LAS VEGAS >> The Hawaii football team cannot escape its reputation.
In polling of 22 media members, the Rainbow Warriors were predicted to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference’s six-team West Division this season.
Fresno State was picked to win the West Division. Boise State was selected as the Mountain Division’s favorite. The results were announced at the Mountain West Media Summit in Las Vegas.
The Warriors are coming off a 3-9 season during which they finished last in the West.
“Why should it be any different?” UH coach Nick Rolovich said of the prediction. “It also doesn’t matter. We were picked second last year.”
Rolovich acknowledged the Warriors appear to be improved based on their performance in spring training and the results of the offseason conditioning program.
But Rolovich cautioned, “I haven’t seen anybody else’s team.”
Defensive lineman Zeno Choi, who is representing UH at the meet-the-media event, said the prediction is “based on how we did last year. Our (2017) record showed we should be picked fifth. I feel very confident about our team. There are plenty of new guys coming in and plenty of new guys stepping up. I feel there are a lot of fresh bodies we can use.”
Slotback John Ursua, who also is attending the summit, said he does not “worry about stuff that is out of our control. It’s an opportunity for us to show how good we are and how special we can be. … It’s an opportunity for us to overcome the challenge.”
Ursua was restricted in spring training while recovering from a knee injury suffered last season. He has been cleared to play this season.
“Being able to watch from the sidelines and take mental reps, I’ve seen a lot of guys improve and step up their game,” Ursua said. “There’s a lot of young talent. There will be opportunities for guys to showcase what they can do. It will be an exciting year, for sure.”
Ursua said he has embraced the Warriors’ return to the run-and-shoot offense after a six-season hiatus.
“It’s going to be fun for a lot of guys,” Ursua said. “It’s going to open up a lot of receivers, and it’s a great opportunity for the running backs to run downhill. Hopefully, we can put up a lot of points each game. … As far as the play-setting goes, it’s going to be very similar to a fast-paced basketball game.”
Middle linebacker Jahlani Tavai was the lone Warrior picked to the MW’s preseason all-star team.
West Division
1. Fresno State (16 first-place votes) — 122 points
2. San Diego State (6) — 116
3. UNLV — 78
4. Nevada — 72
5. Hawaii — 45
6. San Jose State — 25
Mountain Division
1. Boise State (22) — 132
2. Wyoming — 95
3. Colorado State — 82
4. Utah State — 78
5. Air Force — 52
6. New Mexico — 23
2018 MW PRESEASON TEAM
Offense
QB — Brett Rypien, Boise State
WR — KeeSean Johnson, Fresno State
WR— McLane Mannix, Nevada
RB — Alexander Mattison, Boise State
RB — Lexington Thomas, UNLV
OL — Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
OL — John Molchon, Boise State
OL — Aaron Jenkins, New Mexico
OL — Keith Ismael, San Diego State
OL — Tyler Roemer, San Diego State
TE — Dax Raymond, Utah State
Defense
DL — David Moa, Boise State
DL — Curtis Weaver, Boise State
DL — Youhanna Ghaifan, Wyoming
DL —Carl Granderson, Wyoming
LB — Jeffrey Allison, Fresno State
LB — Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
LB — Malik Reed, Nevada
DB — Tyler Horton, Boise State
DB — Dameon Baber, Nevada
DB — Tariq Thompson, San Diego State
DB — Andrew Wingard , Wyoming
Specialists
P — Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State
PK — Dominik Eberle, Utah State
RET — Avery Williams, Boise State
Offensive player of the year: Brett Rypien
Defensive player of the year: Andrew Wingard
Specialist of the year: Avery Williams
