From todays SA... Heres a position-by-position look entering the first practice: QUARTERBACKS » Candidates: Taylor Graham, Jeremy Higgins, Eric Prater, Beau Reilly, Max Wittek, Ikaika Woolsey. » Outlook: Woolsey, a fourth-year sophomore, will take the first snap of training camp. After that, Higgins, Graham and Reilly will get their turns. A starting quarterback probably will be named by the end of the week. Woolsey appears to be a fit for the three-receiver spread offense. He can run (he averaged an extra 1.83 yards after eluding or breaking tackles) and throw (31 percent of his passes traveled at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage). He can make every throw, Wynn said. Arm strength is not an issue for Ikaika. His arm is plenty strong. Higgins arm does not have as much pop, but hes accurate and he creates opportunities with bootlegs and play-action passes. Higgins appears to have recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the spring game. Graham, an Ohio State transfer, struggled in his first career start, completing 39 percent of his throws and being intercepted four times in the 2013 opener against USC. He improved in the next two games, connecting at 54 percent with no interceptions, before suffering an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Graham completed 57.1 percent of his throws when he was not hit; he was at 68.1 percent when discounting unforced drops. Reilly, who initially signed with Colorado State before going on a two-year church mission, is in the mix. Wittek, a former USC quarterback, will join as a walk-on but wont be eligible to play in games until 2015. RECEIVERS » Wideouts: Frank Abreu, Ammon Barker, Duke Bukoski, Vasquez Haynes, Darrian Josey, Marcus Kemp, Ryan Pasoquen, DonYeh Patterson, Terrance Sayles, Devan Stubblefield. Slotbacks: Samson Anguay, Keelan Ewaliko, Scott Harding, Donnie King, Quinton Pedroza. » Outlook: Four receivers who accounted for 70.2 percent of the passes aimed at wideouts last year are no longer with the program. Chris Gant and Billy Stutzmann were fifth-year seniors in 2013, Keith Kirkwood requested -- and received -- a release from his scholarship because of family issues in New Jersey, and Bubba Poueu-Luna retired. Whats more, Vasquez Haynes, who had 28 catches as a sophomore last year, is iffy because of health concerns. But Stubblefield, a 2014 Saint Louis School graduate, has wowed teammates with his speed and sure hands during unsupervised drills this summer. He is expected to be in the rotation at Z, the strong-side wideout, and perhaps even start. Kemp and Barker, both 6-4, will compete at X on the single side. Pedroza, who redshirted last year after transferring from Utah, will be used at Z and in the slot, easing Hardings workload. Pedroza is fast (4.49 seconds over 40 yards), strong (405 pounds in the front-squat lift) and athletic (he can do backflips). Of Hardings 55 catches, a team-high 24 were made in the fourth quarter. Converted safeties Pasoquen and Ewaliko, a former champion bull rider, are making the adjustment to offense. RUNNING BACKS » Candidates: Joey Iosefa, Steven Lakalaka, Jason Muraoka, Joseph Pacheco, Diocemy Saint Juste, Dominique Small. » Outlook: Heres a fun fact: Iosefas 479.20 career pass-efficiency rating is the highest in school history (2-for-2 for 51 yards and a touchdown). He also was the most reliable receiver last season, catching all 10 passes in his direction. But those are peripheral skills for the prolific running back, who was limited to two carries in the first eight games while being treated for a foot injury. During that span, UH backs averaged 30 carries and 73.3 yards per game. In the final four games, the averages spiked to 47 and 197.3, during which Iosefa averaged 146.5 yards and scored five touchdowns. For the season, Iosefa gained an additional 3.5 yards after eluding or breaking a tackle. Iosefa, who was raised in American Samoa, weighed 175 pounds and aspired to be a bad-ass linebacker when he joined as a grayshirt in 2010. Now hes 245 pounds, can bench-press 400-plus pounds, and just love(s) running. Iosefas power style is complementary to Saint Justes speedy elusiveness. Lakalaka, who has lost 20 pounds, is a hybrid back. Small, a junior-college transfer, replaces Aofaga Wily, who retired because of medical concerns stemming from a concussion. TIGHT ENDS » Y: Josh Long, Harold Moleni, Jordan Puu-Robinson, Dakota Torres. F: Justin Vele. » Outlook: If Puu-Robinson didnt have bad luck, he wouldnt have any luck at all. Since transferring from Washington State in 2012, he has suffered season-ending injuries the past two years. As a Warrior, he has played in four of a possible 24 games. Puu-Robinson is a four-tool tight end who can block, sprint routes, align off tackle or wide, and catch. That was evident through the first half of spring training before he was shut down because of a hand injury. Moleni, always an aggressive blocker, is developing into a receiver. Long, who redshirted in 2013 after falling behind following a concussion, is back. Torres, a freshman from Punahou, has played well in unsupervised workouts. Vele, who usually sets up in the backfield as a blocker, is a threat on bubble screens. OFFENSIVE LINE » Tackles: Ben Clarke, Leo Koloamatangi, Frank Loyd Jr., Sean