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The University of Hawaii football team opens its fourth training camp under coach Norm Chow on Tuesday. The first practice is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Here is a look at the most intriguing newcomers at each position:
Quarterback: During his two-year church mission in Baltimore, Aaron Zwahlen kept fit exercising before his studies and work each morning, and, when possible, tossing around a football. (His family sent a second football after he wore out the first one.) Zwahlen was on ESPN’s Top 300 list when he signed with the Warriors on Feb. 1, 2012. He displayed maturity and arm strength during players-only unsupervised workouts this summer.
Running back: This is one of five positions for Paul Harris, a Ventura College transfer who also can play slotback, wideout, punt returner and kickoff returner. In team testing last week, Harris had the third-quickest time in the 10-yard dash.
Slotback: Dylan Collie, who was at Brigham Young for a year before going on a two-year church mission, has the receiver’s DNA. His older brothers played in the NFL, and his father was a Brigham Young receiver who was coached by Norm Chow and caught passes from Steve Young. Collie usually was the first to complete “gassers” — a series of 53-yard sprints — during offseason conditioning drills.
Wideout: If Isaiah Bernard meets the NCAA requirements to complete his transfer from Glendale (Calif.) College, he will add a vertical threat to the perimeter. He was timed at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, 21.8 in the 200, 48.91 in the 400, and 1:56 in the 800.
Tight end: Davasyia Hagger shuffled between tight end and wideout at Orange Coast College. But at 6 feet 5, with agility (10-4 broad jump) and mobility (4.18 in the three-cone shuttle), Hagger projects as a motion tight end for the Warriors.
Offensive line: J.R. Hensley was 17 when he arrived in Hawaii in May for the start of Summer Session I. The early start enabled him to participate in the offseason conditioning program with the returning players. Last month, he joined the other freshmen in the afternoon workouts.
Hensley was the left tackle for a Santa Fe High (Edmond, Okla.) line that produced a 2,000-yard rusher. Hensley, who is 6-5 and 310 pounds, can play both tackle and guard positions.
Defensive line: Samiuela Akoteu appears to be the answer to the Rainbow Warriors’ quest for depth behind nose tackles Kiko Faalologo and Kory Rasmussen. Akoteu intially committed to Fresno State in February 2014, but because of family issues, did not join the Bulldogs. Those concerns have been alleviated, and Akoteu joined the Warriors in July.
Linebacker: Russell Williams was named to a junior college All-America first team last year, his only semester at Sacramento City College. He is a speedy outside linebacker with three years of UH eligibility remaining.
Safety: Solomon Matautia, who was named to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State first team two years in a row, competed as a safety during players-only unsupervised workouts. But with his physical style, he can play nickelback or even linebacker.
Cornerback: If Dejaun Butler meets the NCAA requirements, he would add to a strong group of corners led by Ne’Quan Phillips, Nick Nelson and Jamal Mayo.
Kicker: Mauro Bondi, who was Nebraska’s long-distance specialist last year, found a fresh start in paradise. Bondi is immediately eligible to play because he has a bachelor’s degree and found a graduate-study field at UH.
Punter: Alex Trifonovitch, a 2015 Punahou graduate, will enable the Warriors to return to the boom-it strategy.
Assistant coach: As the last signee of the 2000 recruiting class, Abraham Elimimian played cornerback with a proverbial chip on his shoulder. He never had it removed. Elimimian, now the Warriors’ secondary coach, still brings to work the same intensity and detail.
Graduate assistant: From last year’s game against Northern Iowa, the Warriors learned that UNI graduate assistant Garrett Scott performed multiple tasks, such as analyzing videos, coaching the scout team, preparing scouting reports and running errands. Scott now works for UH.