The Hawaii football team’s first scrimmage of spring training was intended to provide answers. Instead, it offered more options.

The Warriors are transitioning from a four-wide passing attack to a pro-set offense, a move in which a tight end and fullback are supposed to replace the two slotbacks. But those plans are written in chalk because of the take-notice play of inside receivers Scott Harding and Miah Ostrowski and running backs Will Gregory and John Lister.

In Friday’s scrimmage, Harding caught four passes for 76 yards, with 58 of those yards coming on a catch-and-sprint play. Harding ran an over route in which he raced between the safeties.

"I just got open, and the ball was there," Harding said of the pass from David Graves. "The middle was open."

Harding, who played professional Australian rules football for six years, joined the Warriors as a 24-year-old freshman last fall. With sure hands and elusiveness, he emerged as the Warriors’ punt returner.

"Having last season under my belt helped me so much with this spring," Harding said. "I feel comfortable. I’m understanding the concepts. I’m lovin’ it."

Ostrowski missed most of the offseason conditioning program while playing point guard for the UH basketball team. He has endured a variety of ailments during spring training. In the scrimmage, he had four catches for 47 yards.

"I really like our receivers," head coach Norm Chow said.

Chow also was pleased with the running backs. Dustin Elisara is listed as the No. 1 fullback, and Joey Iosefa is the top running back. But Gregory and Lister have drawn raves.

Gregory had two touchdown runs, both on zone plays up the middle, and Lister had a workmanlike 49 yards on nine carries, including a 15-yard scoring run.

Chow said he envisions using Gregory or Lister in the same backfield with Iosefa in two-back sets.

"Will Gregory is looking very good," Chow said.

Gregory, who is 5 feet 11, said he gained 20 pounds and now weighs 210. He said he still is capable of running 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds.

"I love this offense," Gregory said. "It feels good to be running downhill."

For most of his career, Chow has called plays from the coaches’ booth. This year, as UH’s first-year head coach, Chow will be on the field. During the scrimmage, Chow maintained his stern communication with Graves, the Warriors’ No. 1 quarterback.

Chow praised Graves for his leadership and touchdown throws (of 58 yards to Harding and 38 to Billy Ray Stutzmann), but scolded him for missing wide-open receivers.

"I tell him all of the time: ‘I’m hard on quarterbacks,’ " Chow said. "He’s not going to get coddled. He’s a quarterback. He has to perform, and he will. He was a little nervous. He made some beautiful throws, then he missed a couple of others."

Graves was 9-for-13 for 147 yards, but was sacked five times.

Graves said it was beneficial to go against "live bullets" for the first time this spring. It was a different atmosphere with the coaches on the sideline, and plays being run in.

"We definitely were a little sloppy," Graves said. "We have to tighten some things up. But I thought we took a couple of steps forward."

Graves appears to be adjusting to Chow’s brash coaching style.

"I really think he’s after the whole team’s best interest to get me to where I need to be," Graves said. "I trust him. I’m going to do what he says to the best of my ability."