Shigematsu, Tui Eli, John Waa. Guards: Dejon Allen, RJ Hollis, Kealii Kauahi, Dave Lefotu, Kory Rasmussen, Kiha Sai, Elijah Tupai. Centers: Kody Afusia, Kaiwi Chung, Malik Patton. » Outlook: Midway through spring training, the Warriors pulled the trigger on a much-discussed plan, moving Clarke to left tackle. It was a bold decision considering Clarke had started at center during his 24-game UH career. Clarke has shown he has the strength and nimbleness to handle the blind side. Clarke, who speaks economically, emerged from his shell this past week, dressing as Hulk Hogan, including Rocky III-styled wrestling boots, for the costumed lifting session. Clarkes move opened the way for Afusia, a vocal and physical leader, to take over at center. For now, senior Lefotu and second-year freshmen Dejon Allen and Elijah Tupai top the candidates for the two guard spots. The lineup could be shuffled again if incoming freshman Chung seizes the centers job, relocating Afusia back to guard. Waa played well at tackle in the spring, and Shigematsu, who has battled a variety of injuries, brings experience, if healthy. Theres always a role for Loyd Jr., whos steady at guard and tackle. DEFENSIVE LINE » Ends: Nick Childs, Meffy Koloamatangi, Luke Shawley, Kennedy Tulimasealii, Tui Unga, Niko Uti, Beau Yap. Nose tackles: Mike Andrade, Penitito Faalologo, Calen Friel, Kaau Gifford, Lawrence Lagafuaina, Marcus Malepeai, Moses Samia, Hunter Thomson, Haani Tulimaiau. » Outlook: The Warriors strength is at the point. Samia had a front squat of 545 pounds. Malepeai, who can play across the line, bench-pressed 405 pounds. Friel also exceeded 450 pounds in the front squat. The interior-line position will be further strengthened when Lagafuaina, a Washington graduate, is officially admitted into UHs graduate school. Faalologo, who was recruited as a linebacker and played fullback in the spring, is now at nose tackle. Faalologo has gained 25 pounds and now weighs 275. He recently bench-pressed 405 pounds. After experimenting as an outside linebacker, Yap is back with his hand in the dirt. Twelve of his 37 tackles were in the backfield. Tulimasealii, who blossomed near the end of the season, is at the other end. Shawley is a relentless pass rusher. The hope is Koloamatangi, Unga and Uti will develop into edge defenders. if not, Malepeai can play end or some outside linebackers might move to the line to boost the depth. LINEBACKERS » Inside: Tevarua Eldridge, Rashaan Falemalu, Benneton Fonua, Julian Gener, Tevita Lataimua, Malachi Mageo, Simon Poti, Tumua Tuinei. Outside: Jeremy Castro, Marquis Fairchild, Jerrol Garcia-Williams, David Manoa, Austin Slade-Matautia, Jamie Tago, TJ. Taimatuia, Jahlani Tavai, Lance Williams. » Outlook: Lataimuas strong finish (16 tackles and a sack in the final two games) and even better spring thrust him to the top of the depth chart at inside linebacker. Hes got a lot of pop, defensive coordinator Kevin Clune said. He stepped up and showed hes a guy who should be playing. He separated himself a little from the other guys in the pack. Gener, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the third game, and Fonua are the top candidates at the other inside position. Poti has been impressive at summer workouts. Mageo could be the sleeper. The depth at the two inside positions enables Garcia-Williams to move back to the outside. Garcia-Williams is an aggressive pass rusher who is fast enough to cover slot receivers. SECONDARY » Corners: Gaetano DeMattei, Barry Higdon, Jerrell Jackson, Dee Maggitt, Jamal Mayo, Nick Nelson, Anthony Pierce, NeQuan Phillips, Jalen Rogers. Safeties: Kawika Borden, Josh Donovan, Trayvon Henderson, Marrell Jackson, Daniel Lewis, Michael Martin, Dany Mulanga, Damien Packer, Taz Stevenson. » Outlook: The Warriors have always used safeties to play nickelback. The wish is that the newcomers -- Rogers, Mayo, Nelson and Jackson -- will pick up the system quick enough to free Phillips or Maggitt to be used as nickel corners. Phillips 46 solo tackles were the most among defensive backs last season. Maggitt, who had a team-high seven pass breakups, has improved his first-step quickness (1.6 seconds in 10-yard sprint). Stevenson, who transferred from Washington after earning his degree, Jackson and Henderson are the top safeties. Martin, who can play nickel, could be the next Charles Clay. Whenever Borden, who is recovering from a sports hernia, is healthy, he can be used at nickel, safety or linebacker. SPECIALISTS » Kickers: Tyler Hadden, Kainoa McDonald, Ryan Weese. Punters: Ruben Guzman, Scott Harding. Long-snappers: Brian Hittner, Brodie Nakama. » Outlook: After a yearlong delay, Hittner joins as a substitute for Borden at long-snapper. Nakama returns as the snapper on field-goal attempts and PATs. Weese, who was at Oklahoma State the past spring, and McDonald will compete against incumbent Hadden, a fifth-year senior. Roles will be crafted for Guzman, who averaged 40.0 yards, and rugby-styled Harding, whose 56 punts did not result in a touchback. Of the 14 Harding punts that were returned, five were fumbled away. Maggitt, Pedroza, Saint Juste and Josey are kickoff-return candidates.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:17:49 +0000
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