Chris Naeole’s observations on the Hawaii offensive line progress in fall camp included a brief yet telling summation of Ben Clarke’s performance.

“Ben is Ben.”

Over the past three years, Clarke provided a steadying presence on the Rainbow Warrior line — whether at center for two years or at left tackle last fall — in all 37 games of Norm Chow’s tenure as head coach.

“The guy’s poured everything into this program,” said Naeole, now in his third year as offensive line coach. “He’s a fourth-year starter … Started at center, we moved him to left tackle and he’s done great job handling it out there.

“The most favorable thing for him is we can plug him in anywhere, we can put him center, guard and he makes hardly any mistakes. He’s Mr. Consistency in my book, and playing this game you need that. He’s reliable, he’s consistent.”

While Clarke has proven versatility, the three-time All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention pick heads into his senior season entrenched at left tackle. His presence gives Naeole a cornerstone to build on and five other returnees started at least two games last year.

Sophomore Dejon Allen enters the season with a run of 11 consecutive starts at left guard. Junior Leo Koloamatangi and sophomores John Wa’a and Elijah Tupai all had starts at right guard and senior Brenden Urban stepped in at center for six games after Kody Afusia suffered an injury in last year’s opener.

Sean Shigematsu closed his career by starting all 13 games at right tackle last year and Koloamatangi and junior RJ Hollis split the first-team reps for much of camp.

When a knee injury sidelined Urban early in camp, Asotui Eli, a redshirt freshman from Kealakehe, moved up in the rotation.

“I think we’re all really close and clicking well and a lot of the guys who are in the twos right now can step up be right there with the ones,” Clarke said.

Along with refining the technical aspects of line play, conditioning was an emphasis in the summer and into fall camp to prepare for the tempo new offensive coordinator Don Bailey introduced in the spring.

“Trying to be a lot more fast paced, trying to get on the ball quicker, try to tire out the defense, so we gotta be in shape for that,” Clarke said between breaths after the linemen ran a set of uphill sprints after a recent practice.

“A little extra conditioning, pushing a little bit past where everyone’s breaking point is, trying to get ready.”

At the base of the hill in the corner of the practice field, Naeole — a former Colorado All-American and veteran of 11 NFL seasons — kept watch and didn’t mind spending a few more minutes in the mid-day heat.

“I just tell the guys if you want to be good you always have to put something extra in at the end of the day, you’re going to have to push yourself,” Naeole said. “Nobody’s going to give you anything for free, you gotta earn that. So the only way to earn it is to keep working.

“The more you can do the better, not only after practice, but as much time as you spend in the film room … because most of the time that’s where the game is won or lost, in the film room studying your opponent.”

At this position

Left Tackle: Ben Clarke, 6-3, 295, Sr., Littleton, Colo.

Left Guard: John Wa’a, 6-4, 315, So., Hau’ula

Left Guard: Elijah Tupai, 6-4, 300, So., Taylorsville, Utah

Center: Asotui Eli, 6-4, 295, Fr, Kailua-Kona

Center: Brenden Urban, 6-1, 3-5, Sr., Littleton, Colo

Right Guard: Dejon Allen, 6-3, 290, So., Compton, Calif.

Right Tackle: Leo Koloamatangi, 6-5, 290, Jr, East Palo Alto, Calif.

Right Tackle: RJ Hollis, 6-4, 295, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.

Making the grade

Based on analysis from Star-Advertiser staff:

Size: 4

Speed: 4

Strength: 4

Depth: 4

Experience: 4

5–Excellent; 4–Good; 3–Average; 2–Subpar; 1–Poor

Strengths/Weaknesses

Six linemen have starting experience and several are trained at multiple positions. Should injuries hit, that experience drops off considerably behind the starters.