As widely expected, Hawaii’s Jeremy Higgins will start at quarterback for Friday’s game at Air Force.

“He deserves a chance, and he’s had a good week of practice,” UH coach Norm Chow said.

Of his first collegiate start, Higgins said: “I’m more excited than nervous.”

Sean Schroeder, a Duke graduate who transferred to UH over the summer, started the first nine games. But the offense has struggled during a seven-game losing streak and the Warriors are 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the Mountain West Conference.

Schroeder has been sacked 29 times, resulting in 12 fumbles, eight of which have been lost.
Higgins, who has directed two scoring drives the past two games, is considered more mobile in the pocket.

“We’re hoping that’s the case,” Chow said.

Higgins said: “I’d rather not run around out there. But if I have to, I will. I’d rather get (the football) to our faster guys like Sterling (Jackson), Joey (Iosefa), Chris Gant, Scott Harding, Billy Ray (Stutzmann).”

Chow has been a strong supporter of Schroeder.

He said: “Let me emphasize it so I don’t have to say it over and over again: It’s not only Sean’s fault when protection breaks down and routes are not run properly.”

Chow said Schroeder is expected to play “sometime in the course of the game” against Air Force.

Chow added: “Maybe a change will give us a little bit of a lift, and Sean can step back and get some rest. We still need (Schroeder), obviously.”

Higgins is a 2010 Saint Louis School graduate who started as a senior ahead of Marcus Mariota, now top-ranked Oregon’s quarterback.

Higgins was at Utah State for a season before transferring to UH in June 2011. He redshirted last year in accordance with NCAA rules.

Higgins said he was not discouraged by his reserve role.

“It was out of my hands,” he said. “I’d rather do my thing and not worry about it. Let the coaches worry about that and trust they’ll make the right decision.”

The Warriors departed Wednesday afternoon without middle linebacker Brenden Daley, who was late for the morning practice.