In crafting the 104-player roster for training camp, the Hawaii football coaches debated whether to delay wide receiver Marcus Kemp’s enrollment by a semester.
The Rainbow Warriors had a glut of receivers, and Kemp, a 2013 graduate of Utah’s Layton High, still would be 17 years old when camp opened.
It turned out to be the best move the coaches never made. Kemp has made an immediate and impressive impression during the first three days of training camp. He made two leaping catches during the two-minute drill Sunday.
"I’m glad it didn’t come to that," coach Norm Chow said of grayshirting Kemp. "That would have been the first mistake I ever made, right?"
Kemp and two other freshman receivers — Ammon Barker and Keith Kirkwood — have rotated on the first-team offense.
"They’re doing a great, great job," said Chow, who doubles as the offensive coordinator. "You can’t tell they’re new. They all make plays."
A fourth newcomer, Vasquez Haynes, opened camp as a first-team receiver. But he suffered a bruised AC joint in his right shoulder and is not expected to resume practicing until later this week.
Daniel Masifilo, a Campbell High graduate who transferred from Arizona State, also has received significant reps.
Kirkwood is 6-foot-5, Barker and Kemp are each 6-4, and Haynes and Masifilo are each 6-2. Chow said his preference is to recruit tall receivers, and he’s willing to trade a step of quickness for height.
"The trend was bigger receivers because they used to always play against smaller corners," Chow said. "Now the trend is bigger corners to match the bigger receivers. You need bigger receivers because of all of the bumping. It’s football. It’s cyclical. Everybody thinks we only do a certain thing. That’s not true. We try to figure out the best things for our team."
Chow has installed three-quarters of the offense. The newcomers, who worked out in Hawaii the past six weeks, were quick to grasp the concepts.
"Working out on our own this summer was a huge help," quarterback Taylor Graham said. "We needed to get them up to speed so they would be mentally ready to succeed this fall."
Barker credited strength coach Gary Beemer’s conditioning program.
"If I were to come here right before fall camp, I don’t know if I would be able to do things I need to do," Barker said. "Beemer got me into fall shape."
The Warriors are staying in the UH dance studios — dubbed "Hotel Hawaii" — for the first portion of training camp.
At night, the receivers quiz each other on plays and, sometimes, run routes in the studios.
"We’re trying to get it down so we have a chance to play this year and make an impact," Kirkwood said.
Kemp said: "When we’re in Hotel Hawaii, we try to figure things out so we’re ready when we come out (to practice). We’re always helping each other out."
