After a bye this past weekend, the Hawaii football team returned to practice refreshed and, possibly, rearranged.

David Graves, who had been playing receiver since the second week of training camp, was back in the red jersey worn by quarterbacks during Monday’s 90-minute practice.

Graves had exited spring training tied atop the depth chart at quarterback. Sean Schroeder, who transferred from Duke this summer, was named the No. 1 quarterback after the third practice of training camp.

Graves then began practicing at receiver. Graves was deemed the emergency quarterback, although he only took snaps there as the wildcat back. Graves was not on the 63-player travel roster for the
season opener against Southern California.

“We want to give him a little more look at quarterback,” coach Norm Chow said. “When we travel again, we’re going to need some versatility. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

As a fourth-year junior, Graves “is mature,” Chow said. “And he wants to contribute.”

Chow said Graves, Jeremy Higgins and Ikaika Woolsey will compete for the No. 2 quarterback’s job.
It appears that Trevor Davis will get the first shot at replacing Billy Ray Stutzmann as the single-side receiver. Stutzmann is recovering from hand surgery.

Corey Paclebar, who moved from inside receiver, also will get work at that position.

Freshman cornerback Ne’Quan Phillips and safety Mike Sellers have practiced extensively with the
first-team defense. Neither started against USC.

Chow said Phillips is ahead of Tony Grimes “right now. But we don’t have to play until Saturday. We’ll let them compete for a while.”

Chow praised Phillips’ “toughness, his cockiness. He doesn’t act like a freshman. We need to get more guys like him.”

Chow said the coaches will evaluate the next three practices before deciding whether Sellers will get the nod at safety over Bubba Poueu-Luna.

“It’s a very competitive deal,” Chow said.

Chow said weakside linebackers Kamalani Alo and second-year freshman Kendrick Van Ackeren played well enough against USC to warrant more playing time. George Daily-Lyles started in the
opener.

“It’s going to be competitive all the way through,” Chow said. “We’re not just going to hand somebody the job.”

Alo caught the coaches’ attention when he raced downfield to force a fumble during the USC game.

“He’s kind of instinctive,” Chow said of Alo. “He knows what to do.”

Daily-Lyles, who practiced with the first unit on Monday, said: “You always want competition. We’re trying to put the best product on the field. Competition makes everybody better. You can’t help it if somebody is better than you. But that doesn’t stop  you from going out there and trying to be better than him.”