HAWAII OFFENSE

LWO—12 Keelan Ewaliko 5-11 205 Sr.
SB—5 John Ursua 5-10 165 So.
LT—50 Dejon Allen 6-3 295 Sr.
LG—51 John Wa‘a 6-4 315 Sr.
C—65 Asotui Eli 6-4 305 Jr.
RG—60 Chris Posa 6-4 290 Sr.
RT—64 Fred Ulu-Perry 6-2 305 So.
TE—7 Metuisela ‘Unga 6-5 240 Sr.
RWO—80 Ammon Barker 6-4 215 Sr.
QB—2 Dru Brown 6-0 205 Jr.
RB—22 Diocemy Saint Juste 5-8 195 Sr.

Quarterback Dru Brown admittedly was uneven in an 11-for-21 performance against Western Carolina. “I made some mistakes that were uncharacteristic, and you learn from that,” Brown said. But Brown’s 8-4 record is the best for a UH starting quarterback since Colt Brennan went 27-12 a decade ago. In the opener, it was John Ursua who was the go-to receiver. Last week, slotback Dylan Collie was targeted 11 times, eight more than any other receiver. Ursua and Collie are floaters who are reliable on slants and crossing patterns. In his 23-game UH career, Collie has eight catches of 25-plus yards. This season, Collie’s post-catch average is 9.4 yards. Tight ends Metuisela ‘Unga and Dakota Torres have combined for six catches, with each resulting in a first down or touchdown. But they have been targeted only 10 times. “It depends on the play called,” Brown said of his distribution. “I try to execute the plays that are called. I think when I start thinking about who to get the ball to, that’s when I get in trouble. I start to press a little bit. All I can do is go through my progressions and get the ball to whoever’s open. I can’t take into consideration who it is.” Diocemy Saint Juste, who became the first Warrior to have two 200-yard rushing games in his career, might be used more as a receiver. Last year, he caught 80 percent of the passes thrown his way, with a team-high 9.25 yards-after-catch average. He has not been targeted in the first two games this season.

HAWAII DEFENSE

DE—3 David Manoa 6-3 240 Sr.
NT—91 Samiuela Akoteu 6-2 320 So.
DT—98 Viane Moala 6-7 295 So.
DE—97 Meffy Koloamatangi 6-5 240 Sr.
SLB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 So.
MLB—31 Jahlani Tavai 6-4 235 Jr.
WLB—44 Russell Williams Jr. 6-1 230 Sr.
CB—18 Rojesterman Farris II 6-1 180 So.
SS—4 Daniel Lewis Jr. 5-11 180 Jr.
FS—39 Trayvon Henderson 6-0 200 Sr.
CB—14 Manu Hudson-Rasmussen 6-0 185 Jr.

Last week, the Warriors’ take-and-give defenders amassed 14 stops for losses, but also missed 12 tackles, including three potential sacks, for an additional 149 yards. But the Warriors have received solid play from safeties Trayvon Henderson and Daniel Lewis Jr., middle linebacker Jahlani Tavai, and ends Meffy Koloamatangi and David Manoa. In 2013, Koloamatangi and Manoa joined the program as lean players with undecided roles. They both had stints at tight end and linebacker before establishing themselves as ends. Mayur Chaudhari, who coaches the defensive ends, praised Koloamatangi’s development as a run stopper. “He’s so strong, and he’s so violent in the way he hand strikes people and doesn’t like to get stuck on blocks,” Chaudhari said. “He’ll just shove and bull rush. He has a great motor. That’s what helps him. He’s really worked on some of his techniques.” Manoa worked on his agility doing ladder drills this offseason. “He’s a really smart player,” Chaudhari said of Manoa. “He’s kind of figured out what he’s really great at. He plays with an incredible motor as well. He can play 12 in a row and be at top speed every play. He’s built that way.”

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

FG/KO—46 Ryan Meskell 6-0 185 So.
PAT—46 Alex Trifonovitch 6-1 180 So.
LS—1 Noah Borden 6-1 215 Jr.
P/H—99 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 Fr.
KR—12 Keelan Ewaliko 5-11 205 Sr.
PR—5 John Ursua 5-10 165 So.

In high school, offensive lineman J.R. Hensley enjoyed the actions in the trenches. At UH, it was decided to use Hensley’s aggressiveness and heat-seeking drive on special teams. He plays the rhino position, which is located about 15 yards in front of the kickoff returner. His job is to clear a path. “In high school, I didn’t think much about special teams, let alone kickoff returns,” Hensley said. “In college, I can’t wait to get out there. I don’t care what it is. Kickoff return is fun for me. I love hitting the crap out of people.” Freshman lineman Brandon Kipper is the other blocker in the two-rhino package. Taaga Tuullima and Dakota Torres are the backups.

