Going through the treatment and rehab is the easy part. Standing back and watching his teammates practice? Now, that’s been rough for Billy Ray Stutzmann.
Time is often the most critical factor in dealing with a tender hamstring. So the Hawaii football team’s first two weeks of practice have largely been a test of patience for Stutzmann.
"That’s probably the hardest thing with an injury," Stutzmann said. "You see guys out there, you want to do that, you want to help them and be out there with them and get the timing down."
Stutzmann, a sophomore slotback who entered camp as a projected starter, has eased back into action over the past week. He tested himself against the starting defense for the first time during Friday’s practice at Ching Field.
Stutzmann said he’s running at about 85 to 90 percent and began the week just running routes in drills without defenders and in scout periods.
On Friday, he took the next step in the process by working with the first unit in the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 team periods.
"When it comes to team, everyone’s going full speed, so you get to gauge how well you are at that point," Stutzmann said. "Best day of practice so far."
Stutzmann and fellow slotback Miah Ostrowski hope to be back to full speed next week as they hone their timing and chemistry with quarterback Bryant Moniz.
"It’ll probably take another couple full-speed practices to get body language down, to get the speed down," Stutzmann said. "But today was a good start just being out there talking with Mo."
Stutzmann caught 13 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown last year as a backup wideout. He made the transition to the slot in the spring, a process that actually began late in his freshman year.
Toward the end of the season, Stutzmann said he started learning the slot routes while picking up pointers from Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares before the seniors embarked on pro careers. So now, "it’s pretty much second nature."
