There were a few times a couple years ago when University of Hawaii football line coach Chris Naeole had to temporarily end his retirement to help with blocking drills.
Back then, Naeole estimated, there occasionally were seven healthy offensive linemen available for a training-camp practice.
This year, there are 15 offensive linemen — all on scholarship — enabling the Warriors to go three-deep during drills. Arona Amosa, a walk-on, reports to the team on Aug. 22, the first day of the fall semester. Former UH center John Estes is a graduate assistant helping Naeole with the line.
“It’s all good,” Naeole said. “Guys are working hard.”
The Warriors have not set a depth chart, but this has been the first-team rotation: Left tackle Dejon Allen, left guard Leo Koloamatangi, center Asotui Eli, right guard John Wa‘a and right tackle RJ Hollis. Elijah Tupai will be in the mix when he is fully healthy. Chris Posa, who was at Alabama for three years, joins on Sunday as a graduate transfer. Eperone Moananu is back after being summoned to the defense last year.
“It kind of sucked when they took him,” Naeole said of Moananu’s departure last year. “He sacrificed for the team.”
Naeole said each of the linemen “has a shot” to be in the playing rotation. The Warriors redshirted four linemen last year. JR Hensley was competing for a guard’s job when he suffered torn ligaments in his left thumb during last year’s training camp, then two fractures in his left pinkie in spring training. He is fully healed.
“We looked at redshirting as a positive thing,” Hensley said. “Coach Chris likes to refer to it as a year to bake in the oven. We were fresh out of high school. It gave us a year to get used to the whole college thing. It definitely benefited us.”
Matt Norman, who transferred from Fullerton College a year ago, said redshirting enabled him to add 40 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame. He now weighs 275.
“That (redshirt) year helped me get used to the speed of playing football at the Division I level,” Norman said. “It helped me in the weight room and on the field.”
Offensive tackle Austin Webb said a year in the conditioning program has helped him become “faster. And my mind runs faster.”
Hynson toughing it out
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan … Kefense Hynson?
“I had to retire,” Hynson said of a recreational-basketball career that ended on a drive into the lane during a pick-up game in late June. “It was a sad day. I was going to the hoop and my leg just blew up.”
Hynson, who is the Warriors’ receivers coach, suffered torn ligaments in his right Achilles that required surgery.
Hynson has hobbled, without complaint, during the first three practices of training camp.
“I get cleared on the 11th, hopefully, to start rehabbing,” Hynson said. “I have no range of motion, which makes it tough. It is what it is. It’s inconvenient more than anything.”
Mar Chong on to Rio
A former UH athletic trainer is heading to Rio.
Daniel Mar Chong is the head trainer for China’s women’s volleyball team.
Mar Chong previously was the head trainer for Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. He owns a training center in Honolulu. Mar Chong is credited with transforming former UH volleyball player Taylor Averill into an All-America middle.
