Higgins playing his part

Hawaii quarterback Jeremy Higgins spends most weeks learning the opponent’s offense.

This week, the sophomore can do a little bit of teaching.

A year removed from playing for Utah State, Higgins is helping the Warriors defense prepare for Saturday’s Western Athletic Conference football game against the Aggies by running the UH scout team in practice.

"It’s kind of weird to be on the other side of things," Higgins said Tuesday.

Higgins signed with Utah State following a decorated career at Saint Louis and saw action in two games as a true freshman last year, including a brief appearance against UH.

The lure of playing at home led him to transfer to UH in the spring and he’s putting in his time with the scout team while serving the NCAA-mandated redshirt year.

"Obviously he’ll be able to give us a good look because they’re similar to what they did last year," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "I think they’ve really improved their talent. Their talent is outstanding. … Jeremy knows what he’s doing when he’s running the scout team and it helps us."

Higgins said he’s watched most of the Aggies’ games this season to follow the fortunes of some of his former teammates. While many of the plays are familiar, "they’ve got different guys, different faces. But a lot more explosive than last year, that’s for sure."

Although Utah State brings a 2-5 record to Aloha Stadium (0-2 in WAC play), the Aggies have given defenses fits all season.

Utah State leads the WAC in scoring at 35.9 points per game, ranks sixth in the nation in rushing and averages 450 yards per game in total offense.

Running back Robert Turbin, who sat out last season with a knee injury, enters the week averaging 117.9 yards per game with 12 touchdowns. When the Aggies have called on freshman quarterback Chuckie Keeton to throw, he’s completed 62 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and just one interception.

"Gary Andersen’s an excellent coach and (offensive coordinator) Dave Baldwin’s always done a good job," McMackin said. "They’ll be prepared on both sides of the ball. Their record isn’t indicative of how they play."

Higgins might have been a contender to succeed multi-talented quarterback Diondre Borel had he stayed in Logan. He was the only quarterback other than Borel to attempt a pass for USU last year and spent one series across from the Warriors late in UH’s 45-7 win in Utah.

Higgins completed both of his pass attempts and was dropped for a 3-yard loss by former UH defensive end Kamalu Umu.

"He’s best friends with my older brother (former Saint Louis and Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins)," he said. "It was kind of funny seeing him on the other side of the line. I was all nervous and he’s joking. It was cool."

But things "didn’t click" for him at USU and he decided to return to Hawaii, even though it meant his primary contribution this year would be helping the defense prepare in practice.

"I got to come back home, I get a year to redshirt, a year strictly for improvement. I think I’ll get a good benefit from it," he said.

Being home also gave him a chance to watch his younger sister help Punahou capture the Division I state girls volleyball championship last week. Tayler Higgins, a junior, has already committed to UH, and orchestrated the Punahou attack as the Buffanblu’s setter.

"I was screaming as loud as I could. I was their No. 1 fan in there," said Jeremy, whose Saint Louis teams fell short in their bids for a state football title.

"I feel like I can’t believe she got one and I didn’t," he said with a laugh. "Me and my brothers were joking around that now at least someone in the family got one."