The University of Hawaii football coaches envisioned wideout Marcus Kemp playing better in his sophomore season.

Kemp shared the same vision, despite a stye infection that caused his right eye to swell at the start of the season.

"For the first two games, I had stye in my eye," Kemp said. "It was terrible."

Kemp said he contracted the infection the week before the Aug. 30 opener against Washington.

"I was a little worried about it, but you have to play through the things you do," said Kemp, who caught four passes for 31 yards against the Huskies.

"The second week, I still had the stye," added Kemp, who caught five passes for 102 yards against Oregon State. "But I did what I had to do that game. I played through it. I do whatever I can do and play the best with whatever I have."

Kemp already has exceeded his freshman production when he caught 11 passes for 110 yards in 11 games in 2013. In three games this season, he has 13 receptions for 202 yards, an average of 15.5 yards per catch.

His next goal is the end zone. He has yet to score a touchdown in 14 UH games.

Rasmussen back on D

In the latest line dance, Kory Rasmussen is back on defense.

Rasmussen had played on the defensive line most of his life.

"I played offensive line in Pop Warner," he said. "That’s about it."

This past spring, he was moved to offensive line. Last week, he requested — and received — permission to move back to defense.

"I feel defense comes natural to me," Rasmussen said. "I’ve been doing it for so long."

When UH coach Norm Chow was Utah’s offensive coordinator, he recruited Rasmussen to play on offense for the Utes. Rasmussen, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, ended up signing with Colorado. He stayed a year in Boulder before transferring to UH in August 2013.

"Offense was fun," Rasmussen said. "Football, in general, to me, is a fun game. I just felt I would be having more fun on defense."

On returning to Colorado for Saturday’s road game, Rasmussen said: "Hawaii is home."

Malepeai ready to roll

After missing the past two games because of knee issues, defensive lineman Marcus Malepeai returns to action for Saturday’s road game against Colorado.

Malepeai played well against Washington in the opener.

Of the knee problem, Malepeai said, "I just needed rest and rehab and all that."

Malepeai can play the three positions on the defensive line.

"He’s a violent guy down there on the D-line," defensive coordinator Kevin Clune said. "We’ve definitely missed his punch."