RJ Hollis’ value to the Hawaii offensive line isn’t limited to his effectiveness in run blocking or pass protection.
When the grind of fall camp weighed on the Rainbow Warriors, he passed along his positive attitude in practice and in the locker room was among Hollis’ objectives.
“During camp that’s crucial,” UH senior Ben Clarke said. “It’s hard every day coming out here, our bodies are tired. So having a hype man like him helps.”
Hollis credits his mother, Stephanie, for instilling the perspective that keeps him smiling through whatever trials arise, whether outside of football or while pushing through two-a-days in this summer’s unrelenting humidity.
“Your attitude determines how you go through a situation,” Hollis said. “If you come out to practice and you’re already, ‘Oh it’s hot, it’s this or that,’ you’re never going to make it through. But if you put a smile on your face, even if it’s hard you can make it through a lot easier.
“If I can get one or two of them in a better mood then they might be able to give it to somebody else, and if it goes to the whole offense then we’re good.”
But don’t confuse Hollis’ light-hearted approach for a lack of focus when it comes to preparing for a shot at a starting role.
After seeing limited game action last year, the 6-foot-4, 295-pound junior is making a push for playing time at right tackle and split the first-team reps with Leo Koloamatangi for much of camp.
“He’s definitely taking more of a leadership (role), especially with younger guys,” UH offensive line coach Chris Naeole said. “This is a big year for him playing wise, but he does the right things. He’s always right there, he’s on time, willing and ready to work. He’s just a good kid to have in my room.”
Hollis’ appreciation for just about every aspect of college football stems in part from the fact that he prepared himself to leave the game behind following his final game at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix.
An academic qualifier out of high school, Hollis played one season at Scottsdale Community College when the opportunity to make the jump to Division I at Hawaii arose.
“I’ve just been blessed,” said Hollis, a business major. “When I was 17, out of high school I figured by now I’d be working a full-time job doing some regular thing. But here I am trying to make the best of this experience.”
Hollis redshirted his first year at UH, concentrating on improving his strength and technique and focusing on the more cerebral facets of line play coming into this season.
“I’ve been in the film room with Coach Naeole, so a lot of the upstairs aspects as far as schemes, knowing the defense, knowing the playbook, I learned a lot of that over the past year,” Hollis said.
