UH wraps up spring

The Rainbow Warriors’ spring training ended with a thunderous clap.

Six claps, actually.

During the UH football team’s final team meeting of the spring on Monday, safeties Josh Donovan and Damien Packer were awarded football scholarships for the coming season, each receiving traditional three-clap salutes from teammates.

Although head coach Norm Chow had hinted both were expected to receive scholarships — valued at $20,658 each for the coming academic year — Donovan and Packer were lost in emotion when the offer became official.

Packer called his mother, Angela Packer, a single parent and Big Island teacher who worked a second — and sometimes third — job to help pay for tuition and school expenses.

"She was in tears when she found out," Packer said. "I’m thankful to God and my mother. I couldn’t have done it without them."

Packer and Donovan made their biggest impressions on special teams, participating on four of the six units.

Donovan has the unheralded role of edge-setter on kickoffs and punts, an assignment in which he forces returners from running wide of the coverage. Donovan missed most of his senior high school season after suffering a serious knee injury. He joined the Warriors as a walk-on, stayed even after his father, former UH athletic director Jim Donovan, accepted a job at Cal State Fullerton, and worked his way up the depth chart at safety.

Packer, who plays boundary safety and nickelback, said his daily meals featured some variation of canned tuna.

"The struggle was definitely there," Packer said. "There were nights I would be in bed thinking: ‘Is it all really worth it?’ But every morning I’d wake up with my mind set on working toward my goals. I knew eventually it would pay off and, man, it’s a great feeling now."

Packer added: "There’s no real celebration. The work’s not done. That was the message of the meeting. We have to keep working. The summer workouts are going to be intense."

Each player was told to write down goals leading to training camp in August. Chow then told the players: "Finish strong."

"It’s important for them to take care of their academics," said Chow, noting that 41 players earned a grade-point average of at least 3.0 during the past fall semester. They will be among the student-athletes honored at a scholar dinner Tuesday.

As for the recently completed 15 practices of spring training, Chow said: "We’re excited about what we accomplished. The guys are ready."

Chow said the offseason is divided into quarters. The first quarter is the eight-week conditioning program that runs through late March.

"That first quarter is to get bigger and stronger," Chow said.

For instance, slotback Quinton Pedroza dropped weight, and wideout Keith Kirkwood improved his strength.

Chow said the second quarter is spring training. The third quarter, which leads to the start of training camp, is designed to improve cardiovascular shape. The fourth quarter is training camp.

Chow said he is not ready to name a No. 1 quarterback. Ikaika Woolsey, who worked mostly with the first team, appears to fit the read-option phase of the expanded offense. Jeremy Higgins, who played well this spring, suffered a foot injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s scrimmage. He remained in the game, despite a noticeable limp from his left (push-off) foot. Taylor Graham was limited this spring while recovering from surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

Quarterback Beau Reilly, who was a spectator at spring practices, joins the Warriors this June.

Chow said Ben Clarke, who moved from center halfway through spring camp, will remain at left tackle. Kody Afusia’s move from left guard to center also is permanent. The search is on for a left guard, with Dejon Allen, Elijah Tupai and Frank Loyd Jr. as the top contenders.

Chow said the defense improved under coordinator Kevin Clune, who was hired in January after serving as Utah State’s linebacker coach.

Chow plans conduct exit interviews with each of the 86 players on the spring roster. With recruits and walk-ons joining this summer, UH is trying to craft a 105-player roster for training camp.

"That’s very fluid," Chow said. "We have to figure it out. You don’t know now about transfers or how guys with academic problems will do. That’s what the next month is for, trying to figure out the 105."

Meanwhile, the Warriors are looking ahead. Offensive line coach Chris Naeole and intern Ed Ta‘amu, who is an approved recruiter this spring, left on Monday for American Samoa to evaluate prospects.

"We’re not going to stop working," Chow said.