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 | Special Teams: Kickers, Returners and Snappers | Quarterbacks | Defensive Line | Offensive Line |

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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team returned to action on Wednesday at Cooke Practice Field in full pads, presenting all the energy from the opening day of camps through an extensive team practice which included several live scrimmage periods.

Moving from a run-heavy pro set offense to a spread variant in the offseason, Hawai'i fans shouldn't expect the run game to all but disappear in 2015, especially considering the talented, and deep, stable of running backs on hand in the rotation under second-year running backs coach Wayne Moses.

 

Despite missing seven games last year, then-senior Joey Iosefa shouldered a great load for the Rainbow Warriors, racking up 617 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns. For his efforts, Iosefa was rewarded with a seventh round NFL Draft selection by Tampa Bay. While it will be a challenge to replace his four years of experience—which accounted for 2,218 yards and 21 touchdowns—the 'Bows have a three-headed monster taking primary reps with plenty more getting looks.

Picking up seven starts a year ago, junior Steven Lakalaka (5-10, 210, Honolulu, O'ahu) topped the squad with 646 yards rushing on a team-leading 159 carries. In his rookie season, Lakalaka also chipped in 468 yards—remaining steady with a 4.1 average across both years, hitting the hole between the tackles with the same attacking style and instincts that earned him Gatorade Hawai'i Player of the Year at Punahou School.

Lakalaka was out of action in the spring, which provided an opportunity for classmate Diocemy Saint Juste (5-8, 195, Boynton Beach, Fla.) to make his mark—earning the top spot on the depth chart heading into fall camp. More of a speed back with home run power, Saint Juste played in all 13 games in the 2014 back rotation, tallying 73 carries for 495 yards and three scores—leading all significant rushers with 5.1 yards per carry. As a rookie, he grabbed 4.3 yards on 50 carries.

"We complement each other a lot, we're two different runners," Saint Juste noted of his tandem role with Lakalaka. "No one back can do the whole game, it depends on situational plays."

 

A summer addition to the program could be another "home run guy" for the 'Bows. Junior college transfer Paul Harris (5-11, 190, Columbus, Ohio) immediately drew notice from the first day of camp for his ability to find seams in the defense. An All-American kick returner, Harris also added first-team Region III honors for his ball-carrying ability, averaging 8.5 yards per carry for 499 yards rushing and four touchdowns as a sophomore at Ventura College. As a rookie, he also averaged 6.4 YPC.

The backs who have been in the system are working well as a unit, and the word chemistry is thrown around—and they aren't shying away from sharing the reps.

"The new guys are very coachable and open-minded and are looking to us for help," Lakalaka said. "We're here with open arms, trying to show aloha and that we're brothers with one mission, to win games."

While we used the term "three-headed" for the attack earlier, there's a fourth weapon to consider, in experienced senior fullback Justin Vele (6-0, 240, Honolulu, O'ahu). Now in his fourth season in the program, Vele has played in 26 games for the Rainbow Warriors, starting out as a tight end.

 

"He's the big guy at fullback, and if we need a big guy to go in and get a yard or two for us, he's the guy," Moses noted "He's been around the block and played some ball for us, you always feel good about experienced guys and he's every bit of that."

Given his predecessor's rushing success last season, it's hard for Vele to not draw inspiration from Iosefa's path to the next level.

"Coming out of high school, I wanted to play linebacker, and then I started to understand the NFL and the fullback position," Vele said. "Seeing Joey get picked up like that keeps me driven even more."

Also seeing significant reps for the first time is senior Pereese Joas (5-6, 170, Plano, Texas), a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship at the beginning of camp. In limited carries last season, Joas broke off the biggest chunks on the squad, averaging 9.6 yards. His shiftiness and speed provide the 'Bows with another change-of-pace weapon.

"I'm extremely excited and at this point I'm pleased with where we are. We've got some pretty good pieces with Diocemy and Steven, Vele, Pereese, and the newcomer, Paul, working his way in the mix," Moses said. "I'm excited about the depth that we've got there and I'm looking forward to seeing how these guys progress over the next two weeks."

Everybody in the unit echoes the same sentiment and there's a sense of the unit clicking in sharing the load for the Rainbow Warriors in 2015.

"We've all got to do what's best for the team, and understand that the depth chart can change every day," Saint Juste said. "We all push and motivate each other to be the best we can be. We're able to catch our breath on offense, because we know as soon as the next guy steps in, he has major play-making capabilities. There's no doubt, we all have confidence in each other."

The 'Bows have also reaped the rewards of a tough offseason with strength coach Gary Beemer. Saint Juste packed on an additional 10 pounds since last year, while Lakalaka and Vele dropped a few, with all three bringing a leaner look to 2015's camp.

"Coach Beemer does a great job of emphasizing how to take care of our bodies and it was a great off-season for the running backs, and I do feel like we're in really great shape," Vele said.

On top of the five receiving the most looks, the 'Bows run deep, with Jason Muaraoka (5-7, 190, Honolulu, O'ahu) and Dominique Small (5-10, 190, Lakewood, Calif.) returning from last season, while Kaiwi Chung (5-11, 240, Honolulu, O'ahu) and Ryan Tuiasoa (5-11, 210, Kailua, O'ahu) are coming off redshirts.

In addition, this week saw the arrival of junior college transfer Melvin Davis (6-2, 235, Harbor City, Calif.), who will join Chung in supporting Vele in the bigger-back role. Last year at Santa Monica College, Davis earned all-conference honors after rushing for 534 yards and seven touchdowns.

"Since the first day I got here, I've always felt like the backs were the best unit on the team," Saint Juste said. "We all bring different strengths to the team and we've all matured and progressed mentally and physically as time has gone on."

Originally scheduled as a two-a-day, the 'Bows received a little reprieve after a very successful week so far, set to take on their lone Thursday session of the day in an afternoon practice on Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.