HAWAII OFFENSE

LWO—85 Marcus Armstrong-Brown 6-3 210 Sr.

SB—5 John Ursua 5-10 175 Jr.

LT—75 Ilm Manning 6-4 280 Fr.

LG—57 J.R. Hensley 6-5 310 Jr.

C—63 Taaga Tuulima 6-2 290 So.

RG—60 Solo Vaipulu 6-2 310 Fr.

RT—72 Kohl Levao 6-6 340 Jr.

SB—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 170 Jr.

RWO—19 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Jr.

QB—13 Cole McDonald 6-4 210 So.

RB—21 Fred Holly 6-0 200 So.

In the chicken/egg debate, what came first: Quarterback Cole McDonald’s rapid development or the breakout talents of receivers Cedric Byrd and JoJo Ward? McDonald played in two different offenses in high school — triple option and spread option — and was force-fed the run-and-shoot this past offseason. In addition to a 13-to-0 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions, McDonald has proven to be unique from past UH quarterbacks. He is accurate on deep passes (50 percent on throws 20-plus yards from the line of scrimmage) and elusive on designed plays (8.0 yards per keeper or draw). McDonald also has bonded with receivers John Ursua, Byrd and Ward. Ursua has been targeted 39 times in three games. Ward has a yards-after-catch average of 14.5. Byrd caught 85.8 percent of the passes in which he was the intended receiver. “My goal every game is to catch every ball thrown to me,” said Byrd, who tries to catch 100 passes a day, either from the UH quarterbacks or JUGS machine. Byrd also is the go-to person to loosen jar caps. He said he works out daily with a hand grip. The Warriors received a boost from Marcus Armstrong-Brown, whose cone of certainty is between slants and go routes. While freshman lineman Solo Vaipulu and Ilm Manning have gained attention, right tackle Kohl Levao has impressed with his quickness on pulls. On two sweeps to the left last week, 340-pound Levao scooted from the right to be the lead blocker.

HAWAII DEFENSE

DE—99 Zeno Choi 6-3 280 Sr.

NT—54 Blessman Ta’ala 6-1 310 Fr.

DT—91 Samiuela Akoteu 6-2 280 Jr.

E—48 Derek Thomas 6-3 225 So.

LB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 Jr.

LB—33 Penei Pavihi 6-2 230 So.

LB—31 Jahlani Tavai 6-4 235 Sr.

CB—4 Roe Farris 6-1 180 Jr.

S—22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Jr.

S—16 Kalen Hicks 6-3 200 Jr.

CB—8 Eugene Ford 6-2 195 So.

In the first three games, the Warriors countered with three different looks. “We played three different offenses,” said defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, referring to Colorado State’s power game out of three-wide alignment, Navy’s triple option, and Rice’s Stanford-themed physical attack. “You’re scheme matches the offense you’re facing.” Batoon is the Warriors’ eighth defensive coordinator in the past eight seasons. “It’s all new to these kids,” Batoon said. “Next year, it’ll be that much easier for them after they’ve gotten a year under their belt. I’m happy how they come to work every day.” The Warriors have found strength up the middle. Nose tackle Blessman Ta’ala, who was recuperating from a knee injury last year, has made an impact at the point in his first UH season. “He’s one of the strongest guys on the team,” Batoon said. “His strength and athleticism, it’s rare to have a guy like that.” Linebacker Penei Pavihi’s emergence in the middle has enabled Jahlani Tavai to play rush end and in coverage. “I’m wherever the coaches need me to be,” Tavai said. “I’m prepared to play any position. If they want me to play 3-technique, nose, I will. I’ll do whatever is possible for the team.” Kalen Hicks has filled the vacancy at safety, which lost both starters from a year ago. Hicks, who was a rover in 2017, often plays in box. He is averaging 7.3 tackles per game, second most on the team.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

PK—94 Ryan Meskell 6-0 185 Jr.

KO—52 Michael Boyle 6-1 175 Fr.

LS—1 Noah Borden 6-1 220 Sr.

P/H—99 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 So.

KR/PR—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 170 Jr.

Australia-reared Ryan Meskell’s introduction to American football was rocky in 2017, when he went from point-scoring kicker to kickoff specialist. Two kickers were brought into camp to challenge for the starting job. But Meskell worked to synchronize accuracy with a powerful right leg. After making one field goal last season, he is perfect on all four attempts this season. Opponents have returned only 12 of Michael Boyle’s 26 kickoffs.

ARMY OFFENSE

WR—82 Kjetil Cline 6-0 205 Jr.

TE—85 Quinten Parker 6-1 250 Sr.

LT—74 Austin Schuffert 6-2 285 Sr.

