With a little more than two weeks before the season opener, the University of Hawaii football team reloaded its roster.

Dejaun Butler, a cornerback from Santa Monica College, arrived in town on Monday. After undergoing medical examinations and completing orientation sessions, Butler will be allowed to practice with the Rainbow Warriors, possibly as early as Wednesday.

Wideout Isaiah Bernard of Glendale College and running back Melvin Davis of Santa Monica College were scheduled to arrive on Monday night. Bernard and Davis will practice as soon as they complete the same process that Butler is undergoing.

The three needed to finish junior college obligations before transferring to UH.

“They had to take care of some business, which they did,” Chow said. “A lot of guys are getting eligible now that junior college summer school is over.”

Eli up to No. 1 at center

Two weeks ago, Asotui Eli’s total experience at center added up to … zero.

But with Brenden Urban sidelined with a knee injury and the reluctance to move back left tackle Ben Clarke, Eli was asked to audition at center.

Eli has ascended to No. 1 center in Urban’s absence.

“I’m slowly progressing,” Eli said. “Practice is getting easier. I’m starting to recognize blitzes more.”

Eli did not have an errant snap in Monday’s practice despite the wet conditions.

“I love the rain,” said Eli, a Kealakehe High graduate. “On the other side of (Hawaii) island, when we played Hilo, it always rained. We had to adjust to that. That helped a lot.”

After Monday’s practice, Eli stuck around, working on his punch technique with left guard Elijah Tupai.

“I’m getting a lot more experience at center,” Eli said. “I like it more than guard.”

Hensley leads talent show

For the second week in a row, the offensive line ruled the Warriors’ entertainment division.

On Aug. 9, freshman lineman J.R. Hensley stole the rookie talent show with dead-on impersonations of Chow and strength/conditioning coordinator Gary Beemer.

In Sunday’s lip sync competition, offensive lineman Luke Clements earned a rousing ovation for his re-enactment of the freestyle battle from the movie “8 Mile.” Clements acted as Eminem’s character B-Rabbit.

“That was a complete blindside,” said right guard R.J. Hollis, the offensive line’s creative director. “We had a completely different plan. We were going to do the normal sing-along, like everybody else. Luke was, like, ‘No, we should do ‘8 Mile.’ I know the battle.’”

Hollis said they rehearsed the act once.

“When (Clements) started doing it with the hands, I was, like, ‘Oh, he’s going to take the show.’ And he did,” Hollis said.