Classmates, teachers and photographers had gathered at Coral Springs Charter High, and the only thing left to complete the picture was the signature of Rojesterman Farris II.
“I was ready to sign with Wagner,” Farris said of the FCS college on New York’s Staten Island. Farris was wearing a specially made Wagner Seahawks hat he bought at the mall the previous night. “I’m sitting there at the signing table, and I’m looking at my dad, and people are taking pictures. My dad’s on the phone. I’m looking at my dad like, ‘This is my day and you’re on the phone?’ ”
The elder Farris then hurried to the table, and said: “Don’t sign anything. Hawaii just offered you (a scholarship).”
Stunned and flattered, the younger Farris recalled thinking: “That just flipped the script. I have another option now.”
The Rainbow Warriors had learned of Farris through Terrence Wood, whose Before You Go Pro program helped football prospects prepare for college. The Warriors were impressed with the information on Farris that Wood distributed. In turn, Farris had strong feelings about the Warriors. Farris did the calculations, concluding UH would fulfill his dream of playing for an FBS program. He committed to the Warriors — without taking a recruiting trip to Hawaii.
Farris, a shut-down cornerback entering his senior year at UH, has learned that life can change in a flash. He was living in Baton Rouge when Hurricane Katrina slammed Louisiana, and in Florida when Hurricane Wilma hit the Atlantic Basin. On Valentine’s Day in 2018 — three years and 10 days after he signed with UH — Farris was alerted to the news that a gunman killed 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. Farris had attended that Parkland, Fla., school as a freshman and sophomore.
“That hit me hard,” said Farris, who was encouraged to return to Florida. “I got to spend time with my family, see some of my friends, and the people who were affected. That was cool. It helped with the healing process.”
At UH, Farris has proven to be resilient. During his redshirt season in 2015, the Warriors went 3-10, with Norm Chow being released as head coach with four games remaining. But Farris said he used that season to learn from cornerbacks Nick Nelson, Jalen Rogers and Ne’Quan Phillips. Farris and fellow freshmen J.R. Hensley and linebacker Solomon Matautia also pledged to turn the program.
“With Coach (Rolovich) coming here, that was another big thing,” Farris said. “Having him come in and change the culture, and just shift the team’s mentality to something that was bigger and better than before.”
Farris, now one of the leaders of the secondary, helped foster the change — and justify his UH choice.
No. Cornerback Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
4 Rojesterman Farris II 6-1 185 Sr. Coral Springs, Fla.
18 Cortez Davis 5-11 180 Jr. Decatur, Ga.
20 Zach Wilson 6-1 185 Jr. Upland Calif.
23 Akil Francisco 6-1 170 So. Alameda, Calif.
34 James Green III 5-11 175 Fr. Cathedral City, Calif.
No. Nickelback Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
8 Eugene Ford 6-2 200 Jr. Venice, Calif.
24 Kai Kaneshiro 6-2 180 Fr. Honolulu
25 Travon Killins 6-0 175 Fr. Daytona Beach, Fla.
No. Safety Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Sr. Las Vegas
3 Kalen Hicks 6-3 215 Sr. Las Vegas
5 Khoury Bethley 5-10 200 So. Chino, Calif.
11 Justice Augafa 5-11 210 Sr. Anchorage, Alaska
29 Donovan Dalton 6-4 200 So. Apple Valley, Minn.
31 Tiger Peterson 6-1 195 Fr. Waianae
Quote:
“We’re nickel based, five DBs all the time. Whether we’re playing a three or four front, it’s totally by call. It’ll be five DBs on the field most of the time” — Corey Batoon, defensive coordinator
SCOUTING REPORT
The one certainty — maybe — is there will be at least five defensive backs. But the alignments and personnel are fluid. Last season, the corners were divided into boundary and field coverages. Now they can be in left and right alignments. Rojestrman Farris II is the best cover defender, but Cortez Davis might be the quickest. Ikem Okeke and Kalen Hicks are former linebackers who can roam or sneak into the box. Khoury Bethley is a solid contributor. Eugene Ford, a converted corner, provides size and speed to defend inside receivers and off-line tight ends. Travon Killins is skilled enough to play corner, nickel or free safety. In whatever formation, the secondary needs to improve on last year’s four interceptions.