LG—73 Jaxson Deaton 6-4 310 Jr.

C—65 Bryce Holland 6-2 295 Sr.

RG—76 Peyton Reeder 6-6 290 So.

RT—55 JB Hunter 6-4 265 So.

QB—8 Kelvin Hopkins 5-10 205 Jr.

SB—1 Fred Cooper 5-11 225 So.

FB—33 Darnell Woolfolk 5-9 235 Sr.

SB—5 Kell Walker 5-9 195 Jr.

The triple-option offense is rooted in Statesboro, Ga., where coach Erk Russell’s run-oriented attack helped Georgia Southern prosper in the 1980s. Russell’s disciple, Paul Johnson, became Jeff Monken’s mentor during stints together at Hawaii, Navy and Georgia Southern. Now Monken is three weeks into his fifth season at Army, leading the Black Knights to a 19-9 record since August 2016. The key is the fullback dive. The Knights rotate five fullbacks, with Darnell Woolfolk (no losses in 24 carries) and ‘Ewa Beach’s Calen Holt (9.7 yards per rush) as the most productive. Quarterback Kelvin Hopkins, who succeeded Ahmad Bradshaw, is masterful on option pitches or mid-line keepers. There now is a fourth option. Last year, Army had 20 completions in 13 games. In this season’s first two games, Hopkins has completed 12 passes for 258 yards and two TDs. He has not been intercepted. “Every day we’re focusing on fundamentals and the little things,” Hopkins said. “It’s stuff I heard from day one that we’re still talking about right now. It’s no detail is too small that we’re practicing.” It is that commitment to the task that has personally helped Hopkins, whose mother lives in North Carolina. While Charlotte, N.C., is too far inland to feel Hurricane Florence’s full force, the area is susceptible to collateral rain, flooding and wind damage. Hopkins is understandably concerned. But assured his mother will be safe, he said, “when I’m on the football field, this is my job, this is what I handle. I owe it to my team to be focused and ready to go on.”

ARMY DEFENSE

SLB—29 Chandler Ramirez 6-0 225 Sr.

E—92 Edriece Patterson 6-3 245 So.

NG—77 Raymond Wright 6-3 285 Sr.

NT—91 Wunmi Oyetuga 6-4 275 Jr.

RE—56 Kenneth Brinson 6-2 245 Sr.

MLB—54 Cole Christiansen 6-2 225 Jr.

WLB—19 James Nachtigal 6-0 235 Sr.

BC—23 Elijah Riley 6-0 205 Jr.

BS—2 James Gibson 6-1 220 Sr.

FS—7 Jaylon McClinton 5-10 200 Jr.

FC—8 Javhari Bourdeau 5-8 180 So.

An opposing coach once joked about the Knights’ “voodoo defense” — they will stick you here, they will stick you there. The Knights have devised creative takes on a 3-4 base. While many point defenders face double-team blocks, the Knights attack with essentially two nose defenders — Raymond Wright and Wunmi Oyetuga. They take turns aligning at the point and off a center’s shoulder. Sometimes they will start in each A gap. The intent is to force the double teams, opening the way for inside linebackers James Nachtigal (team-high 6.5 tackles per game) and Cole Christiansen, a sideline-to-sideline defender. Elijah Riley is a shutdown corner. Last week, Riley limited Liberty’s Antonio Gandy-Golden, a highly regarded pro prospect, to three catches for 33 yards. Safeties Jaylon McClinton and Javhari Bourdeau can sit in a two-deep zone. One or both safeties can pick up an inside receiver or slide into the tackle box for run support. “We’re just a bunch of physical dudes, a bunch of tough dudes,” Christiansen said. “That’s really our whole philosophy. … We would take the tougher guy over the guy who will run a 4.1 or whatever. That’s how we all want to play — just a bunch of savages flying around and hitting people, with good fundamentals, obviously.”

ARMY SPECIALISTS

PK—1 Landon Salyers 6-1 190 So.

KO/P—38 Nick Schrage 6-0 167 Jr.

LS—89 Scott Flanick 6-2 235 Sr.

H—17 Zach Potter 5-10 200 Jr.

KR—5 Kell Walker 5-9 195 Jr.

PR—10 Mike Reynolds 5-10 185 Sr.

In the previous two seasons, Army kickers missed 11 of 20 field-goal attempts. It was hoped Landon Salyers, a star pupil from Chris Sailer’s kicking school, would provide a 3-point threat. Salyers, who played in only one game as freshman in 2017, missed his first two kicks in the opener against Duke before converting from 42 yards. His average kickoff reaches t0 the 10 after which the average start for an opponent’s drive is at the 27.