LOUISIANA-MONROE OFFENSE
WR—86 Xavier Brown 6-0 186 Fr.
WR—81 Marcus Green 5-8 190 Fr.
LT—78 Ray Baltazar 6-5 300 Jr.
LG—75 Frank Sutton 6-3 302 So.
C—70 Brian Thlang 6-1 299 Fr.
RG—50 Jeff Savage 6-2 297 Jr.
RT—79 Keaton Baggs 6-5 297 Fr.
TE—88 Harley Scioneaux 6-5 243 Gr.
WR—21 Ajalen Holley 5-10 193 Jr.
QB—9 Earnest Carrington 6-0 220 Gr.
RB—30 Ben Luckett 5-11 214 Fr.
Outlook: When things go right, football can be a game of pitch-and-catch. But for the Warhawks, quarterback Garrett Smith and receiver Rashon Ceaser are listed as “highly questionable” for today’s game. Smith won the QB’s job in training camp, and completed 79 percent of his passes in the first two games, including 23-for-29 against Georgia. But he missed last week’s game because of a shoulder ailment. Earnest Carrington, who has completed 40.7 percent of his passes and has been intercepted five times against one TD throw, will make his second consecutive start. Ceaser is third in receptions (193) and fourth in receiving yards (2,423) on the ULM career list. But he has had ankle problems most of the season. Ajalen Holley, who specializes in crossing patterns, and Marcus Green, who is a threat on slants and hitches, are the keys in the horizontal-passing game. A Warhawk weapon is the quarterback-lead sweep. ULM quarterbacks have rushed for 474 non-sack yards, an average of 4.35 yards per carry. Freshman running back Ben Luckett averages 5.7 yards, mostly on rushes to his left. The Warhawks usually align in wide formations, but they employ a “heavy” package — linebacker Hunter Kissinger is added as an edge blocker — on short-yardage situations. ULM averages 5.36 rushing yards on third-and-1-to-3 situations.
LOUISIANA-MONROE DEFENSE
LE—45 Lorenzo Jackson 6-2 249 Sr.
NT—76 Gerrand Johnson 6-1 283 Gr.
DE—49 Ben Banogu 6-4 257 Fr.
OLB—34 Michael Johnson 6-1 230 Gr.
MLB—48 Hunter Kissinger 6-2 233 Gr.
OLB—5 Cody Robinson 6-1 221 Gr.
CB—24 Trey Caldwell 5-9 186 Sr.
S—26 Roland Jenkins 5-11 198 So.
Hawk—23 Marquis McCullum 5-11 188 So.
S—4 Tre’ Hunter 6-0 188 Jr.
CB—29 Marcus Hubbard 5-9 173 Fr.
Outlook: The Warhawks’ 3-3-5 stack defense, similar to San Diego State’s scheme, relies on pressure, unpredictability and mystery-source blitzes. It is football’s version of the full-court press, with the outside linebackers often creating a five-man-front, and hybrid defensive backs portraying linebackers. That leaves the corners on proverbial islands, although they, too, have occasional orders to blitz. It’s a feast-or-famine defense. The Warhawks made 68 backfield tackles, including 17 sacks, and 24 quarterback hurries. But they also have been burned for 81 rushes of 10-plus yards and 54 completions of 15-plus yards. They have relinquished 44 “explosive” plays (rushes of 20-plus yards, catches of 25-plus yards). Point defender Gerrand Johnson has two-gap responsibilities Michael Johnson and Cody Robinson align on the edge as defensive ends or in the B gaps as stand-up tackles. Middle linebacker Hunter Kissinger, who often is 7 yards off the line of scrimmage, often is the lone second-level defender. Johnson is the most intriguing. He earned a history degree with a 4.0 GPA, and now is pursuing a master’s in Colonial Latin American History. In his free time, he works with homeless veterans.
LOUISIANA-MONROE SPECIALISTS
K—16 Craig Ford 6-2 168 Fr.
P—41 Chris Qualls 5-8 169 Fr.
SS/LS—54 Todd Phillips 6-1 240 Sr.
H—21 Ajalen Holley 5-10 193 Jr.
KR—81 Marcus Green 5-8 190 Fr.
PR—8 Junior Williams 5-11 185 Sr.
Outlook: More is not better for the Warhawks, who are fifth in most punts but last among FBS schools in net punting (30.97 yards). Chris Qualls has been blocked three times. The good news is opponents are averaging only 16.0 yards per kickoff return. The not-so-good news is only eight of Craig Ford’s 43 kickoffs have reached the end zone. He’s averaging 56 yards per kickoff. Outside linebacker Michael Johnson has 84 tackles, of which nine came on kickoff and punt coverages. David Griffith has eight special-teams stops.
HAWAII OFFENSE
LWO—14 Marcus Kemp 6-4 200 Jr.
SB—83 M. Camanse-Stevens 6-4 205 Jr.
