LAS VEGAS – The Hawai'i football team was picked ninth in the Mountain West Preseason Poll in a vote by a panel of media members ahead of the start of the conference's media days Wednesday.
 
The Warriors head into year three under head coach Timmy Chang after winning three of the final four games of 2023, finishing the season at 5-8 (3-5 MW).
 
Hawai'i returns a total of 15 starters (9 offense, 6 defense), five of which earned All-Mountain West recognition a year ago. Two of those players, Brayden Schager and Peter Manuma, will represent the Rainbow Warriors at this week's Mountain West Media Days.
 
Schager led the Mountain West in passing yards (3,542), passing TDs (26) and points responsible for (168) and currently ranks fifth all-time at UH in career passing yards (6,545). Manuma has made 21 consecutive starts at safety since entering the lineup in the first half of his freshman year in 2022 and led the team with 87 tackles while coming away with three interceptions last year.
 
The Warriors also return a pair of all-conference receivers in second-team all-league honoree Steven McBride and Freshman All-American Pofele Ashlock. McBride led the team in receiving yards last year with 1,024 while Ashlock led the team and all FBS freshmen with 83 receptions.
 
UH opens Fall Camp on Wednesday, July 24, and will open the 2024 season against Delaware State on Aug. 24 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.