In constructing its defense, the University of Hawaii football team was seeking an edge.
In 2017, the Rainbow Warriors amassed a sack every 15 pass plays, but only 39.5 percent came from an edge defender.
With defensive ends Meffy Koloamatangi and David Manoa completing their eligibility, the Warriors sought to add pass rushers through recruiting. “It definitely was a need for us in the offseason,” said Jacob Yoro, who coaches the hybrid edge defenders. “I think we filled those needs. We’ve got guys who have the natural ability to do that. Now we have to fine-tune them.”
The Warriors signed six edge players, all of whom are receiving looks at the hybrid end/linebacker position this training camp. In UH’s scheme, the hybrid serves as a pass rusher, pass defender or edge setter. Two junior college transfers — Jeffrey Keene and Derek Thomas — enrolled at UH in January, participated in spring training, and are now part of the defensive rotation.
“I think they’re doing a hell of a job right now,” Yoro said of Keene and Thomas. “They’re working really hard. You watch them, and they play with a motor. They don’t give up. They chase the football. They’ll run no matter what. They’re always running to the football.”
Keene said: “Anything can happen when you run to the football.”
Keene was a 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety and receiver through his junior season at Potomac High in Maryland. He was moved to defensive end as a senior. Three years later at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, Keene was 6-4, 230 pounds, and capable of running 40 yards in 4.53 seconds.
Keene works on read steps and get-off bursts while studying videos of NFL pass rushers Michael Bennett, Von Miller, Vic Beasley and Leonard Floyd. He also maintains his weight with constant hydration. “I drink a lot of water,” Keene said. “That’s the best thing to do.”
Thomas, who is 6-3, has struggled to keep his weight during training camp. He was 228 pounds on Friday morning, but his weight also has dipped to 210.
“When we’re working out, like we’re working out now, it’s mostly water weight I’m losing,” Thomas said.
Thomas said he was a running back until he enrolled at Huntington Beach (Calif.) High. He recalled his coach saying: “You’re too big for running back. We don’t have a D-lineman, so be an end.”
As a Huntington Beach senior, he amassed 15.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. As a Cerritos College freshman in 2017, Thomas had 13 tackles for loss, including six sacks.
“The biggest transition for me was having to deal with an obstacle in my way every play, which was an offensive tackle or offensive guard,” Thomas said. “At running back, you have the ability to break it loose and you’ve got to make some moves on someone. You’re avoiding people. But in my (defensive) position now, I can’t avoid. I have to engage in contact. I think the biggest transition for me was to really change my mind-set to ‘attack, attack, attack’ instead of ‘avoid, avoid, avoid.’”
Yoro said an improved pass rush will be key for the Warriors this season.
“That’s why guys get paid millions and millions of dollars in the NFL to get after the quarterback,” Yoro said. “The way the game is now with the amount of passing in offensive football, the ability to get to the quarterback allows us to get more guys into coverage.”
