That sound of silence was the completion of the Manoa makeover.
After a winter of departures (five assistant coaches, starting quarterback Dru Brown) and arrivals (six assistant coaches, a full recruiting class), Nick Rolovich is looking ahead to Wednesday’s opening of his third spring training as Hawaii head football coach.
“Everyone is excited for spring,” Rolovich said. “It’s a new opportunity for the guys who were waiting for that chance. I think most of our team approached the offseason really well. … I’m excited to get started again, get moving offensively and see how the defense is going to mold itself.”
Following a relatively successful 7-7 debut in 2016, last year was a season on the blink for Rolovich. The hybrid offense struggled to find a rhythm. The offensive line committed 41 penalties for 326 yards. The defense allowed opponents to convert at 48.8 percent on third down while yielding 458.8 yards and 33.9 points per game. In December, defensive coordinator Legi Suiaunoa resigned to accept an assistant coaching job at Oregon State.
Rolovich hired Corey Batoon, a Saint Louis School graduate who was Florida Atlantic’s co-defensive coordinator last year, to implement a multi-look defense.
Middle linebacker Jahlani Tavai also decided to return to UH for his senior season.
“I think there’s a hunger, especially the senior class, especially Jahlani,” Rolovich said.
Rolovich will remain as the play-caller, a role he claimed in the final third of last season. He also has re-installed the run-and-shoot as UH’s base offense. The past two seasons, the Warriors operated a hybrid that had elements of the run-and-shoot and run-pass option.
They averaged 396.5 yards per game, which was close to the 399.6-yard average the triple option produced for nine years under Bob Wagner.
The run-and-shoot — under June Jones, Ron Lee and then Rolovich — averaged 457.3 yards and 34.0 points during its 13-year run through 2011.
“This will be a big teaching spring,” Rolovich said. “We’ll see who improves in the 15 practices.”
QUARTERBACKS
Even before Dru Brown decided to transfer to Oklahoma State for his senior season, Cole McDonald was preparing to compete for the starting job. McDonald’s best stats have come on designed sprints out of the run-pass option, but he also has shown an ability to throw accurately from the pocket and on the move. This offseason, McDonald split time organizing unsupervised workouts and learning from former UH quarterback Bryant Moniz. “His approach is at a high level now,” head coach Nick Rolovich said.
Jeremy Moussa graduated from high school in December and enrolled at UH in January. Rolovich has praised Moussa’s “arm talent.” Kyle Gallup, who transferred from Marshall two years ago, is back at quarterback after spending last season recovering from an injury and then practicing at tight end. Justin Uahinui, who was effective as a scout passer, will get significant work this spring. Larry Tuileta is the best passer … on the UH volleyball team. The Warriors are hopeful he will take some football reps this spring. Saint Louis quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who was raised in the run-and-shoot offense, joins in June.
RUNNING BACKS
The Warriors have expanded the backfield menu. There is power (Hekili Keliliki and converted H-backs Kaiwi Chung and Dayton Furuta), speed (Freddie Holly and Miles Reed) and versatility (Justice Augafa, who switched from rover). Rolovich said there will be “multiple guys with roles.” But with the elimination of a full-time tight end, the running back’s primary duty will be pass protection.
RECEIVERS
The re-establishment of a run-and-shoot might not be that much of an adjustment. Even with a tight end, the Warriors were often in four-wide sets. And several of last year’s routes were rooted in run-and-shoot concepts. The receivers have studied cut-ups of the run-and-shoot. Spring practices will emphasize synchronizing the routes. During the 2010 season, future NFL players Kealoha Pilares and Greg Salas took turns getting each other open by running decoy routes. “This is going to be about who, on every play, will be trusted to do the right thing and the unselfishness to open other people up,” Rolovich said.
Slotback John Ursua was one of the nation’s leading receivers before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He should be fully healed for training camp in July. Cedric Byrd, a junior-college transfer who enrolled in January, is a fast option (10.78 seconds over 100 meters) at one of the slots. Tristin Kamaka — who has drawn comparisons to former Warrior Miah Ostrowski — Kumoku Noa and Dakota Torres are other inside candidates this spring. Torres, who is making the transition from blocking tight end, has sure hands and a knack for getting open on stop-and-go patterns.
