Before it was decided to activate freshman receiver Trevor Davis, the Hawaii football coaches sought approval from Linda Norman-Davis.
By playing against New Mexico State this past Saturday, Davis would relinquish an opportunity to redshirt this season. But after being assured her son would remain on track to earn a degree in business, she gave her blessing.
“My mom is excited as long as I can graduate,” Davis said, noting Norman-Davis earned a business degree.
Receivers coach Mouse Davis said: “He’ll be fine. He’s a really bright kid.”
Head coach Greg McMackin said the football program pays for each player to attend a summer session each year. In four years, those classes add up to the equivalent of a year’s worth of credits. The Warriors also pay for a fifth year of school for players who don’t redshirt and are in good academic standing.
McMackin said Trevor Davis is ready to graduate to a starting role.
Mouse Davis shared that view, saying: “He has good speed, which you don’t teach. And he has good hands, which you can aid but don’t teach. And he’s a very bright kid. If you get those, you’ll have a good receiver.”
Early in the second half against NMSU, Trevor Davis replaced Royce Pollard, who is recovering from a tight hamstring. Later, Davis moved to left wideout in place of Darius Bright.
He caught two passes for 48 yards, including a 40-yarder along the left sideline.
“Davis came in, and did an absolutely great job,” McMackin said.
Davis, who only practiced at right wideout, had to adjust quickly to the left side, where the stance and routes are different.
“My legs felt different,” Davis said. “I’ll practice it this week and get used to it. I can get comfortable with it. I just have to do repetitions.”
Davis said he will continue to seek advice from his mentor, Pollard.
“If I’m starting, there will be minimum change,” Davis said. “They’ll get me ready.”
Davis said his father traveled from California to watch the UH debut.
“That’s the reason he came out,” Davis said. “I told him I might be playing.”
Brown has bruised knee
An MRI showed weakside linebacker Aaron Brown is suffering from a bone bruise in his left knee.
Brown said he will not practice today or Wednesday, but will play against Idaho.
“I’m good,” Brown said.
He made 12 tackles against NMSU, and is ranked fifth in the Western Athletic Conference with 8.8 tackles per game.
Decision on kicker today
McMackin said a decision will be made today whether kickers Kenton Chun and Tyler Hadden will both be on the 64-player travel roster.
Hadden, who handles kickoffs, is a lock for a travel spot. Chun is in question after aggravating a sprained right knee against NMSU. McMackin said Chun is the Warriors’ best point-after kicker, but does not have the range for kickoffs.
“We’ll have to see where (Chun) is,” McMackin said.
