It takes a special football player to play nose tackle.

"You have to be crazy," said Calen Friel, Hawaii’s nose tackle. "You take all of the hits. You’re taking on two, three (blockers). Hopefully, you leave it open for the linebacker to make the tackle."

Friel was raised to compete against double and triple coverages. He has nine siblings.

"Growing up, you had to fight to get some food first," he said, smiling. "Now I’m the biggest."

Friel also has an appetite for football that has not been satisfied for more than two years.

Friel is a 2010 Kailua High graduate who delayed enrolling at UH for a semester to recover from a torn ACL in his left knee.

He then missed the 2011 season because of an ACL injury in his right knee. During the 2012 training camp, Friel suffered a season-ending fractured fibula.

"I’ve been anxious to play these past two years," Friel said. "Standing on the sideline bums you out."

Friel was medically cleared to practice this past Tuesday. His first practice led to his first warning.

"I got scoldings a couple of times to calm down," Friel said.

Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said Friel has played well.

"We don’t want to do too much with him," Kaumeyer said. "He’s going to have some soreness. We want to make sure we limit him a little bit."

Friel said: "After the third injury, I’m starting to learn to take it easy. (Kaumeyer) told me he didn’t need me for the spring. He needed me for the summer and the season."

Loeffler treated for injury

Backup offensive lineman Jordan Loeffler appeared to suffer a painful injury to his left knee during Saturday’s practice.

Loeffler was treated on the ground for several minutes before being taken by cart to the training room.

Offense diversifying

The Warriors finished their second week of spring training with hopeful results.

"I think both sides played really well," UH coach Norm Chow said of the two-hour practice that involved situational drills.

The Warriors expanded the offensive menu to feature more rollouts and bootlegs. The quarterbacks, who worked out of the shotgun in the first four practices, were under center about half the plays on Saturday.

"We’re giving the defense more looks," quarterback Taylor Graham said. "Moving the pocket keeps the defense from rushing the same angles every time."

Graham took all of the reps with the first-team offense. Ikaika Woolsey had fewer reps than Graham, but more work than Jeremy Higgins. Sean Schroeder, who underwent back surgery on April 1, attended practice, but won’t be fully healthy until early July.

Chow said Graham missed a "couple of decisions" during a passing drill, "but that’s part of the process."

Graham redshirted in 2012 after transfering from Ohio State. While he has not played in a game in more than three years, he has logged a lot of time in practice.

"Last year, I took advantage of being on the scout team," said Graham, who portrayed the upcoming opponent’s quarterback in drills against the Warriors’ No. 1 defense. "I didn’t want to waste the year. It’s behind me. I improved when I could. Now it’s time to go."

Slotback Scott Harding said Graham is "doing a great job. He’s seeing the coverages. We’re on the same page."