Part #1 Secondary  |  Part #2 Defensive Line  |  Part #3 Linebackers  |  Part #4 Special Teams  |  Part #5 Quarterbacks  |  Part #6 Running Backs  |  Part #7 Wide Receivers/Tight Ends  |  Part #8 Offensive Line
 
With fall camp underway, HawaiiAthletics.com will breakdown the 2014 Rainbow Warrior football team, position-by-position. UH's season-opener against Washington is less than a month away. Today's feature is the UH secondary.
 
 VIDEO: Coach Jones on the Secondary
 
Starters Returning: Marrell Jackson, Dee Maggitt, Ne'Quan Phillips
Starter Lost: John Hardy-Tuliau
Lettermen Returning:  Joshua Donovan, Trayvon Henderson, Michael Martin, Damien Packer, Anthony Pierce
Redshirt: Barry Higdon
Newcomers: Gaetano DeMattei, Jerrell Jackson, Daniel Lewis, Jr., Jamal Mayo, Dany Mulanga, Nick Nelson, Jalen Rogers, Taz Stevenson
 
For the second straight year, UH returns three starters in the secondary but its only loss was a big one in four-year starter John Hardy-Tuliau. Still, the returning Rainbow Warriors have 48 combined starts between them, while cornerbacks Ne'Quan Phillips and Dee Maggitt have a combined five career interceptions and 23 pass breakups.
 
Hardy-Tuliau, an honorable mention all-MW pick in 2013, started 44 of 51 career games and amassed 239 tackles, six interceptions, and 29 passes defended during an illustrious career.
 
His replacement will likely be Trayvon Henderson, a sophomore from Sacramento, Calif., who made two starts last season and led the team with three picks. Henderson primarily played nickelback but will move into a starting role alongside two-year starter Marrell Jackson.
 
Jackson, a junior from Miramar, Fla., was hampered by injuries last season but still managed to record 33 tackles, including one interception and three pass breakups. As a freshman in 2012, Jackson made seven starts at free safety and shared the team-lead with 56 tackles along with five pass breakups.
 
At the cornerback positions are a pair of proven veterans in Phillips and Maggitt. Phillips, a junior from Miami, Fla., was an honorable mention all-MW pick last season. He finished the year with 64 tackles and eight passes defended. During his two seasons, he has four interceptions. Maggitt, a senior from Tacoma, Wash., had a breakout year in 2013,posting a team-high seven pass breakups along with 48 total tackles.
 
Also competing for time at cornerback are Anthony Pierce, a sophomore from Mission Viejo, Calif., and Barry Higdon, a redshirt freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Pierce appeared in 10 games last season primarily on special teams but also saw extended time in the secondary against Utah State.
 
Other returnees expected to compete at the two safety spots as well as at nickelback include Washington transfer Taz Stevenson, Michael Martin, a senior from Honolulu; and Damien Packer, a sophomore from Kea'au, Hawai'i. Newcomer Gaetano DeMattei, a junior from Rio Vista, Calif., was one of the stars during the "Warrior Bowl" spring game.
 
Stevenson appeared in 34 career games as a key special teams performer and backup safety for the Huskies. The Mililani High School graduate has one year of eligibility remaining after missing the entire 2013 season with a season-ending injury.
 
The Rainbow Warriors signed seven defensive backs and all will be looked upon to contribute either in the secondary or on special teams. Among the newcomer include Jerrell Jackson, a freshman from Haynesville, La.; Jalen Rogers, a sophomore from Tucson, Ariz.; Nick Nelson, a freshman from Forestville, Md.; Daniel Lewis Jr., a freshman from New Iberia, La.; Jamal Mayo, a junior from Oakland, Calif., and Dany Mulanga, a freshman from Bedford, Texas.
 
Jackson and Lewis both hail from the state of Louisiana. The 6-foot, 175-pound Jackson had six interceptions and was a first-team all-state pick out of Haynesville High while Lewis was a two-way player who was ranked as one of the state's Top 50 prospects.
 
Mayo amassed 10 interceptions in two years at Laney College. Mulanga hails from Texas powerhouse Trinity High and totaled four picks and 12 pass breakups as a senior. Nelson, the No. 42 prospect in the state of Maryland, played both wide receiver and defensive back for Suitland High School. Rogers played one season at Mesa Community College before transferring to UH.
 
Coaching the secondary is assistant head coach Daronte' Jones, who has helped transform the unit into one of the best in the Mountain West. In 2012, the Rainbow Warriors ranked 11^th nationally, surrendering only 182.8 passing yards per game. Two of his pupils –John Hardy-Tuliau and cornerback Mike Edwards – both saw time in the professional ranks.