Left tackle Jordan Loeffler is expected to make his first NCAA football start when Hawaii faces Nevada on Saturday in Reno.
Beyond that, the depth chart of the offensive line is fluid.
“We have some options,” line coach Gordy Shaw said. “We’ll see how it goes when we practice.”
Loeffler is replacing Clayton Laurel, who suffered a broken left arm that ends his 2011 season and five-year UH career. Laurel was injured in the first half against Utah State on Saturday.
“(Loeffler) finished the game, and did some good things early,” Shaw said.
Left guard Brett Leonard, who did not play Saturday because of dizzy spells last week, is expected to be available for the Nevada game.
“He’ll be back, for sure,” Shaw said.
After transferring from a junior college in 2009, Leonard practiced at left tackle. He then moved to guard and center. Shaw said Leonard is an option at left tackle.
If Chauncy Winchester-Makainai is healthy, he also could play that position. He missed the past game because of leg issues. Winchester-Makainai and Levi Legay had rotated at right tackle.
Another option is for freshman Frank Loyd, who is practicing at guard, to move to left tackle.
“He hasn’t played much tackle, but he has the body where he can go out there,” Shaw said.
For now, Loeffler has the edge.
“I definitely feel comfortable there,” Loeffler said. “It’s not up to me. It’s up to the coaches.”
Shaw and head coach Greg McMackin said there are no plans for freshman tackle Blake Muir to abandon his redshirt status.
“He’s just not ready to play yet,” Shaw said.
McMackin said it would not be worth it for a player to be available for only the final four games of the regular season. McMackin said receivers Chris Gant and Cecil Doe will continue to redshirt this season.
“We’re not going to take anyone off of redshirt,” McMackin said. “When you have a chance to play half a season, that’s one thing. But it’s too close now (to the end of the season).”
Cold temperatures await Warriors in Reno
The temperature is expected to be in the 30s for Saturday’s kickoff at 7:15 Pacific time.
“It’s still football,” quarterback Bryant Moniz said. “They have to play in it, too. It wasn’t a problem for us when we played at Utah State (last year), and it was freezing there. Both teams have to play in the same conditions.”
Moniz had a doctor’s appointment Monday for an undisclosed condition. He is expected to start against Nevada.
Kennedy’s appearance left Warriors scrambling
McMackin said the Warriors scrambled for information when Utah State backup Adam Kennedy replaced injured Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton. Kennedy is a pocket passer with a strong arm. Keeton is a scrambler.
“We didn’t even know about (Kennedy),” said McMackin, noting he was a junior college transfer who entered with five passes this season. “We were looking him up as he came in. … We were getting our information from (UH redshirt quarterback) Jeremy Higgins.”
Higgins transferred from Utah State this summer.