LT—71 Ben Clarke 6-3 295 Sr.
LG—56 Elijah Tupai 6-4 300 So.
C—69 Brenden Urban 6-1 305 Sr.
RG—50 Dejon Allen 6-3 290 So.
RT—74 RJ Hollis 6-4 295 Jr.
TE—7 Metuisela Unga 6-5 240 So.
RWO—9 Devan Stubblefield 6-0 190 Fr.
QB—11 Ikaika Woolsey 6-1 215 Jr.
RB—29 Paul Harris 5-11 190 Jr.
Outlook: The history of the UH running back is shaped by style and system. Gary Allen probably was the most complete back, thriving in an offense with a fullback and tight end. Junior Lopati was headed to greatness before tearing an ACL. Jamal Farmer was a tough runner who left the program prematurely. Travis Sims, with thick calves and north-south intent, was described as looking like Barney Rubble but hitting like Bam-Bam. Alex Green had speed (4.5 in 40), size (6-2, 230) and tight-wire balance. Green gained 1,199 rushing yards in 2010, aided by 28 runs of 15-plus yards, including dashes of 30, 62, 45, 71, 28 and 33 yards in a 327-yard performance against New Mexico State. Paul Harris, who has rushed for 966 yards in 11 games, is most comparable statistically to Green. In his first 11 games in 2010, Green rushed for 994 yards. Green was the lone back in a four-wide offense; Harris is the sole back in three- and four-wide schemes. Green was a solid blocker; after a shaky start, Harris has not allowed a sack in the past four games. The Warriors have tried to create running space with triple-sided formations, jets sweeps as diversions, and Ikaika Woolsey’s pull-back threat on read options. But Harris has done the rest, adding pirouettes to his jump cuts. Harris is averaging 3.64 yards after contact. After conquering sprains to both ankles, Harris has proven durable, playing in 93.6 percent of the offensive snaps against San Jose State.
HAWAII DEFENSE
LE—96 David Manoa 6-3 240 So.
DT—75 Kory Rasmussen 6-2 295 Jr.
DT—90 Kennedy Tulimasealii 6-1 285 Jr.
WLB—31 Jahlani Tavai 6-4 235 Fr.
ILB—8 Julian Gener 5-11 225 Sr.
LB—3 Simon Poti 6-0 235 Sr.
SLB—17 Lance Williams 6-0 230 Sr.
CB—11 Nick Nelson 6-0 200 So.
SS—1 Ne’Quan Phillips 5-9 190 Sr.
FS—15 Daniel Lewis 5-11 180 So.
CB—19 Jalen Rogers 6-1 200 Jr.
Outlook: Defensive coordinator Tom Mason’s reassignment to a non-coaching position elevates defensive backs coach Abraham Elimimian to a play-calling role. Under Mason and predecessor Kevin Clune, the Warriors were in a 3-4 base. But Elimimian’s background as a UH cornerback and Simon Fraser defensive coordinator was with a four-man front. After missing a couple games because of a back issue, it appears Jerrol Garcia-Williams is ready to play today. Garcia-Williams played inside linebacker this year after missing most of 2014 with a knee injury. It would be logical to move Garcia-Williams to the outside, where he can play the hybrid position envisioned when he was recruited in 2012. Garcia-Williams’ strength, first-step quickness and reach make him an ideal edge rusher in a floating four-man front. In recent games, the Warriors’ best cover defender — Nick Nelson — has provided pressure on fire-zone blitzes. Nelson is credited with 15 breakups — he actually has 16 — to close on Kelvin Millhouse’s school record of 18. Millhouse played corner opposite Elimimian in the early 2000s. The Warriors have created chaos with 76 backfield tackles, led by 3-technique tackle Kenned Tulimasealii’s 17.5, but have been careless with penalties. They have committed 44 defensive penalties — including 18 encroachments — resulting in 24 new first downs.
HAWAII SPECIALISTS
PK/P—63 Aaron Novoa 6-0 190 Jr.
SS—62 Brodie Nakama 5-9 225 So.
H—11 Ikaika Woolsey 6-1 210 Jr.
LS—64 Noah Borden 6-1 215 Fr.
KR—18 Jason Muraoka 5-7 190 Sr.
PR—11 Nick Nelson 6-0 200 So.
Outlook: During spring training, Aaron Novoa, who was UH’s only punter, out-dueled Kainoa McDonald for the kicker’s job. But the past summer, the Warriors added two kickers — Rigo Sanchez, who would emerge as the No. 1 kicker and punter, and Nebraska graduate Mauro Bondi. With Sanchez’s availability iffy because of a family issue, Novoa might be used as kicker and punter. Novoa has a strong leg (he punts during return drills in practice) and has gained focus with the assistance of a “mental coach.” Before every field-goal or PAT attempt, Novoa will pinch a finger on his right hand and then take a deep breath.
