Starting QB likely named Monday, Chow says

Coach Norm Chow said he is prepared to announce the University of Hawaii football team’s No. 1 quarterback on Monday.

Chow said he wants to wait until after he reviews video of Saturday’s two full-padded practices.

Ikaika Woolsey has worked almost exclusively with the first-team offense in the first six days of training camp. Taylor Graham has received the majority of the reps with the second team. Jeremy Higgins, who was hindered by an injury to his left Achilles’ heel during offseason training, has received a significant number of snaps.

Chow said no matter who tops the depth chart, three quarterbacks will work together during practices.

On distributing the quarterback work, Chow said: "It has to come from your gut. Some No. 1s don’t need a lot of work. Other No. 1s need all the work you can give them."

Chow said the No. 2 quarterback will take the remaining reps in team drills. The No. 3 quarterback will take "mental reps" during scrimmage-like sessions.

Beau Reilly received extended work during Saturday’s first practice in full pads. Reilly initially committed to Colorado State before going on a two-year church mission. He completed his mission last fall and signed with UH in the spring.

Eric Prater, who spent the past few years in the U.S. Army’s Airborne Special Forces, is the fifth quarterback on the roster.

Former USC quarterback Max Wittek joins the Warriors on Aug. 25, the first day of the fall semester, when the roster is permitted to expand beyond 105 players. Wittek, who will be a walk-on, is allowed to practice but not play in games until the 2015 season.

This is Chow’s third training camp as UH head coach. Woolsey, Graham and Higgins have participated in each of them.

"They know what to do," Chow said.

Woolsey said the quarterbacks are motivated to turn the Warriors’ fortunes. The Warriors were 6-7 in 2011, Greg McMackin’s final season as head coach, and 4-20 the past two years.

"We definitely want to erase the past two years, but we don’t want to forget the foundation (those players) built for us," said Woolsey, a third-year sophomore. "The last two senior classes sacrificed their seasons for us.

"That’s something I take personally as a quarterback and leader of this team. I have to do my job to get (this year’s) seniors to a bowl game. That’s what they deserve. I want to do it for (former players such as) Charles Clay and Brenden Daley and Paipai (Falemalu) and Sean Schroeder. Guys like that. My heart goes out to people like that. I can’t send out the seniors like what happened last year. We have to keep moving forward and taking steps every day."

Chow said the past week has been "the best first week we’ve ever had," noting the players entered camp "bigger and stronger and more knowledgeable" of the system. Chow praised the holdovers from McMackin’s teams who have emerged as leaders.

"They bought into what we’re trying to preach," Chow said. "Not that they didn’t buy into what Mack taught, but it’s a different deal. And they bought in, and they deserve to have some success. They didn’t have it in Mack’s last year, and they hadn’t had it the last two years. They deserve a chance to be successful."