some explosive power and has a really good football IQ. He's back home at the position he loves to play and he's ready to have a big season." 

Bustin' Out: Isaiah Tufaga made up of for lost time in 2020. After sitting out 2019 due to NCAA transfer rules, the Oregon State transfer, played in all nine games last year, while starting twice. He fit right in to UH's aggressive defense, registering an interception, a forced fumble and recovering two fumbles. This year, the former Saint Louis School standout has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of UH's off-season training.
 
"He is so much more explosive, physical and stronger than he was last year," Yoro said. "He's always had a high football IQ, but now he's starting to have that explosive playmaking ability and it's giving him a lot of confidence." 

Next In Line: Yoro is excited about the future of two young players. Riley Wilson played as a reserve wide receiver and on special teams as a freshman last year. He now moves to linebacker, a position he also played in high school." Yoro says: "He's probably the fastest linebacker of the group. All we need to do is get him accustomed to the scheme."
 
New Orleans native Josh Bertholotte is a true freshman who has the potential to be great. "Just absolute raw talent right now," Yoro notes. "He's gonna be a guy we're gonna see grow up right in front of our eyes."   
 
Buy Local: A number of Hawai'i products also make up the linebacker room. Noa Kamana will devote much of his energy to special teams, but is also a trusted linebacker who can be plugged in when needed. Kila Kamakawiwo'ole is a player to look out for according to Yoro, while a pair of freshman walk-ons – Kamalu DeBlake and D.J. Utu – add depth to the position.

From The Mat To The Field: Prior to transferring to Hawai'i to pursue his dream of playing college football, George Hooker spent three years as a wrestler at the U.S. Olympic Training Center at Northern Michigan University. Just last year, he captured the U23 National Championship in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Yoro's Last Say: "These guys are blue-collar workman like. They aren't worried about attention. They're worried about working. Obviously they're athletically talented, but they come to work every single day."