It did not matter that the University of Hawaii football players had to report before the dawn’s early light or that the ensuing humidity left many exhausted and achy over the next two hours.

This was the first practice of training camp — “the best day of the year,” according to UH head coach Nick Rolovich.

Rolovich, who was hired by his alma mater in November, chased butterflies into his dreams on Sunday night.

“It was hard to sleep,” Rolovich said, “and it was easy to wake up.”

He wore what appeared to be combat boots to practice.

“Work boots,” Rolovich corrected. “I think we had a good offseason in the community and in (the players’) training. Things are starting to heat up now. It’s completely up to them. They’ll decide the outcome of the season. A lot of it is what they did in the summer. They spent the extra time in the film room. That’s impressive. That’s what you do when you want to get things right.”

The Rainbow Warriors opened the field portion of the quarterback challenge on Monday. There are eight quarterbacks on the roster, but Hunter Hughes will not report until Aug. 22, and Kyle Gallup, who transferred from Marshall, received limited reps in passing drills.

“He’s very attentive,” Rolovich said of Gallup, who recently moved to Hawaii. “This was our first look at him (on the field). I thought he fit in real good. He’s a bright quarterback. We wanted to see what he was, but it was hard to give everybody reps.”

The Warriors employed two groups during 7-on-7 and team drills, divvying the quarterback reps among Ikaika Woolsey, Beau Reilly, Aaron Zwahlen, Dru Brown, Cole Brownholtz and Cole McDonald.

“You’ve got to like competition,” said Woolsey, a senior who has had seven offensive coordinators since joining the Warriors in January 2012. He tried to list them in order, joking that Zak Hill was around for “72 hours” — it actually was 48 days — before conceding, “I’m able to adapt. I have to make the most of it.”

Rolovich said he likely will pare the rotation from six quarterbacks by next week. He expects to name the No. 1 quarterback after the Aug. 13 scrimmage.

“I’d like to give the guys a couple weeks to get ready for Cal (in the season opener),” Rolovich said.

He said seven quarterbacks will make the trip to Australia for the opener. After that, the Warriors likely will travel with three quarterbacks. If a quarterback has a unique role to the team, Rolovich said, “you can talk about bringing four.”

Rolovich set aside a period dubbed “Keiki Time” for the first-year Warriors.

“We wanted to put all our coaches on the new guys and give (the newcomers) the same scripts some of the vets took and see if we can bring them along quicker and give them an opportunity to compete,” Rolovich said.

Keala Santiago, a safety from Kahuku, made a leaping interception. Kalakaua Timoteo III, a wideout from Mililani, made several catches off crisp routes.

“It means a lot to the kid to be here playing football,” Rolovich said of Timoteo. “He showed how competitive he is. Those are two great qualities he has. And you won’t be able to take them away from him. That’s just who he is.”

Running back Genta Ito of Japan also made his UH debut. Rolovich said he hopes to expand the Warriors’ recruiting reach in Asia.

The final play of the first practice was the quarterback taking a knee in the victory formation.

“I’m OK with today’s practice,” Rolovich said.

BREAKDOWN OF POSITIONS

QUARTERBACKS

>> Dru Brown, Cole Brownholtz, Kyle Gallup, Hunter Hughes, Cole McDonald, Beau Reilly, Ikaika Woolsey, Aaron Zwahlen

>> Outlook: The Warriors will start with double drills this week in the hope of choosing a No. 1 quarterback by the end of the Aug. 13 scrimmage. Woolsey, a senior, is the only QB on the roster who has played in an NCAA game. He also is on his seventh offensive coordinator since joining in January 2012. While Woolsey, Reilly and Zwahlen did well in spring training, they did not separate from each other, extending the competition to training camp. Brown and Brownholtz are junior-college transfers who have played in read-option systems, and have known Rolovich since attending past Nevada football clinics. Gallup transferred after spending a year at Marshall. Rolovich said: “They need to grow that (quarterbacks’) room as a unit in a positive direction and help each other. ‘Healthy’ competition is the word for it.”

