A fresh start or a continuation of last year’s progress?
The coming season represents a bit of both for the University of Hawaii receiver corps.
Going into last year’s opener against Washington, Division I catches weren’t exactly in abundance among the Rainbow Warriors’ starting wideouts.
This time around, the unit features last season’s top two producers in receptions and yards with a deep group of young receivers following their lead.
"Last year we were a new group," senior Quinton Pedroza said. "Coming into this camp, we’re building off where we left off last season."
Yet the building process includes learning a new scheme installed by first-year offensive coordinator Don Bailey in the spring and refined in fall camp.
"To be honest, I almost feel like it’s a fresh year for these guys, a new offense and a new system," UH receivers coach Luke Matthews said. "As a group we’re looking at it as a new year and a new team that’s out there on the field and we’re excited and ready to go."
There’s room for both perspectives as the Rainbow Warriors approach their Thursday opener against Colorado.
Pedroza led the team with 59 receptions and covered 674 yards in his first season of eligibility. His yardage total trailed only Marcus Kemp’s 797 on 56 catches. Both finished the year with three touchdowns and Matthews noted the growth of both over the last 12 months.
"Big-time," Matthews said. "Q’s kind of been the leader of the group in camp and going into practice. He’s a senior getting ready to graduate and he knows every phase of it. He knows what to expect so just with his confidence and with his knowledge he can help those guys in the meeting room."
Kemp’s leaping grab at the goal line as time expired in a senior night win over UNLV ranked among the season’s highlight plays. He then set career highs the following week with seven catches for 117 yards in a loss at Fresno State.
The most significant departure was slot receiver Scott Harding, who trailed Pedroza and Kemp with 34 catches for 457 yards. Freshman Dylan Collie’s arrival following a two-year church mission could soften the loss. Having grown up in a family of receivers, Collie adds a veteran presence to the position that belies his class standing.
Ammon Barker, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, averaged 16.2 yards on his 10 receptions last season and Keelan Ewaliko returns after emerging as a deep threat as a freshman.
Freshman Devan Stubblefield joins the rotation after redshirting last year due to a knee injury suffered on the first day of camp. Vasquez Haynes, who caught 29 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns in 2013, also returns having recovered from shoulder surgery.
The tight end spot could provide quarterback Max Wittek with big targets. Metuisela Unga, a 6-5 sophomore, entered camp as the leader along with senior Harold Moleni, who caught three touchdown passes last year. The Rainbows also added 6-6 transfer Davasyia Hagger to the mix.
"We look at it as we have to have three guys on each side who are all ones," Matthews said. "When you step in there you’re the next guy up and we don’t expect a drop off."
AT THIS POSITION:
Probable starter listed first:
WIDE RECEIVERS
14 MARCUS KEMP
HT: 6-4 WT: 200 CL: Jr.
HOMETOWN: Layton, Utah
5 QUINTON PEDROZA
HT: 6-2 WT: 215 CL: Sr.
HOMETOWN: Chino, Calif.
9 DEVAN STUBBLEFIELD
HT: 6-0 WT: 190 CL: Fr.
HOMETOWN: Ewa Beach
12 KEELAN EWALIKO
HT: 5-11 WT: 200 CL: So.
HOMETOWN: Wailuku
80 AMMON BARKER
HT: 6-4 WT: 205 CL: So.
HOMETOWN: Salt Lake City, Utah
81 VASQUEZ HAYNES
HT: 6-2 WT: 210 CL: So.
HOMETOWN: Memphis, Tenn.
83 MAKOA CAMANSE-STEVENS
HT: 6-4 WT: 205 CL: Jr.
HOMETOWN: Kailua, Oahu
85 ANDREW HO
HT: 6-2 WT: 210 CL: So.
HOMETOWN: San Mateo, Calif.
SLOT RECEIVERS
23 DYLAN COLLIE
HT: 5-10 WT: 175 CL: Fr.
HOMETOWN: El Dorado Hills, Calif.
89 RYAN PASOQUEN
HT: 6-0 WT: 195 CL: Sr.
HOMETOWN: Wahiawa
24 DUKE BUKOSKI
HT: 6-0 WT: 205 CL: Sr.
HOMETOWN: Honolulu
84 ISAIAH BERNARD
HT: 6-1 WT: 190 CL: Jr.
HOMETOWN: North Hills, Calif.
88 KALEI LETOTO
HT: 5-8 WT: 185 CL: Jr.
HOMETOWN: Honolulu
TIGHT ENDS
44 METUISELA UNGA
HT: 6-5 WT: 240 CL: So.
HOMETOWN: Rochester, Calif.
87 HAROLD MOLENI
HT: 6-2 WT: 235 CL: Sr.
HOMETOWN: West Valley City, Utah.
82 DAVASYIA HAGGER
HT: 6-6 WT: 230 CL: So.
HOMETOWN: Beaverton, Ore.
86 DAKOTA TORRES
HT: 6-2 WT: 245 CL: Fr.
HOMETOWN: Waianae
92 BRENNEN BROOKS
HT: 6-3 WT: 220 CL: Fr.
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Calif.
95 SIONE KAUHI
HT: 6-5 WT: 275 CL: Fr. HOMETOWN: Wilsonville, Ore.
MAKING THE GRADE
Based on analysis from the Star-Advertiser staff:
Size — 4
Speed — 4
Strength — 3
Depth — 5
Experience — 4
STRENGTHS/ WEAKNESSES
Depth to regularly rotate receivers should come in particularly handy with the offense picking up the tempo this season. Timing on routes tends to be a concern in adjusting to a new offense.
