Throughout the course of fall camp, HawaiiAthletics.com will provide an in-depth breakdown of the 2015 Rainbow Warrior football team, position-by-position, leading up to the first week of regular-practices in preparation for UH's season opener against against Colorado on Sept. 3.
Outside Receivers |  Inside Receivers and Tight Ends | Cornerbacks | Safeties |

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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team opened up its first day in full pads with an Oklahoma drill and closed out with a scrimmage across the final two periods of fall camp's seventh practice on Wednesday at Cooke Practice Field.

Once the team made it to the scrimmage portion, the offense went right to work, putting the defense on its heels with a perfect 4-for-4 start for quarterback Max Wittek, including a scrimmage-opening 56-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Pedroza. The defenders were quick to regroup and bounced back for a spirited tug-of-war between the two units for the remainder of the scrimmage.

To provide some perpective on the first day in pads in the 2015 fall camp, head coach Norm Chow spoke with the media following practice.

So far in our look at the 2015 'Bows in a position-by-position breakdown, we've focused on a pair of opposites on the offense and defense in the receivers and secondary, but today we're focusing on the unsung players of special teams, which factor to make a big impact on both sides of the ball this season.

In 2015, the Rainbow Warriors will be replacing both their primary placekicker, Tyler Hadden, and their punter, All-American Scott Harding. In the kick return game, both young returners are back in the fold for another season. First-year special teams coordinator Jake Cookus is hardly discouraged, as an outstanding recruiting haul has produced competition that plays out every day of camp on both sides of the ball.

A year ago, a freshman from Wailuku, Maui, Keelan Ewaliko (5-11, 200), shouldered the load for UH in kick returns, ranking sixth in the Mountain West standings with a 20.3 yards per return average, registering 589 yards on 29 returns.

"Last year it was my first year playing and that can be daunting at times," Ewaliko said. "Now I know what to expect and I'm really comfortable. This off-season conditioning is really paying off. I feel in great shape—I can run long routes and still be able to come and return kicks."

Meanwhile, junior Diocemy Saint Juste (5-8, 195, Boynton Beach, Fla.) also chipped in 108 yards on six returns, after putting up a 25.1 YPR (12 Ret. For 352 yds.) as a rookie in 2013.

"We've definitely got guys with some experience and a couple of incoming guys who have filled that role," Cookus noted. "We have some competition back there and we'll see who ends up being the starters, but we've got a core group of guys that are going to cause problems for opponents and provide some field position—and we've got some guys who can hit the 'home run'."

 

One new addition pushing the pair in the fall is junior Paul Harris (5-11, 190, Columbus, Ohio), a Junior College All-American from Ventura College. Harris averaged 35.1 yards on 20 returns, tallying three touchdowns on last year's campaign.

"He's an extremely explosive kid with great vision," Cookus said. "He can go from zero to full speed in about one step. He had a great junior college career and I expect him to keep doing the same type of things. He's an exciting player and you've got to keep an eye on him with the ball in his hand, because he can go the distance."

Also taking reps on kick returns are seniors Pereese Joas (5-7, 170, Plano, Texas)–who was awarded a scholarship earlier this week—and Quentin Pedroza (6-2, 215, Chino, Calif.).

The loss of Harding proves two-fold, as he was also UH's punt returner, averaging 8.8 yards on 25 returns in 2014. However, the recruiting class yielded a gem in freshman Dylan Collie (5-10, 175, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) a shifty receiver who proved his field vision potential as an early enrollee in the spring after completing a Mormon mission in Richmond, Va.

Pedroza has already proven his mettle in eluding defensive backs with 674 yards receiving last year, but will also see his role increased as part of the punt return corps. In addition, Harris and Joas are also taking reps in the role.

 

On the opposite end, junior Aaron Novoa (6-0, 190, Sacramento, Calif.) is the only kicker returning from spring, then splitting duties as both kicker and punter for the 'Bows after making 14 field goals and 14 punts inside the 20 in two seasons at Sacramento City College.

"After spring ball, we knew we wanted to bring in some new specialist kickers, so we went out and got a couple of guys and they're kicking the ball pretty well," Cookus said. "We've got a pretty good competition for punting the ball, kickoff and field goal jobs. I think we've got a good corps of guys coming into the fall."

Enhancing the competition are the new additions of junior transfer Rigoberto Sanchez (6-1, 190, Hamilton City, Calif.) and University of Nebraska graduate transfer Mauro Bondi (6-0, 210, Boca Raton, Fla.). A signee in February, freshman Punahou School punter Alex Trifonovitch (6-1, 180, Honolulu, O'ahu) has already been quick at work as well.

A transfer from Butte College who was anticipated throughout the summer, Sanchez ranked second in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in scoring in 2013, knocking down 22 field goals and 119-of-121 PATs over his time at BC. In addition, he was the punter at BC, logging a 38.5 average on 50 punts with 13 dropped inside the 20. He is expected to join the competition for both posts for the 'Bows in 2015.

 

A late addition the roster, fifth-year transfer Bondi comes to Manoa after three seasons as a kickoff specialist for the Huskers, collecting touchbacks on 63-of-111 kickoffs.

"He just barely kicks it and it's going to the goal line, so when he really kicks it, it's going out of the endzone," senior long snapper Brian Hittner noted.

Competing with Novoa and Sanchez for the punting duties, Trifonovitch looks to fill the biggest shoes on the team in replacing Harding—who, in addition to Football Writers Association (FWAA) All-America honors was named "The Most Interesting Man in College Football" by Grantland last season. However, the local rookie comes with high expectations of his own, earning Chris Sailer Kicking All-America honors after averaging 47.8 yards per punt with five dropped inside the 20—an average that would have ranked second in NCAA Division I FBS last season.

 

"This is the most competition I've seen since I've been here, and it's good for the whole team," Hittner said.

Hittner has the experience to pass judgment, as a part of a crucial unit that many overlook unless there are mistakes—few noticed the snappers last season.

"Those guys are really good and really consistent," Cookus said. "Last year they didn't have one bad snap. It's always a relief to have a game-experienced snapper who understands how to play under pressure."

Hittner (6-1, 200, Anaheim Hills, Calif.) handled the long snapping duties on punts a year ago after transferring from Saddleback College, where he held the same role. Locking up short snapper duties, junior Brodie Nakama (5-9, 225, Santa Clara, Calif.) has handled snaps for field goals and extra points in all 25 games over the past two seasons. In addition, three others are noted as capable of joining the unit, including freshman linebacker Noah Borden (6-1, 215, Pearl City, O'ahu).

The Rainbow Warriors return to helmets and shorts on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. at Cooke Practice Field, retiring the full gear until later in camp, with a closed practice scheduled on Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium on Friday.