RUNNING BACKS

>> Kaiwi Chung, Melvin Davis, Paul Harris, Freddie Holly III, Steven Lakalaka, Diocemy Saint Juste, Ryan Tuiasoa

>> Outlook: Despite the run-up-the-gut perception, the Warriors called rushes 50.1 percent of the plays last season. While the ratio might tip toward passes this season, the lone-back position is the Warriors’ most experienced unit. Harris, Lakalaka and Davis are seniors. Saint Juste, who redshirted last season because of hamstring issues, is entering his fourth season. In his first UH season, Harris gained 1,132 yards. After whiffs led to three sacks early in the season, he improved as a blocker, as well as a tough second-chance runner. He averaged 3.54 yards after initial contact. In spring training, the committee approach was used to keep the backs fresh. That tactic also might help give more carries to Holly, who gained 2,002 yards as a prep senior last year, and Tuiasoa, an aggressive two-grip rusher.

RECEIVERS

>> Slotbacks: Samson Anguay, Makoa Camanse-Stevens, Dylan Collie, Kalei Letoto, Nic Tom, John Ursua

>> Wideouts: Frank Abreu, Ammon Barker, Isaiah Bernard, Keelan Ewaliko, Koolau Gaspar, Marcus Kemp, Don’Yeh Patterson, Devan Stubblefield, Kalakaua Timoteo III, Davine Tullis

>> Outlook: Just like that — poof! — the past season has been erased. That means clean slates for Kemp, who conquered a torn MCL and hyper-extended left knee to lead in catches (36) despite an off-the-sideline role for the final nine games; Collie, whose sure-handed skills abandoned him late in the season; and Barker, who started the final three games in 2014 but did not have a pass thrown his way last year. Kemp and Barker practiced as the No. 1 wideouts in spring training, and Collie re-emerged as a leader in the slot. Camanse-Stevens, who averaged 8.25 post-catch yards, and Ursua, who was impressive in spring workouts a year after returning from a church mission, are athletic targets. Ewaliko is finally healthy. “I’m very impressed with Keelan,” Rolovich said. The plan is to expand the playing rotation at receiver this season.

TIGHT ENDS

>> Davasyia Hagger, Andrew James-Ho, Sione Kauhi, Dakota Torres, Metuisela Unga

>> Outlook: Torres, the only player recruited purely as a tight end, was a solid blocker and check-down receiver before suffering a season-ending injury. Torres mishandled only one of the 23 passes thrown in his direction last year. Unga, who has hokey-pokey’d between offense and defense, showed promise against Louisiana-Monroe last year. As the motion tight end, he aligned in the backfield, slot and wide. He was effective on football’s version of the pick-and-roll, making a block and then curling into the flats, and on full-sprint go routes.

OFFENSIVE LINE

>> Dejon Allen, Arona Amosa, Luke Clements, Asotui Eli, Josh Hauani‘o, JR Hensley, RJ Hollis, Leo Koloamatangi, Eperone Moananu, Matt Norman, Chris Posa, Kingjames Taylor, Elijah Tupai, Fred Ulu-Perry, John Wa‘a, Austin Webb

>> Outlook: Following the path Ben Clarke took a few years ago, Allen made the move from interior lineman to left tackle. The move “allows us to take advantage of his athleticism,” Rolovich said. Hollis has locked down the tackle spot on the opposite side. “RJ is a smart player and one of the leaders in our offense,” Rolovich said. The interior spots are a mix-and-match. Eli, who is on the Rimington watch list for the nation’s top center, also can play guard. Wa‘a can play guard and center. Posa, who completes his transfer from Alabama next week, has practiced at every line position. Koloamatangi was the No. 1 left guard in spring training, but he demonstrated his versatility as a blocking tight end in last year’s season finale. Hensley was poised to break into the rotation before suffering an injury in the spring. Hensley and Tupai are healthy again.

