According to the schedule, the Hawaii football team’s offseason conditioning program begins with this morning’s 6:30 weightlifting session.

According to defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu, "we never stopped training."

The NCAA permits strength/conditioning coaches Tommy Heffernan and Grant Steen to lead the offseason training in cardiovascular and weightlifting sessions. Because the program is supposed to be voluntary, attendance is not taken. Coaches are not allowed to be present during unsupervised workouts involving a football, leaving it to the players to coordinate passing drills.

Offseason workouts "are very important," said Tuipulotu, who is regarded as the Warriors’ top prospect for the 2012 National Football League Draft. "This is when you prepare your body for training camp. This is the time to get bigger, faster, stronger."

Heffernan met with each of the Warriors following spring training. Each player listed conditioning and strength goals. Shortly before the end of UH’s spring semester, Heffernan gave the players a computer code to access a training itinerary for the summer.

"I’ve been going over that," said slotback Promise Amadi, an incoming freshman from California who is enrolled in two bridge-session classes beginning in early July.

In addition to UH’s program, Amadi is going through a workout program he devised as a Chino High sophomore two years ago. He does three sets of 40 crunches, 30 leg reaches and 60 military-styled crossover stretches. Twice a week he runs up and down the bleachers at Chino High. He also has switched to a high-protein diet.

"I want to get down to 6 percent body fat," said Amadi, who was at 8.5 percent a couple of months ago.

Mike Edwards, a highly regarded cornerback, will move to Hawaii in mid-July when he completes a final class needed for an associate’s degree. He has received an acceptance letter from UH. Edwards played eight games for Tennessee as a freshman in 2009 before getting into legal trouble.

"I’ve been training for the last six months straight," Edwards said. I’ve been working on speed and weight training."

Edwards, who lives in Ohio, has trained with defensive backs Joe Haden and T.J. Ward of the Cleveland Browns and receiver Ted Ginn Jr. of the San Francisco 49ers.

"My biggest improvement is my overall body composition," Edwards said. "I gained over 20 pounds this offseason."

Edwards, who now weighs 190, can bench press 305 pounds — an increase of 35 pounds. He said he works out 4 hours every morning, first running hills or on a track, and then lifting weights.

Quarterback Kevin Spain, a 2010 recruit who underwent surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder last fall, said he has been pain-free for a while. Of his plans during unsupervised passing drills, Spain said: "I’m going to let it fly."

Raised in Arizona, Spain said: "I’m going to be here the whole summer. I’m ready to work hard."