Wide receiver Marcus Kemp has gained 25 pounds since joining the University of Hawaii football team nine months ago, but he still has an insatiable hunger.

"We came out of last season 1-11, and that hurt, and we’re trying to do everything we can to make sure that will never happen again in our careers," said Kemp, who played in 11 of 12 games as a true freshman in 2013. "We know everybody on this island expected big things, and we let everybody down. This season, we have to be a lot, lot better."

For Kemp, that meant cutting his hair, dog-earing the playbook, participating in unsupervised workouts, and gaining weight while maintaining his quickness.

"Coach Beemer has really helped me," said Kemp, referring to strength/conditioning coordinator Gary Beemer.

Beemer said the 6-foot-4 Kemp, who weighed 180 pounds during the past season, needed to gain strength.

"I highly encouraged him to eat," Beemer said, smiling. "We have a little thing called the ‘breakfast club.’ We had him work on his body-weight goals."

This spring, Kemp often has practiced as a No. 1 wideout.

"Hopefully, I’m working hard enough to play with the 1s," Kemp said. "The experience last year helped me. I just hope I can come out and make the people who love me proud."

Three first-year Warriors — Kemp, Vasquez Haynes and Keith Kirkwood — were on the 2013 active roster. Wideouts Chris Gant and Billy Ray Stutzmann completed their UH eligibility in December.

UH coach Norm Chow said Kemp, Haynes and Kirkwood "need to step up. They’re the guys now on the outside."

"From last year," Kemp said, "I learned it’s a whole other level. You’ve got to work 10 times as hard. You’ve got to do things 10 times better. You have to prepare yourself for things that are going to happen every Saturday. I had to bring my practice habits up and just go through the football process with more energy and passion."

Haynes, who played a season at Blinn (Texas) College before transferring, has two UH seasons remaining. Haynes, who is 6-2, lost 10 pounds this offseason and now weighs 205.

"Sometimes convincing these guys they have to come down is the hardest part," Beemer said. "Haynes is doing a good job with his weight."

Haynes said: "I just had to watch my diet. I’m from the South, so I like to eat a lot of fried foods. I’m eating more fruits and vegetables; eating healthier."

Last year, Haynes’ had a yards-after-catch (YAC) average of 4.04.

"I was 215 pounds, and more of a powerful receiver last year," Haynes said. "I wanted to be more of an open-field receiver, get some YACs."

He also would like to be healthier this season. Last year, he sprained his ankle his first week in Honolulu. During training camp, he suffered a shoulder injury.

"The injuries affected me, but I’m not going to make any excuses," he said. "Hopefully, I can work hard and get back to that level I know I can play at."