UCLA OFFENSE

LWO—2 Jordan Lasley 6-1 210 Jr.
SB—7 Darren Andrews 5-10 195 Sr.
LT—77 Kolton Miller 6-8 310 Jr.
LG—69 Najee Toran 6-2 305 Sr.
C—35 Scott Quessenberry 6-3 310 Sr.
RG—55 Michael Alves 6-5 320 Fr.
RT—75 Andre James 6-4 310 So.
TE—81 Caleb Wilson 6-4 255 So.
RWO—14 Theo Howard 6-0 180 So.
QB— 3 Josh Rosen 6-4 218 Jr.
RB—4 Soso Jamabo 6-2 210 Jr.

Nicknamed “Chosen,” quarterback Josh Rosen forced NFL scouts to re-prioritize 2018 draft boards after rallying the Bruins from a 44-10 deficit against Texas A&M last week. Rosen showed toughness (he was knocked down 12 times, including three times on sacks), leadership (the Bruins did not huddle during the surge) and the range to find receivers at different branches of the passing trees. Rosen, a true pocket passer, was at his best on 3- and 5-step drops out of the shotgun. The Aggies mixed and matched zones, man coverages and all-points blitzes to try to slow the Bruins. “As a real blitzer’s flying, sometimes it really tests how well you know an offense,” Rosen said of transferring meeting-room preparation to the field. It took three quarters for Rosen to adapt to new offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch’s multiple-set schemes. The Bruins can align four wide, in split backs or I formation, double tight ends, and a triangle-flex in which a tight end, slotback and wideout are bunched. Tight end Caleb Wilson relies on a two-step move to create separation against man coverage. Wilson also is a decent blocker. Darren Andrews is a slot who moves defenses with pre-snap shifts and motions. Jordan Lasley, who can run 4.4 seconds over 40 yards, is the deep threat. Fisch is trying to boost an attack that averaged 84.3 yards per game last season. Kolton Miller moved from right tackle to the left side, and 6-2, 250-pound fullback Giovanni Gentosi is employed as lead or edge blocker. But Soso Jamabo and Bo Olorunfunmi combined for 77 rushing yards last week.

UCLA DEFENSE

LE—91 Jacob Tuioti-Mariner 6-2 285 Sr.
LT—75 Boss Tagaloa 6-2 305 So.
RT—99 Matt Dickerson 6-4 299 Sr.
RE—15 Jaelan Phillips 6-5 255 Fr.
OLB—52 Lokeni Toailoa 6-2 245 So.
MLB—42 Kenny Young 6-1 235 Sr.
OLB—2 Josh Woods 6-2 235 Jr.
LCB—22 Nate Meadors 5-11 195 Jr.
SS—4 Jaleel Wadood 5-9 180 Sr.
FS—6 Adarius Pickett 5-11 195 Jr.
RCB—1 Darnay Holmes 5-10 195 Fr.

After more than 30 years on the Penn State sidelines, Tom “Scrap” Bradley was viewed as head coach Joe Paterno’s successor. But Bradley was part of the collateral damage in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. After leaving Penn State, where he was defensive coordinator, he served as West Virginia’s senior associate head coach before joining UCLA as defensive coordinator in 2015. The Bruins’ base is a four-man front. The two ends — Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, who can play all four spots, and Jaelan Phillps, a lengthy pass-rush specialist — get most of the attention. But Matt Dickerson is relentless at the 3 technique, and Boss Tagaloa is a nose tackle who can reset the line of scrimmage. Middle linebacker Kenny Young is the play-caller and the last Bruin who will wear No. 42. Jackie Robinson’s number is being retired in every UCLA sport. Linebacker Josh Woods and safety Jaleel Wadood are free to roam. Woods can align next to Young in a two-linebacker formation or scoot to the edge as a pass rusher. Against Texas A&M, Wadood raced 40 yards laterally for a pass breakup. Wadood also can defend the slot receiver. Safety Adarius Pickett is 5-11, but athletic. He blocked a field-goal attempt last week. True freshman Darnay Holmes was rated as the nation’s top corner recruit.

UCLA SPECIALISTS

PK/KO—17 JJ Molson 6-0 185 So.
LS—30 Johnny Den Bleyker 5-11 205 So.
P/H—20 Stefan Flintoft 6-3 190 Jr.
KR—1 Darnay Holmes 5-10 195 Fr.
PR—6 Adarius Pickett 5-11 195 Jr.

JJ Molson has regained his place-kicking job despite missing eight of 20 attempts last year. He connected on a 29-yarder last week. He also did better on his kickoffs as last week’s game progressed. In the first half, Texas A&M’s average start following a kickoff was the 30. In the fourth quarter, it was the 25. Kick returner Darnay Holmes ran 40 yards in a laser-time 4.32 seconds at the Opening combine in Oregon last year.