Coach Norm Chow said he will not publicly name the University of Hawaii football team’s No. 1 quarterback, but all signs point to sophomore Ikaika Woolsey earning the job.
Chow said there is no strategic reason to make a public declaration ahead of the Rainbow Warriors’ opener against Washington on Aug. 30. He said reporters were free to report what they observed.
Woolsey worked mostly with the first-team offense in this training camp’s first seven practices, including taking all the No. 1 reps in the dual sessions on Saturday and the afternoon workout on Monday. The Warriors had a players-only unsupervised practice on Friday and were off on Sunday.
Chow praised Woolsey’s leadership and quarterback skills.
"He’s athletic," Chow said. "He can run. He can throw."
Chow and quarterbacks coach Jordan Wynn wanted to see how Woolsey would rebound following an uneven practice on Saturday afternoon when he threw interceptions on the first two plays of a situational scrimmage.
"You can’t make excuses," Woolsey said. "I threw two interceptions. That’s not because (the defense) threw too many blitzes. They were just my mistakes. I take full responsibility for (the turnovers) as quarterback. It’s all on me."
In Monday’s two-minute drill, Woolsey was 6-for-6, including a 10-yard scoring strike to tight end Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson.
"(Woolsey) played well today," Chow said following Monday’s practice. "He didn’t play as well last Saturday, but I thought he played pretty well today."
Woolsey spent the offseason focusing on workouts that strengthened his legs and core.
"Not only can he throw the ball, but his ability to move and jump and run in space is kind of his trademark," said Gary Beemer, the Warriors’ strength/conditioning coordinator. "I think one of the most important ways to enhance an athlete’s ability to do those things is to squat heavy. So we did. We stayed away from doing barbell bench presses that might hurt his shoulder."
Woolsey said he cut down on carbs, cut out sugars and fast foods and "sacrificed for my craft."
Beemer said: "He has abs now."
Woolsey said, smiling: "Little six pack going on because of what Coach Beemer put me through."
Taylor Graham continues to have a strong training camp, going 5-for-6 in the two-minute drill on Monday. He teamed with freshman wideout Don’Yeh Patterson on a 70-yard scoring play.
"Taylor is a good leader," Chow said. "He understands the offense. He needs to quicken his decision-making. That’s what practice is for."
Graham said he has fully recovered from an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder that required offseason surgery. Although he is more at ease as a pocket passer, Graham said: "When they call for runs, I can do that. I’m not the fastest guy out there, but I know I can get 4, 5 yards if we need it."
The Warriors have switched to what is regarded as a spread offense. But Chow said Woolsey, Graham and Jeremy Higgins can handle all the schemes.
Chow said New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady "is in the (shot)gun all the time. Does that mean he’s in the spread? No. The pass concepts are always the same" in both pro-set and spread offenses.
Chow said Woolsey, Graham and Higgins will get the bulk of the reps in practices.
Beau Reilly, a freshman who completed a two-year church mission last year, is expected to get developmental work.
"We can’t give them all reps," Chow said of the five quarterbacks in camp. "It’s going to be only those three."