Throughout the course of fall camp, HawaiiAthletics.com will provide a breakdown of the 2022 Rainbow Warrior football team, position-by-position, as the team prepares for its season opener versus Vanderbilt on Saturday, Aug. 27. 
 
A new regime has brought renewed enthusiasm about the UH offense. Head coach Timmy Chang's record-breaking UH playing career and offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker's prolific attack at his previous stop at Eastern Washington harkens visions of an all-out aerial assault.   

Don't sleep on the UH ground game though. The Rainbow Warrior running backs should continue to play a big role in the team's scoring success. For running back's coach Keiki Misipeka the mantra of the group has been simple: "Physical, forward, finish."

 "They gotta be Swiss Army knives," he adds. "It's not just running the ball. They're out running their routes and catching balls in the passing game. Blocking has also been a big emphasis  throughout camp."

The stable of running backs is headlined by veteran Dedrick Parson who was second on the team last year in all-purpose yards (912). The Philadelphia native and Howard transfer returns for his second year as a Rainbow Warrior and fifth season overall in college ball. 

"Right now he's the leader of the pack," Misipeka said.  "The aspirations are of always wanting to get better not just on the field, but also off. It's how you approach your group in the meeting rooms, how vocal you are, and being accountable and holding your guys accountable. So far he's embraced that role."

 
Returnees
 

Running Backs	Ht	Wt	Cl	2021 Rushing Stats
Dedrick Parson	5-8	205	Sr.	618 YDs, 118 Att, 8 TDs
Ronson Young	5-10	200	Sr.	7 GP
Nasjzaé Bryant-Lelei	5-10	210	Jr.	1 GP
David Cordero	5-10	190	So.	Scout Team
Jordan Johnson	5-10	175	R-Fr.	4 GP

                              




2021 RBs lost: Dae Dae Hunter, Hekili Keliiliki

Newcomers
 

Running Backs	Ht	Wt	Cl	Hometown (Last School)
Brock Hedani	5-9	165	So.	Honolulu, O'ahu ('Iolani)
Tylan Hines	5-7	170	Fr.	Mt. Pleasant, Texas (Plano Senior HS)
Derek Boyd II	6-1	210	Fr.	Lawndale, Calif. (Lawndale HS)
Keith Moton III	5-9	180	Fr.	Beaverton, Ore. (Westview HS)

Part and Parson: With the departure of Dae Dae Hunter, Dedrick Parson will be carrying the load this year. Last year the duo split duties, with Parson rushing for 618 yards on a team-high 118 carries. By season's end he also co-led the team with eight rushing touchdowns, while averaging 5.2 yards per carry.  "I'm excited for him," Misipeka said. "If he does everything he's supposed to do and he stays healthy we're expecting some big things out of him."
 
Heir Jordan: Texas native Jordan Johnson was touted as the No. 21 all-purpose back in the nation by 247Sports when he arrived in Manoa last year. He ended up redshirting in 2021 after appearing in four games, almost exclusively on special teams. This year, he's making a push for more playing time in the backfield. "Jordan has definitely shown us flashes out there," Misipeka said. "If we can keep him consistent in his play, I think that he will have an impact on what we are trying to do offensively." 

Mr. Mojo Rising:  Naszjae "Mojo" Bryant-Lelei changed his last name in the off-season to recognize his Polynesian family connections. The Florida native is built for bruising and could have a workhorse role ahead of him.  Misipeka said: "I tell him you gotta  maximize your body work, your frame, and your understanding what you are able to do within your framework."   

Watch Out For...: Freshman Tylan Hines, an all-district back from Texas, joined the team in January but was limited in spring. In fall camp he has turned heads with his explosive burst and maneuverability in traffic and could be a contributor right off the bat for UH. "He brings a different type of juice," Misipeka said.  He's just twitchy. I tell him, hey listen you gotta be Tyreek Hill, you gotta be exciting, you gotta be an x-factor. You gotta do all those things in terms of your style of play."

The Young Bucks: A couple of young prospects have bright futures at UH… Keith Moton III was a  track champion in Ohio before finishing his high school career in Oregon…Southern California native Derek Boyd II is a physical specimen who has people scratching their heads that he's just a true freshman "He's the type of kid to not turn down from a dog fight," Misipeka saiad. "There are times when I gotta put him on a leash, but once we take it off, I'm excited to see what he brings to the table."

Coach's Note: Misipeka has traveled the world as a professional rugby player and an NFL international scout and been across the country coaching on  the high school, junior college, NCAA II and FCS levels. Now he returns to a place he once played (2001) alongside current Head Coach Timmy Chang as well as fellow assistant coaches Chris Brown and Abe Elimimian. "It means a lot to be back," he said. "This is where my journey started. I'm grateful to be around Timmy, CB, Abe, and some of my other former teammates. It's a blessing to be here, to give back, to share my knowledge, and just to impact people and the island. I'm definitely excited about Hawai'i football and what's to come."