QB race between McDonald and Cordeiro to take first snap in Warriors’ season opener

In a confirmation that lacked drama or surprise, University of Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich said either Cole McDonald or Chevan Cordeiro will start in Saturday’s season opener against Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo.

The quarterbacks split reps during Monday’s practice, the first of game-week preparation.

The Rainbow Warriors entered training camp last month with seven quarterbacks on the roster — McDonald, Cordeiro, Jeremy Moussa, Justin Uahinui, Kolney Cassel, Tanner Darling and Larry Tuileta. Darling moved to wideout on the first day of camp. Tuileta missed all of training camp, which ended on Saturday, while training with the national volleyball team. Tuileta rejoined the Warriors on Monday, the first day of UH’s fall semester.

Last week, UH pared the competition to McDonald, Cordeiro and Moussa. Now it will be either McDonald, a third-year sophomore, or Cordeiro, a 2018 Saint Louis graduate.

McDonald was largely used in the run-pass option in 2017. Although the Warriors have resurrected the run-and-shoot offense after a six-year absence, they are retaining elements of the run-pass option.

Rolovich said McDonald has “worked hard and he’s completed a ton more passes than he had a year ago. I think the (run-and-shoot) offense has helped him get more accurate.”

Quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann said McDonald “puts in a lot of work into the film room, and a lot of time on the field getting ready to play ball. He’s throwing the ball a lot better. It’s coming out a lot cleaner. His decision-making has been good.”

Stutzmann said Cordeiro is adjusting to college football’s quicker pace and elevated talent. Saint Louis runs a version of the run-and-shoot.

“That’s the high school version,” Stutzmann said. “You go to college, it’s a little more complex. There are finer details, and also the speed of the game, the speed of the (pass) rush. … (Cordeiro) is doing a good job catching up with the new stuff we put in.”

Rolovich said Cordeiro is “incredibly mature for a freshman as far as football. He can get in there and make a lot of plays for us.”

Slotback Cedric Byrd said McDonald and Cordeiro are athletic and able to stretch plays with their legs or arms.

“They both can make small 5-yard plays turn into 15 or touchdowns,” Byrd said. “I’m comfortable with all our quarterbacks. They all have their unique way.”