Hawaii’s Jerrol Garcia-Williams’ football position, like his surname, is hyphenated.

The media guide lists Garcia-Wiliams as a strong-side linebacker, but that identifies his location, not his roles.

This training camp, Garcia-Williams is a pass-rushing, pass-defending, end-linebacker. Most of all, Garcia-Williams has been difficult to block as he repeatedly storms the backfield.

"He’s very elusive," defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said.

Kaumeyer said Garcia-Williams is skilled in "getting into the body," which is parlance for gaining leverage on a blocker.

"He’s got long arms, and if he can get into the body, he can get by them," Kaumeyer said. "He’s doing a nice job of that. He’s stepping through a lot of his moves."

Garcia-Williams, who is 6-foot-2, weighed about 205 pounds when he started seven games as a true freshman in 2012. He now weighs 225.

"It makes it a lot easier," Garcia-Williams said. "I still have a couple of years left. I know I can put on the weight as long as I work hard. I want to get my technique down."

Garcia-Williams said he relied on "raw talent’ to fight off grasping blockers in high school. Linebacker coach Tony Tuioti and intern Lance Samuseva are former UH defensive linemen who taught Garcia-Williams various pass-rushing moves.

A key is using his hands correctly to maneuver blockers. Garcia-Williams said he worked with heavy bags to improve his hand quickness. He said there are sessions for hand drills during every practice.

"He’s a special player," Kaumeyer said.

Air Force pep talk inspires

The UH defense found inspiration from a recent PEP talk.

An Air Force officer spoke to the Warriors about the importance of PEP, an acronym for pride, enthusiasm and professionalism.

"We want to be professional in everything we do in practice," Kaumeyer said. "That way it’s going to carry on when we play games."

Kaumeyer said all the defensive plays were installed during the 14 practices on the Manoa campus.

"We’re not going to add," Kaumeyer said of the workouts at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. "We’re going to get better at what we do."’

This is the second year of this pressure-defense system. At this time last year, Kaumeyer said, "they didn’t quite know the system. We were trying to get guys to line up correctly. Now they know what’s expected."

The Warriors appear to be playing faster on defense this camp. Defenders also are learning to improvise within the scheme.

Kaumeyer said: "We tell them: ‘We’re not on the field with you. During the game, you’re going to have to problem-solve.’ We want to unplug a little bit as coaches, and let them problem-solve, because that’s what’s going to happen on the field."

Oft-injured Anguay back where he started

Samson Anguay has moved from slotback to running back and now back to slotback.

His UH career also is back to square one.

Three years after his Campbell High graduation, Anguay is hopeful of being healthy for the Warriors’ Aug. 29 opener against USC.

Anguay grayshirted in 2010 and joined the Warriors in January 2011. After being named the No. 1 punt returner following 2011 spring training, he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during unsupervised workouts that summer. He missed the entire 2011 season. Then in the spring of 2012, he suffered an ACL tear to his left knee. He did not play in 2012.

"I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel blessed," Anguay said. "It’s good to be back out there."

Anguay said assistant coach Chris Wiesehan taught the running backs the full scope of the offense, including all the receiver routes, which made it easier to switch back to receiver.