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. 
 
Running the ball will continue to be an emphasis for the UH offense in 2021. Luckily, the Rainbow Warriors have a stable of versatile and talented running backs to fulfill that mission.  
 
"We put a lot on them," running backs coach Abe Elimimian says. "The biggest things we want from them is to be physical, dominate the line of scrimmage, get explosive plays and be playmakers."
 
Chief among those playmakers is Calvin Turner Jr. Turner will once again line up all over the field, including in the backfield.  Last year Turner recorded 60 carries for 331 yards and four touchdowns, while averaging a team-best 5.5 yards per carry. The Georgia native is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top running back.
 
Elimimian notes that it's Turner's football IQ that helps make him such a versatile and electric performer. "He understands the game of football," Elimimian says. "He's a guy who understands what the other 10 guys on offense are doing and he can pinpoint the weak spots on defense. He can see the whole chess board."

 
Returnees
 

Running Backs	Ht	Wt	Cl	2020 Rushing Stats
Calvin Turner Jr.	6-1	195	Sr.	483 yds, 60 att, 4TDs
Dior Scott*	5-9	175	Jr.	WR & PR last year
James Phillips*	5-9	155	So.	WR last year
Dae Dae Hunter	5-10	200	Fr.	183 yds, 46 att, 2 TDs
Kilohana Haasenritter	6-0	190	Fr.	Did not play

                              




2020 RBs lost: Miles Reed
*position change

Newcomers
 

Running Backs	Ht	Wt	Cl	Hometown (Last School)
Dedrick Parson	5-8	205	Jr.	Philadelphia, Pa. (Howard University)
Ronson Young	5-10	195	Jr.	Makakilo, O'ahu (Pima CC)
Nasjzaé Bryant	5-10	210	So.	Orlando, Fla. (Catawba College)
David Cordero	5-10	180	Fr.	Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic HS)
Jordan Johnson	5-11	175	Fr.	Dallas, Texas (Allen HS)

All Dae (Dae): The future is bright for Dae Dae Hunter who came in last season as a heralded high school recruit out of Chandler High School in Arizona. Hunter played in all nine games last year, rushing for 183 yards and two touchdowns while deferring to veterans Turner and Miles Reed. With the departure of Reed, Hunter should certainly play a more prominent role this season.  
 
"He's a back who has all the physical tools," Elimimian says. "He's explosive and can go the distance anytime you get him the ball. It's now all about mental maturity and learning to focus better. He's definitely taken a step up and is starting to be a professional."
 
Making Moves:  Former wide receivers James Phillips and Dior Scott have moved to the backfield. Possessing top-end speed, Phillips has seen limited time in his first few seasons at UH, but could enjoy a breakthrough season in returning to a position he shined in at high school.  Scott, who primarily saw action as a return specialist last year, is noted for his physical agility and mental toughness. "Both these guys are competing at a fine level," Elimimian says.

Watch Out For...: FCS transfer Dedrick Parson was a multi-faceted player at Howard University, earning all-conference honors as a running back while also returning kicks.  "A grown man," Elimimian says of Parsons. "He handles his business. He's explosive, strong and powerful. He's played a lot of football and brings game experience so nothing is going to surprise him."
 
The Future: Texas native Jordan Johnson comes to Mānoa touted as the No. 21 all-purpose back in the nation by 247Sports. "He's got speed and he can run," Elimimian says. "And he comes from Allen High School so he's played a lot of big-time football. He's a guy who is pushing and competing."
 
Elimimian is also excited about the potential of local product Kilohana Haasenritter, as well as Nasjzaé Bryant, a transfer from Catawba College in North Carolina.    
 
Coaches Note: After a career of coaching on the defensive side of the ball, Elimimian moves to running backs coach this year. Says the former Rainbow Warrior cornerback: "It's been informative for me, different but unique. I've learned more about football than I've pretty much ever learned."
 
Elimimian's Last Say: "I love our depth. We have backs who can run north and south. We have backs who are shifty and quick in space and who make guys miss. We have a lot of guys who can really create plays once they get the ball."