Last year’s starting wideouts Ammon Barker and Keelan Ewaliko have graduated, but Devan Stubblefield, Marcus Armstrong-Brown and Kalakaua Timoteo have ample playing experience. Eric Rooks, a freshman who enrolled in January; converted quarterback Karson Greeley, and Isaia Leeth, who redshirted last season, also will get wideout reps. Kade Greeley has medically retired.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The line will be thin this spring because of graduation (Dejon Allen, John Wa‘a and Chris Posa) and a medical retirement (Fred Ulu-Perry). Five junior-college transfers were signed to the 2018 class. Kamuela Borden, who served a two-year church mission, will compete this spring. Asotui Eli, J.R. Hensley and Emil Graves, who redshirted last year, will lead the line. Each can play multiple positions. Taaga Tuulima, a walk-on center who played in seven games, making one start, will vie for playing time. Tackle Micah Vanterpool has benefited from redshirting in 2017. Joey Nu‘uanu-Kuhi‘iki has moved from defensive tackle to the offensive line.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Warriors will try out combinations of three- and four-man fronts this spring in pursuit of suitable schemes for the personnel. Doug Russell, who redshirted last year while rehabbing an injury, and Eperone Moananu are prototypical nose tackles who can reset the line of scrimmage. Samiuela Akoteu, who was the most consistent d-lineman last year, Zeno Choi, newcomer Blessman Taala and Cole Carter will cross-train between nose and 3-technique. In some sub-packages, a lighter tackle will be used at the pivot.
There were five ends signed to this year’s recruiting class. Two of them — Jeffrey Keene and Derek Thomas — already are on campus. Thomas played only one season at Cerritos College, and will have three available UH seasons. As a Huntington (Calif.) High senior in 2016, Thomas accumulated 15 sacks. KK Padello, Kaimana Padello, Tevarua Eldridge and Pumba Williams will help set the edge. Max Hendrie, who has been impressive in workouts, is counted on for a breakout season. He was held out of practices in 2016 while his transcripts from Australia were scrutinized. He was one of the top coverage players on special teams last year.
LINEBACKERS
Middle linebacker Jahlani Tavai’s decision not to apply for the NFL Draft has solidified the defense’s deepest unit. In 12 games last season, Tavai amassed 124 tackles, including 11 in the backfield. In the final five games, he averaged 12.5 tackles. Tavai also had 89 stops in the tackle box and nine third-down tackles short of the line to gain. Malachi Mageo, who did not play last year while recovering from a knee injury, is fully healthy. Solomon Matauia was the most improved defender, leading the Warriors with three interceptions, including a pick-6, and finishing second with 85 tackles. A fifth of Jeremiah Pritchard’s tackles were for losses. Penei Pavihi was a tough inside-gap filler when Tavai shifted to the perimeter or in a four-linebacker set. Paul Scott was a heralded 2017 recruit who missed the season because of an injury.
SECONDARY
The Warriors return all of their top corners from a season ago, led by Rojesterman Farris II. Eugene Ford had a solid freshman season after joining as a grayshirt in January 2017. Ford has emerged as an off-field leader who regularly volunteers for community service. Zach Wilson was in the rotation until he suffered an injury that has since healed. Mykal Tolliver and Akil Francisco, who redshirted last year, will be part of an expanded rotation. Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, Cameron Hayes and Donovan Dalton are corners who could be used in nickel formations.
The Warriors have restocked the safety positions. Trayvon Henderson graduated and Daniel Lewis has not trained with the team this offseason after receiving his scholarship release in January. Ikem Okeke has moved from linebacker to safety. Dany Mulanga, who started his UH career at safety, also has returned after two seasons at linebacker. Kalen Hicks, who played in 12 games, starting three at rover; Jay Dominique, Tumua Tuinei, Ben Scruton and Damario McLean, who redshirted as a freshman in 2017, will get reps at safety.
SPECIALISTS
It was an adjustment year for the Warriors, who had new starters at kicker (Alex Trifonovitch and Ryan Meskell) and punter/holder (Stan Gaudion). Australia-raised Gaudion was effective on roll outs and traditional punts. But the Warriors connected on 44 percent of their field-goal attempts (four of nine) and did not attempt any in five of 12 games. Trifonovitch, who was recruited as a punter, and Meskell, an Australian who did not play organized football until joining UH last year, reportedly have improved their accuracy in offseason workouts. Michael Boyle, who redshirted last year, enters the mix this spring.
