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Offensive Line 2021

Football

2021 Position Breakdown: Offensive Line

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 home season opener at UCLA on Saturday, Aug. 28. 
 

Displaying a blend of talent, experience and depth, expectations were sky-high for the offensive line entering 2020. The unit admittedly struggled early on in the COVID-shortened season before ultimately turning it on late in the year.

Entering 2021, the unit is once again a top strength of this year's Rainbow Warrior squad.  And with an uninterrupted off-season of training and full slate of spring and fall practices, first-year offensive line coach A'Lique Terry is confident that the unit will return to top form and shoulder the weight of lofty expectations.
 
"This is a very detailed-oriented group," Terry said. "The short amount of time last year before the season didn't put them in the best situation. But now they're getting the reps they need. These guys all know what to do. That's a credit to how great they're retaining information, learning, and then applying it out on the field."
 
Beside technique, Terry says the unit will rely on four pillars – communication, trust, discipline, and finish. One thing that's already a given from the group: effort.
 
"These guys have a tremendous amount of energy, a tremendous amount of passion, and come to work every single day," Terry said. "We try to have a 'Day One' mentality every single day. As long as we come with great energy and juice, the rest will handle itself."

Returnees
 
Offensive Line  Ht   Wt  Cl   2020 Stats
 Kohl Levao  6-6  350  Sr.  1 start; sidelined w/ injury
 Gene Pryor  6-3  310  Sr.  8 starts
 Stephan Bernal-Wendt  6-2  310  Jr.  Sat out last season
 Ra Elkington  6-5  355  Jr.  Scout team
 Ilm Manning  6-4  280  Jr.  5 starts
 Solo Vaipulu  6-2  300  Jr.  9 starts
 Micah Vanterpool  6-6  300  Jr.  5 starts
 Eliki Tanuvasa  6-2  320  So.  9 GP
 Arasi Mose  6-5  360  R-Fr.  1 GP
 Kauka Umiamaka  6-4  300  R-Fr.  Scout team
 Sergio Muasau  6-0  340  Fr.  8 GP
 Micah Soliai Howlett  6-3  310  Fr.  6 GP
 Maurice Ta'ala*  6-1  305  Fr.  Scout team



                              


 
 
 
 
 
 
 




 2020 OLs lost: Michael Eletise, Caden Hilborn, Ernest Moore, Joey Nu'uanu-Kuhi'iki, Alesana Sunia, Taaga Tuulima, Bubba Wa'a
*position change

Newcomers
Offensive Line  Ht   Wt  Cl  Hometown (Last School)
Austin Hopp  6-6  315  Jr.  Minnetonka, Minn. (Western Illionois)
Nate Adams  6-7  325  Fr.  Flower Mound, Texas (Flower Mound HS)
Ka'ena Decambra  6-4  305  Fr.  Wai'anae, O'ahu (Saint Louis School)






Front and Center: Despite a veteran crew, the Rainbow Warriors have to replace one important cog with the departure of three-year starting center Taaga Tuulima. The good news is the Warriors have a pair of veteran players competing for the spot. First in line is Kohl Levao who already has experience at center, having started the final three contests of 2018 at the position. Third-year Warrior Eliki Tanuvasa, a one-time freshman All-American at FCS Eastern Illinois, is also in the mix.  Terry notes: "The beauty is that we have two older guys who are immediately competing for that center spot. Kohl is playing at a high level right now and playing very physical. Eliki does a tremendous job as a leader, a tremendous job with getting guys in the right position, and a tremendous job of communicating."
 
The Bookends: Ilm Manning and Gene Pryor are back at the all-important tackle positions. Manning has started 34 of 36 career games and earned all-Mountain West second-team honors as a sophomore in 2019. Pryor meanwhile has been a stalwart at right tackle, starting all but two games the last two seasons. "They're playing much more confidently and they're playing much more physically," Terry says. "And they're doing it on a consistent basis. I think that's one of the things people don't tend to pay attention to -- consistency. Consistency is huge and those two definitely fit the bill."
 
