HAWAII OFFENSE

The past weekend, graduate assistant Ramsen Golpashin held up a metal-and-leather belt and, in his best Michael Buffer voice, announced Ben Clarke as the "heavyweight champion of the world." In the opener, Clarke had yet another over-sized performance, not allowing a sack in 40 passing situations and earning a 91-percent grade. He was presented the belt as the lineman of the game. "It doesn’t matter to me much," Clarke said of the belt. "It’s how the team performs." Clarke, a former center, tutors second-year freshman Asotui Eli and makes blocking calls for even the right side. "Ben Clarke is as smart or smarter than anyone I’ve played with," said quarterback Max Wittek, who was a USC teammate of Matt Kalil, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Wittek showed arm and leg strength against Colorado. His best play was when he appeared to be trapped 3 yards deep in the end zone before bullying his way to the 1 to avoid a safety. "That was the hardest 1 yard I’d ever gotten to keep those two points off the board," Wittek said. Marcus Kemp, who is averaging 6.9 post-catch yards, has emerged as a go-to receiver. Look for wideout Vasquez Haynes, Keelan Ewaliko and Devan Stubblefield to play a bigger role.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Luke Shawley, who led the Warriors with nine "almost" sacks in 2014, broke through with 14 tackles, including a sack, in the opener. Shawley draws inspiration from Cameron Wake, a hybrid end for the Miami Dolphins. "That guy’s a beast," said Shawley, who is an end-tackle with coverage responsibilities. Against Colorado, Shawley often was freed because Kiko Faalologo controlled the point and Kennedy Tulimasealii eluded double blocks. Marrell Jackson, who gained 10 pounds, has played "skinny," the vernacular for squeezing into lanes on blitzes. "It’s about going out there attacking, being fast, being aggressive," Jackson said. Ne’Quan Phillips, who moonlights as a nickelback, appears to have regained a starting corner’s job. Phillips’ ferocity is helpful in the Warriors’ fire packages. "To me, football isn’t a game of skill, it’s a game of will," Phillips said. Defensive coordinator Tom Mason said Phillips "plays 100 percent. He plays smart. He’s one of the corners who’s like a wild-west gunslinger. He’s not afraid to get into the mix."

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

On a bedside table, Rigo Sanchez keeps a cross and the game ball for his dual kicker/punter role against Colorado. "I played my heart out for everybody, not just myself," Sanchez said. After Sanchez decided to join as a walk-on this summer, the Warriors received a commitment from kicker Mauro Bondi, who was transferring from Nebraska. Sanchez earned a scholarship, then won the place-kicking job when he booted a 53-yard field goal in the rain in practice. "My shoes were soaked," Sanchez said. Bondi took over the kickoff job, with touchbacks on three of his four boots against Colorado.

OHIO STATE OFFENSE (EDGE)

The identity of the starting quarterback remains a mystery. What is known is Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and, even Braxton Miller, who was moved to H-back, are licensed to run the Buckeyes’ spread offense. Jones is 4-0 as a starter on 160.78 passing efficiency. Those games were against ranked opponents, beginning with the Big Ten title game through the past Monday’s meeting with Virginia Tech. In the opener, Jones rushed for 99 yards, but 92 came from the point where he eluded a would-be tackler. Barrett was the starter last year until suffering an ankle injury that required surgery and the insertion of two screws. On Monday, he completed his only throw, a 26-yarder for a touchdown. Barrett’s lone rush netted 40 yards. Ezekiel Elliott is fast (4.32 seconds in the 40) and relentless (he averaged 9.1 yards-after-contact against Virginia Tech). A favorite play is to align three receivers in a triangle formation, then use them as blockers on a screen to Elliott. The O-line collectively known as the "Slobs," will create openings and pocket time.

OHIO STATE DEFENSE (EDGE)

If the Buckeyes were good against Virginia Tech — 4.6 yards allowed per play, 2.9 yards per rush — they are expected to be better with Joey Bosa, who was suspended for the opener. Of his 55 tackles last year, 21.5 were for losses, including a Big Ten-high 13.5 sacks. He also forced four fumbles. At 6 feet 6, he is a difficult obstacle on bubble screens. He also is savvy enough to redirect routes. As a high school senior, Bosa bench pressed 440 pounds and squat lifted 500 pounds. Against Alabama in the NCAA playoffs, Bosa aligned as a middle linebacker. For all his feats, Bosa can only offer a shrug — his signature celebration move derived from an emoji. Adolphus Washington is a space eater who must gobble up more territory following the departure of Michael Bennettt. The Buckeyes’ 4-3 base features a secondary in a four-across press. A safety can move up as a a blitzer or align as an eighth run defender. Eli Apple is a shut-down corner who is tested infrequently. The Buckeyes are solid tacklers. Virginia Tech receivers averaged 3.69 yards after catches and their runners averaged 1.41 yards after contact or eluding a defender.

OHIO STATE SPECIALISTS (EDGE)

Jack Willoughby won the kicker’s job and lost his stripe this summer. Newcomers are given helmets with black stripes with the goal of doing enough good things to replace it with a scarlet stripe. Willoughby, who transferred to OSU after earning a degree at Duke, is valued at more than just a field-goal kicker. In the quest for better field position, Willoughby is asked to place kickoffs in the area in front of the goal line and between the return team’s right numbers and sideline. Of seven kickoffs against Virginia Tech, two were touchbacks and one landed out of bounds. Of the other four, Tech averaged 18.4 yards per return, with the average drive starting at the 23.