Hawaii football finishes camp without naming starting QB

The University of Hawaii football team broke training camp on Saturday without declaring a No. 1 quarterback.

UH coach Nick Rolovich said there is no compelling reason to name a starting quarterback ahead of the coming weekend’s opener against Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. Cole McDonald, a third-year sophomore, and true freshmen Chevan Cordeiro and Jeremy Moussa are the top candidates.

“I don’t have to do anything,” Rolovich said, “unless (athletic director David) Matlin or the (UH) president (David Lassner) tell me I have to do it. Then I’ll do it. I don’t think this team is in a frenzy to know who’s going to play. They have their own things to work on.”

Rolovich acknowledged that McDonald, Cordeiro and Moussa have “been accurate most of camp.” Cordeiro played in a similar run-and-shoot system as a Saint Louis School senior in 2017. Moussa has displayed a powerful arm. In UH’s hybrid offense last year, McDonald had more rushes than passes.

“That’s all I got to do last year,” he said of his role on option keepers. “This year, they’re going to showcase my arm a little bit.”

McDonald said his preference is to be regarded as a passer.

“If I wanted to run the ball, I’d be a running back,” said McDonald, who has embraced the run-and-shoot schemes.

Rolovich said UH’s offensive unit began working on the Colorado State game plan during Wednesday’s practice. The Warriors have resurrected the four-wide offense this year following a six-season hiatus. Many of the concepts are in place, although a favorite will be introduced later because of its complexity. “I’m not sure that’s the life we want to live right now,” Rolovich said of the omitted scheme.

Under Corey Batoon, who was hired as defensive coordinator in December, the defense’s game plan for the opener was installed two weeks ago. The Warriors’ base is a four-man front. But that is only the starting point. The front four can contain different personnel, including a plus-sized end, a quick nose or stand-up edge defender. There also are schemes that involve five defensive backs.

The base, Batoon said, “allows us to play a lot of different looks. We’ll get into an odd look, an even look, a flex.”

Through the years, Batoon has met with Dave Aranda, LSU’s defensive coordinator and a former UH coach, and San Diego State head coach Rocky Long, co-creator of the 3-3-5 scheme. He also worked with Monte Kiffin, inventor of the Tampa 2 defense.

“We have a lot of things in our package,” Batooon said.

Rolovich’s training camps allow flexibility. For the three weeks of camp, older players have the option of staying in dorms or their off-campus apartments. Under previous head coaches, the entire team was required to live in the dorms or dance studios during camp.

Running back Fred Holly, who lives off campus, said the arrangement is “still camp.”

McDonald said the “camp mentality” will continue. “We’re still watching film, we’re still practicing,” he said. “They say it’s over, but to us, it’s not really over. We’re just continuing it on through the season.”

Offensive lineman J.R. Hensley, one of four co-captains, said camp set the tone for the upcoming season. “Everyone is pretty locked in,” Hensley said. “We’re just tuning up small things right now.”