Warriors release 2 from fall roster

Offensive linemen Elijah Tupai and Kingjames Taylor will not play for the University of Hawaii football team this coming season.

Tupai has left the team because of personal reasons, UH coach Nick Rolovich confirmed to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Tupai departs in good standing with the school and the Rainbow Warriors.

“I appreciate the work he’s put in as a Warrior,” Rolovich said. “It’s unfortunate that he won’t be with us for his senior year. I tell them faith, family, academics, football is the order of priorities. At this point, there’s a pressing need for him that is bigger than football.”

Tupai redshirted in 2013, his first year at UH, then played in 36 games the next three seasons. He has started 17 games at guard. He did not play in the Hawaii Bowl after suffering a leg injury in the 2016 regular-season finale. Tupai did not participate in contact drills in spring practice. If he stayed, he would have competed for playing time at right guard this season. JR Hensley played right guard in the Hawaii Bowl and with the first team in spring training.

“He would have been in the depth,” Rolovich said of Tupai.

Taylor apparently did not meet the requirements to play this season.

Taylor redshirted as a freshman in 2016. During spring training, Taylor and Matt Norman competed at tackle. RJ Hollis, who started 14 games at right tackle in 2016, completed his UH eligibility at the end of the Hawaii Bowl. Left tackle Dejon Allen was held out of workouts near the end of spring training to rest ailments.

The Warriors return Allen, left guard John Wa‘a and center Asotui Eli to the starting offensive line. Hensley appears to have the edge at right guard. Eperone Moananu, who redshirted as a sophomore last year, is active this season.

Fred Ulu-Perry, a Saint Louis School graduate who played at UCLA in 2015, also redshirted in 2016 in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. Ulu-Perry sat out spring training because of medical and personal issues. But he rejoined the Warriors for the four-week conditioning program following spring training. He is considered one of the Warriors’ best and versatile blockers. Ulu-Perry can play all five positions on the line.

The Warriors also signed three offensive linemen in February. They will enroll in UH’s bridge session later this month.

The Warriors open training camp on July 26. The first practice is scheduled for July 27.