‘Bounce-back’ players might change way Chow recruits

Watching quarterback Jeremy Higgins flip a pass to receiver Quinton Pedroza as linebacker Jeremy Castro tries to break up the play this spring makes for a revealing snapshot of the changing look of the University of Hawaii football team.

All three are so-called "bounce-back" players — transfers from four-year schools (Higgins from Utah State, Pedroza from Utah and Castro from UCLA) — symbolizing a significant and expanding presence on the Rainbow Warriors’ roster.

The ‘Bows have 14 of them entering Saturday’s practice, with the likelihood that more might be on the way in the fall. It is already the most "bounce backs" UH has had in at least 15 years, double that of even the June Jones "Second Chance U" days. And indications are it will shape how the ‘Bows go about future recruiting.

About 33 percent of UH’s 86-man spring roster came to Manoa from either four-year schools or junior colleges. Overall, 24 "bounce backs" have come to UH since head coach Norm Chow arrived in December 2011, Stephen Tsai has reported. 

All the while UH is fielding inquiries from players at Duke, Washington and Utah while also waiting on USC quarterback Max Wittek. Meanwhile, another quarterback, Beau Reilly, who originally signed with Colorado State but has received a waiver to join UH in June, watches from the sidelines daily.

Some have come because of problems at their previous school, others as a result of coaching changes. But most, be they from BCS schools or Division II and III members, are seeking a more compatible level of competition and playing time.

That surge is causing Chow to re-evaluate how — and where — the ‘Bows will go about expending their time and resources in high school recruiting. "High school recruiting, in my mind, might take a little bit of a step back," Chow said. "We’ll still go after the local kids, of course, but we might do the mainland differently."

He tells the tale of a California defensive back the ‘Bows had sought and thought they had, only to lose out to Fresno State. "We lost him because Fresno State was just a lot closer to home for him," Chow said. "That’s the problem with a lot of mainland kids we’ve been after."

Now, unless UH feels like it has some built-in tie with a mainland prospect, such as family in Hawaii, Chow said "we might as well step back and hope we can get another Pedroza, Castro, etc.  With these ‘bounce backs’ and JC guys, we get guys who are older, more willing to go farther from home."     

Not to be overlooked is that several figure to emerge as starters, which for a staff that doesn’t have three years to wait for a turnaround in fortunes, means readily available help.

Chow knew about recruiting in Hawaii, having done so on behalf of Brigham Young, UCLA, USC and Utah for a quarter century as an assistant coach. But recruiting to Hawaii is a vastly different ballgame. 

"I spoke with Bob Wagner (UH head coach 1987-95) a while ago and he told me it took him five or six years to figure out recruiting to Hawaii because it was so different," Chow said. "Believe me, I understand what he was saying." 

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.