The University of Hawaii football team will use reserve power to replace linebacker Jahlani Tavai in Saturday’s road game against Fresno State
Tavai, who is the Rainbow Warriors’ leading tackler, appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s 40-22 loss to Nevada at Aloha Stadium. He was examined in the medical tent, and spent the second half on the sideline in street clothes.
“I don’t think he’ll be with us this week,” coach Nick Rolovich said. The Warriors are set to depart on Thursday.
In eight games, Tavai amassed 82 tackles — a dozen more than what No. 2 tackler Ikem Okeke has accumulated in nine games.
Tavai’s immediate replacement is Kana‘i Picanco, a 2015 Damien Memorial graduate who played two years at Pima Community College in Arizona.
“I like that football is incredibly important to him,” Rolovich said of Picanco. “I think people look at a guy who’s walked on here, does everything they do and more. He doesn’t complain. He comes out and practices every day and fights through bumps and bruises to be part of this program. I think he’s a poster child for the under-recruited local boy. I wish some of these scouting websites — they have all these stars — I wish they had hearts. He’d be a five-heart recruit.”
Picanco said he prepares each week as if he is going to play.
“When you get your chance, you have to show the coaches what you’ve got,” said Picanco, who relishes each opportunity. “It’s great. It’s fun. It’s why I play football, to have fun.”
Tavai began his UH career as a rush end, before moving to middle linebacker as a sophomore in 2016. This season, he has rotated among rush end, defensive end and strong-side linebacker, with Penei Pavihi aligned at middle linebacker. In Tavai’s absence against Nevada, Picanco, Paul Scott and Pumba Williams took turns at the different defensive spots.
“What’s been great for us over the course of the season is every linebacker has had game reps,” linebackers coach Mark Banker said. “That’s what’s great about building depth.”
Scott, who redshirted in 2017, has steadily developed into an effective linebacker. He made a key tackle against Nevada.
“We’ve all been out here grinding,” Scott said. “Everybody wants an opportunity to play.”
Scott has been valuable on special teams this season. “He’s gotten into the last couple games at linebacker,” Rolovich said of Scott. “He’s physical. He’s a good tackler. He understands where he’s supposed to be. I’m excited for him.”
Rolovich indicated Scott, a second-year freshman, is on the right track.
“This is when the guys start developing — a couple years in the program, been traveling, been on special teams,” Rolovich said. “Now he’s going to get some opportunities to be a linebacker.”
Of the young linebackers, Banker said: “For us, within the defense, we’re like anything that grows. We’re that pit. We’re the seed. The two things that happen, just like in life, either things get better or they get worse. Either we grow or we rot from the inside out. It’s so important that the nerve center stays strong, and continues to play well, and continues to play responsible football.”
