Of all of J.R. Hensley’s impressions — and he can do spot-on portrayals of his University of Hawaii football coaches — his best work is the beastly position on the kickoff-return unit.
“He’s a great rhino,” special teams coordinator Mayur Chaudhari said.
The past two games, the Rainbow Warriors employed a system in which two offensive linemen — the rhinos — are positioned on the 25-yard line on kickoff returns. A rhino’s job is to block would-be tacklers either individually or in tandem, clearing a path for the returner.
“It’s really fun to see everything in front of you and just unloading,” Hensley said.
Because of depth issues on the offensive line, the Warriors were not able to implement the rhino package until two weeks ago. In consultation with offensive line coach Chris Naeole, Chaudhari approached Hensley, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound guard from Edmond, Okla.. After a few practices, Hensley was offered the job.
“They asked: ‘Can you handle it?’” said Hensley, who quickly agreed. “After that, the next thing led to another, and I was in the game ready to go.”
Chaudhari said Hensley is “an accountable guy. He understands football. He’s one of those guys you have to tell once or twice, give him a couple different looks, and he can figure it out on the fly. He’s very passionate about it. He loves his role, and he does it well.”
Against San Diego State on Saturday, Hensley had two knockdown blocks. He also twice drove back an Aztec 10 yards with ferocious blocks.
“It’s kind of fun to do something different,” said Hensley, who redshirted as a freshman in 2015. “Plus, I hadn’t been on the field since high school. Just getting back in the swing of things and really laying the wood on some people is a fun thing to do.”
Hensley also pounced on a squib kick for what he believed was a 1-yard return. Instead, the official scorer credited him with zero yards. Still, Hensley said, “I got a stat in the game. It’s hilarious. As far as that goes, I definitely didn’t think that’d be the way I’d be start my college career off or anything like that, for sure.”
It was equally unexpected how Hensley become a Warrior. He sent highlight videos to college teams. The UH coaches responded, inviting Hensley on a recruiting trip the weekend before the February 2015 signing day. The initial plan was to ask Hensley to grayshirt, a procedure where he would delay enrolling at UH by a semester. But during the visit, Hensley was offered a football scholarship. He said he wanted to discuss the offer with his parents before making a decision. On Feb. 3, 2015, his 18th birthday, Hensley accepted the offer. He signed a letter of intent the next morning.
“That’s how it went,” Hensley said. “It was crazy.”
The past couple of weeks, Hensley found a role on special teams and in the offensive-line rotation. He said he found a home the past Independence Day.
“My favorite memory was the Fourth of July cookout,” Hensley said. “It was the whole team — no coaches — just a whole bunch of guys wanting to put something together. It was a really good experience. You could feel the brotherhood, and the guys you’re blocking next to every single day are always going to have your back. It really felt real. It was a good feeling.”