Guard Duty: Solo Vaipulu enters his fourth year with the program with the second-most career starts (32) of any Warrior. He's been a mainstay at guard since entering the program in 2018. "Honestly I think Solo is one of the better players in the whole conference," Terry said.  "He's a little bit on the lighter side, but he brings all of it every single play. He plays with great technique, he plays with a great drive, and great finish, and I think more than anything he brings great passion. The passion he brings is contagious to the whole group."
 
Micah Vanterpool enjoyed a breakthrough 2020 season, starting five games at left tackle. Now the junior is getting a look at guard. "This has been a new opportunity for him and I think he's making the most of it," Terry said. "The beauty of Micah is he's one of those swing guys who can play interior, and when need be, we can put him out there as tackle as well."
 
Kohl and Composed: UH looks forward to a healthy Kohl Levao. Levao has missed virtually all of the last two seasons, playing in just five of 24 games during that span. When suited he's been a menace on the line and legitimate pro prospect with his size, power, and ability to play all three spots on the line. The 6-6, 340-pound senior has started games at center, guard and tackle for the Warriors. Terry said: "It's great to get him back on the field  With his presence alone, you can see it…he's a difference maker."
 
Others to Watch: FCS transfer Austin Hopp out of Western Illinois brings considerable size (6-6, 315) and talent (freshman All-American) to the outside...at 6-7, 325-lbs, tackle Nate Adams is among the most physically imposing players on the team as just a true freshman...Micah Soliai Howlett and Maurice Ta'ala could be factors in the interior….Ta'ala moves to offensive line this year after practicing on the defensive line last year as a true freshman.
 
Numbers To Know: The offensive line boasts 111 combined starts between five different players. Last year's squad had 121 combined starts among nine different players.
 
Coaches Note: Offensive line coach A'Lique Terry begins his first season on the UH staff…the former Wake Forest lineman previously worked on the staff of his alma mater and most recently at Oregon…he has coached more than a half dozen players who have gone on to the NFL, including 2019 Outland Trophy winner and 2021 NFL first-round pick Penei Sewell of Oregon.
 
Terry's Last Word: "We are all humble beasts. We already know we don't get any stats, but we know our success is a direct reflection of our offense's success. We take pride in that and we tell our guys all the time that we want to stay cool, calm, and collected.  When things are going great, or things are going bad, we gotta be even keeled at all times."
 
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Players Mentioned

Joey Nu

#58 Joey Nu'uanu-Kuhi'iki

OL
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Michael Eletise

#76 Michael Eletise

OL
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
Caden Hilborn

#89 Caden Hilborn

OL
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Ernest Moore

#78 Ernest Moore

OL
6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Alesana Sunia

#77 Alesana Sunia

OL
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Taaga Tuulima

#63 Taaga Tuulima

OL
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Bubba Wa

#67 Bubba Wa'a

OL
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Ra Elkington

#68 Ra Elkington

OL
6' 5"
Senior
Kohl Levao

#72 Kohl Levao

OL
6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
Ilm Manning

#75 Ilm Manning

OL
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Joey Nu

#58 Joey Nu'uanu-Kuhi'iki

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
OL
Michael Eletise

#76 Michael Eletise

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
OL
Caden Hilborn

#89 Caden Hilborn

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
OL
Ernest Moore

#78 Ernest Moore

6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
OL
Alesana Sunia

#77 Alesana Sunia

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
OL
Taaga Tuulima

#63 Taaga Tuulima

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
OL
Bubba Wa

#67 Bubba Wa'a

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
OL
Ra Elkington

#68 Ra Elkington

6' 5"
Senior
OL
Kohl Levao

#72 Kohl Levao

6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
OL
Ilm Manning

#75 Ilm Manning

6' 4"
Senior
OL