DEFENSIVE LINE

>> Tackles: Samiuela Akoteu, Zeno Choi, Penitito Faalologo, Ka‘aumoana Gifford, Jeremy McClam, Kory Rasmussen, Alesana Sunia, Taaga Tuulima

>> Ends: Cole Carter, Teva Eldridge, Colton Goeas, Max Hendrie, Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, Meffy Koloamatangi, David Manoa, Viane Moala, Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki, Manly Williams

>> Outlook: The top lineman, Kennedy Tulimasealii, was dismissed from the team for violating the student-athlete code of conduct. He is appealing the dismissal. The move from the 3-4 to the 4-3 retains two positions — nose tackle and 3-technique (aligned across the outside shoulder of a guard). Faalologo and Rasmussen, both low-leverage defenders, are prototypical nose tackles. Faalologo has “a lot of mass, he’s hard to move,” Rolovich said. “Kory has a blue-collar mentality.” Akoteu, who has recovered from a foot injury, and Gifford, who was reinstated after being suspended the second half of the spring, will compete at the 3. Choi earned playing time as a true freshman last year. “He’s a great example of being smart and working hard,” Rolovich said. Kema-Kaleiwahea, a Kamehameha graduate who transferred from Arizona last year, is healthy after suffering injuries during the 2015 season and past spring training. Manoa and Koloamatangi, who were outside linebackers in the 3-4, are now ends in the 4-3.

LINEBACKERS

>> Inside: Max Broman, Wesley Faagau, Rashaan Falemalu, Dayton Furuta, Jerrol Garcia-Williams, Dalton Gouveia, La‘akea Look, Solomon Matautia, Ikem Okeke, Jahlani Tavai, Russell Williams Jr.

>> Outside: Austin Borengasser, Malachi Mageo, Dany Mulanga, Kaimana Padello, Jeremy Pritchard

>> Outlook: In organizing the position chart, it was decided a leader — Tavai — needed to be in the middle of the action. Tavai then was moved from rush end to middle linebacker, where he makes the defensive calls. “He’s so smart and he cares so much and he does everything right,” Rolovich said. “He’s a good communicator. He’ll pull everything together over there.” Garcia-Williams played both outside and inside in the 3-4, which should help his transition to the hybrid position in the two-inside-linebacker scheme. To improve pass coverage, Mulanga moved from safety to outside linebacker. When he was sidelined with a hamstring injury in the spring, Mageo, another former safety, filled the opening.

SECONDARY

>> Corners: Dejaun Butler, Rojesterman Farris III, Cameron Hayes, Jamal Mayo, Austin Pang-Kee, Jalen Rogers, Terrence Sayles, Mykal Tolliver, Tyrus Tuiasosopo, Zach Wilson

>> Safeties: Austin Gerard, Trayvon Henderson, Kalen Hicks, Daniel Lewis, Damien Packer, Scheyenne Sanitoa, Keala Santiago, Tumua Tuinei

>> Outlook: The Warriors entered the spring without last year’s starting corners — Ne’Quan Phillips graduated and Nick Nelson transferred to Wisconsin. “There was a vacuum there,” Rolovich said. But Rogers and Mayo, who had been in the program for two years after transferring from junior colleges, emerged as effective cover defenders. Farris, who made two road trips but did not play to retain his redshirt status, Hayes, Butler and Wilson are candidates for the corner rotation and the nickelback opening. Packer and Lewis took most of the No. 1 reps at safety in the spring. Henderson, who started as a freshman and sophomore, has recovered from a knee injury that kept him from playing last year. Santiago, Sanitoa and Hicks will get shots at playing as true freshmen.

SPECIALISTS

>> Long-snappers: Noah Borden, Brodie Nakama

>> Kickers: Rigo Sanchez, Stephen Taffe

>> Punters: Stan Gaudion, Rigo Sanchez, Alex Trifonovitch

>> Outlook: Sanchez had multiple roles on punts, point-scoring kicks and kickoffs. Taffe could ease the workload on placekicks. Trifonovitch, a punter, might be used on kickoffs.