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 defensive line.
 
 VIDEO: Coach Powell on the Defensive Line
 
Starters Returning: Moses Samia, Beau Yap
Starters Lost: Siasau Matagiese, Tavita Woodard
Lettermen Returning: Calen Friel, Marcus Malepeai, Kennedy Tulimasealii, Niko Uti
Others Returning: Hunter Thompson, Haani Tulimaiau
Redshirts: Nick Childs, Penitito Faalologo, Meffy Koloamatangi
Newcomers: Ka'aumoana Gifford, Luke Shawley, Metuisela 'Unga
 
The addition of new defensive coordinator Kevin Clune to the University of Hawai'i coaching staff also means a switch to the 3-4 defensive scheme, which includes two ends and one nose tackle.
 
Senior Moses Samia will anchor the line at the nose tackle position. Last season, the 'Ewa Beach, O'ahu, native was hampered by an ankle injury that forced him to miss three games, however, he still finished with 29 total tackles and 6.5 for loss. In 2012, Samia suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team's second game.
 
Marcus Malepeai, a senior from Honolulu, will also platoon in the middle. Last season, the three-year letterman led all linemen with 40 tackles along with two sacks and four quarterback hurries.
 
Senior Beau Yap, a second-team all-Mountain West pick, will fill one of the end positions where he wreaked havoc last season, totaling 12 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, and six quarterback hurries. The Pearl City, O'ahu, native has made 21 starts over the past two seasons and career totals of 23.5 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks. Last season, he was named the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player and this season, he is a preseason second-team all-conference pick by nearly every national publication.
 
Kennedy Tulimasealii, a sophomore from Wai'anae, O'ahu, was a heralded Top 300 prospect who was hampered by a leg injury at the start of last season. Fully healed, Tulimasealii is expected to flourish at end, his more natural position, where he was a three-time first-team all-state selection out of Wai'anae High School.
 
Among the returnees expected to contribute are senior Niko Uti, an end from Kapolei, O'ahu, and junior Calen Friel, a tackle from Kane'ohe, O'ahu, both of whom saw action last season. Uti appeared in five games as a reserve end after transferring from Snow College in Utah. Friel saw action in eight games in his first full season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2012.
 
Redshirts Nick Childs, a junior from San Diego, Calif., Penitito Faalologo, a freshman from Pago Pago, American Samoa, and Meffy Koloamatangi, a freshman from East Palo Alto, Calif., will also compete for playing time along with returnees Hunter Thomson, a sophomore from Wailua, O'ahu, and Haani Tulimaiau, a junior from Wahiawa, O'ahu.
 
Faalologo moved back to the defensive line after spending time at fullback during his redshirt season in 2013.
 
The Rainbow Warriors welcome three freshmen and transfers, two of whom are expected to contribute immediately – Luke Shawley, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., and Metuisela 'Unga, a freshman from Rochester, Calif. Freshman Ka'aumoana Gifford of Wai'anae, O'ahu, will also be in the mix.
 
Defensive line coach Lewis Powell is in his third season on the coaching staff, having coached three all-conference picks – Yap, Paipai Falemalu, and Tavita Woodard. Last season, the line helped UH rank No. 3 nationally in tackles for loss, averaging 8.3 per game.