Former Warriors set for bowl

Fifty days after playing their last University of Hawaii football game, quarterback Sean Schroeder and wide receiver Chris Gant will be reunited.

Schroeder and Gant will participate in Saturday’s NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

The NFL Players Association and ESPN are co-sponsors of the all-star game for players who recently completed their NCAA eligibility. Practices today through Thursday will be shown on ESPNU. ESPN2 will televise the game beginning at 1 p.m. Hawaii time.

"With Chris in the game, I look forward to rekindling that connection," Schroeder said.

Despite the 1-11 record, the Rainbow Warriors finished 19th nationally in passing, averaging 301.4 yards per game.

Schroeder, who did not participate in the preceding offseason after undergoing back surgery, reclaimed the starting job in UH’s fifth game in 2013.

Since the second half of the Fresno State game, his most significant playing time to that point, Schroeder was 217-for-350 for 2,711 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was intercepted 11 times during that stretch. As a starter, Schroeder averaged 338.8 passing yards, which would have ranked sixth nationally. His pass-efficiency rating of 147.18 would have put him 28th among FBS quarterbacks.

Schroeder’s favorite target was Gant. That connection accounted for 53 completions, 911 yards and nine touchdowns. With the other quarterbacks, Gant caught a combined six passes for 62 yards and no touchdowns.

Schroeder and Gant will play for the American team. Dennis Green, who coached the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, will be the squad’s head coach. Mike Kruczek, best remembered as Terry Bradshaw’s backup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the offensive coordinator.

As UMass’ offensive coordinator in 2012, Kruczek unsuccessfully tried to recruit Schroeder, who earned a Duke degree and was seeking to transfer.

"He’s a really good guy, a really good coach, as well," Schroeder said.

UH coach Norm Chow was instrumental in Schroeder and Gant earning invitations to the all-star game.

"Obviously, he has a lot of connections in the NFL," Schroeder said of Chow. "He called over there, too, I know, and that obviously helped out a lot."

Schroeder said he is working out at Stark Training in Irvine, Calif. He weighs 195 pounds, and hopes to reach the 205-to-215-pound range.