Former Warriors try to impress at UH’s pro day Monday

Former Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz’s surgically repaired right ankle is healed.

Through an intensive training program in Boca Raton, Fla., Moniz’s mind is as sharp as his passes. He said he has gained 5 pounds, and now is a sculpted 210 on a 6-foot frame.

He also is nearly unrecognizable.

"Fresh start, fresh look," said Moniz, who cut the long locks he had grown since the summer of 2007.

Moniz is among a dozen former Warriors who will participate in UH’s pro day — a combine-like audition of speed, strength and skill drills — Monday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Scouts from every NFL team will be in attendance.

In recent years, several former Warriors parlayed strong showings into early-round draft selections (nickelback Ryan Mouton, running back Alex Green, defensive ends David Veikune and Ikaika Alama-Francis) or out-of-obscurity notice (safety Mana Silva, defensive lineman Josh Leonard).

"I want to see if I can get a shot at the next level," Moniz said. "Put me in on special teams. Anything."

The former Warriors have spent the past several weeks trying to improve their football skills. Moniz’s tutor is Chad Pennington, a former NFL quarterback.

Quarterback Shane Austin and wideout Royce Pollard have worked out with NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Maurice Green, who once held the world record in the 100-meter dash, is training defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu and linebacker Aaron Brown at the facility known as The Factory.

"Hopefully, I’ll do well in the 40s," Tuipulotu said of the 40-yard dash, the NFL’s most valued measurement.

Tuipulotu and defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga, the only Warrior invited to last month’s NFL combine in Indianapolis, are regarded as UH’s top draft prospects. Both had two-gap responsibilities in UH’s defensive scheme, providing suitable experience to play nose tackle in a 3-4 alignment or interior tackle in an even front. Meatoga also has the quickness to play the power end in a 3-4 defense.

Meatoga said he interviewed with 14 teams at the combine. The NFL Network, whose commentators and statisticians were located in a studio outside of Lucas Oil Stadium, reported Meatoga’s 40-yard dash at 5.0 seconds. But according to two scouts, Meatoga covered the distance in 4.96 and 4.93 seconds.

Meatoga said he is considering standing on his combine results, and participating in only the position drills at pro day. Then again, he said he wants to prove he can do better than his 9-foot broad jump at the combine.

"My 9-foot jump was the fourth one I did," Meatoga recalled. "I kept scratching on my broad jumps."

After the combine, Meatoga returned to Honolulu to continue training under Chad Ikei in Hawaii Kai. He was scheduled to leave Saturday morning for pro day.

Brown has been in Southern California since earning his bachelor’s degree in December. Brown said he has a fast metabolism rate that allows him to "eat twice as much" as the others training at The Factory. He said his pro day goals are to run the 40 in 4.5 seconds or faster and to bench press 225 pounds about 35 times.

Two players who became full-time starters in 2011 — offensive lineman Brett Leonard and defensive end Zach Masch — have attracted attention. Leonard can play all five of the line positions. Masch was recruited as a defensive tackle, but started at defensive end.

"We’re gonna give it our best," Tuipulotu said, "and we’ll see what happens."