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 special teams.
 
VIDEO: Coach Demarest on the Special Teams
 
Starters Returning: Tyler Hadden (PK), Scott Harding (P), Brodie Nakama (SS), Scott Harding (PR), Diocemy Saint Juste (KOR)
Starters Lost: None
Lettermen Returning: Ruben Guzman (P), Dee Maggitt (PR/KOR),
Others Returning: Brian Hittner (LS)
Newcomers: Kainoa McDonald (PK), Ryan Weese (PK), Quinton Pedroza (PR), Darrian Josey (KOR)
 
Over the past two seasons, UH's special teams unit has flourished under the direction of assistant coach Chris Demarest. In 2012, the Rainbow Warriors finished among the nation's leaders in kickoff and punt return average and individually Mike Edwards and Alex Dunnachie were honorable mention All-Americans. Last season, punter Scott Harding helped UH rank 25^th nationally in net punting.
 
This season, Hawai'i's kicking game will be led by a pair of four-year seniors in Harding and placekicker Tyler Hadden. 
 
Using a unique rugby-style kick, Harding earned honorable mention all-MW honors after averaging 40.2 yards per punt. Three of his punts directly resulted in turnovers while 73 percent of his kicks were not returned. Harding also doubles as punt returner, where he has occupied that position for the past three seasons. The former Australian Football League veteran has a career average of 9.7 yards per return with one touchdown. Over the past two seasons, he has handled all but five returns for the Rainbow Warriors and has no fumbles or muffs.
 
Hadden, a senior from Whittier, Calif., has played and started all 37 games of his career and boasts a field-goal percentage of 56.8. He was 13-of-21 last season with a long of 48. Healthy for the first time in his career, Hadden has converted 83-of-87 career PATs and handles the team's kickoffs.
 
Ruben Guzman, a senior from Fontana, Calif., averaged 40.0 yards per punt last season and will rotate with Harding at punter. Freshman Kainoa McDonald of Honolulu and sophomore Ryan Weese of Olathe, Kan., will compete for the back-up placekicker position. McDonald was an all-state kicker at Punahou School while Weese played one season at Hutchinson Community College and spent the spring at Oklahoma State before transferring to UH.
 
Sophomore Brodie Nakama will continue to handle the short snapping duties while Brian Hittner, returns to UH, where he redshirted in 2012, and will compete for the long snapping duties.
 
Sophomore Diocemy Saint Juste took over the starting kick return duties midway through last season and averaged 25.1 yards per return. He had three returns over 30 yards, including a 78-yarder against Colorado State on his first career return.
 
Also in the mix as kickoff returner are senior cornerback Dee Maggitt and freshman Darrian Josey. Maggitt has not returned a kick during his three-year career. Josey was the district champion in the 100-meter dash as a senior at Boynton Beach High School in Florida.
 
Utah transfer Quinton Pedroza and Maggitt are listed as Harding's back-up.