UH coach Nick Rolovich does a quarterback shuffle

In a split decision, the University of Hawaii football coaches created a plan to maximize the workload for Friday’s opening day of training camp.

During team sessions and passing drills, the Rainbow Warriors ran two huddles simultaneously. Quarterbacks Cole McDonald, Chevan Cordeiro and Justin Uahinui took turns running an offense on one side of the field, while Jeremy Moussa, Kolney Cassel and Tanner Darling rotated in guiding their offense on the other side. In essence, the Warriors doubled the number of reps.

“When you have close to 110 kids in camp, it’s a great way to keep a lot of kids engaged in what you’re doing and get a lot of reps in a short period of time,” said Brian Smith, UH’s offensive coordinator and associate head coach.

Head coach Nick Rolovich said he does not know how long that pace will be maintained. “But I did like seeing the amount of reps,” Rolovich said. “We’ll have a lot of film to watch. I know that.”

The Warriors are closely monitoring the quarterback competition. Dru Brown, last year’s starter, is at Oklahoma State as a graduate transfer. The Warriors also moved from a hybrid system to the run-and-shoot offense that was operated successfully at UH from 1999 through 2011.

“I thought Cole did a good job,” quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann said of McDonald, who was the primary backup last season. “I thought he improved a lot in the offseason. He was pretty clean with his reads. In terms of being out there and leading some of the drills — and really not talking as much and getting the job done — I thought he did a good job today.”

Moussa and Cordeiro are true freshmen with different experience levels. Moussa completed his studies at Eleanor Roosevelt High in Chino Hills, Calif., in December and enrolled at UH in January. He participated in the Warriors’ spring training and offseason workouts.

At Saint Louis School, Cordeiro played in an offensive system that has the same concepts as UH’s run-and-shoot. Cordeiro also counts Vinny Passas as a tutor. Passas has guided Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Cordeiro couldn’t participate in UH-supervised workouts until the start of UH’s bridge session last month.

“He’s very twitchy,” Stutzmann said of Cordeiro’s quick body movements. “He has a good idea of what to do. We’ll take a look at the film and see if it was the right reads.”

Cassel is a sixth-year player trying to revive a career in which three arm surgeries cost him three seasons. He started his career at SMU in June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense before transferring to Sacramento State. He is at UH as a graduate transfer.

Cassel’s passes showed zip during drills on Friday. “I’m knocking some rust off,” Cassel said.

Cassel said he never considered giving up on the sport.

“I love the game,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance to play yet. I haven’t had a fair chance to stay healthy.”

At his peak, Cassel could launch a football 75 yards. Now, he said, “I can sling it 70.”

Darling, a transfer from Moorpark College, was used at quarterback and wideout on Friday.

“I’ll do both and see where it gets me,” Darling said.

Rolovich, who did not coach Darling’s group, said: “I’d like to see him throw the ball. I have to take a look at his reps. He’s a good athlete. He has light feet. We might be able to switch him (to receiver).”

Stutzmann said the field work was beneficial to the players.

“It’s the only way young players are going to learn,” Stutzmann said. “There’s only so much you can learn on the board and film room. Just being able to go out and play, making mistakes and getting them corrected, and getting your reps and physically playing, that’s priceless.”