HAWAII OFFENSE

LWO—85 Marcus Armstrong-Brown 6-3 210 Sr.

SB—5 John Ursua 5-10 175 Jr.

LT—75 Ilm Manning 6-4 280 Fr.

LG—57 J.R. Hensley 6-5 310 Jr.

C—63 Taaga Tuulima 6-2 290 So.

RG—60 Fa‘asolo Vaipulu 6-2 310 Fr.

RT—72 Kohl Levao 6-6 340 Jr.

SB—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 170 Jr.

RWO—19 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Jr.

QB—13 Cole McDonald 6-4 210 So.

RB—7 Dayton Furuta 5-11 150 Jr.

A week ago against Nevada, the Warriors converted on three of 15 third-down plays. But the problem was created on earlier downs. The average yard-to-gain distance was 8.3 yards on third down. “Sometimes you’re going to get penalties, or whatever,” quarterback Cole McDonald said. “You just have to make the most of the plays and execute them with 100-percent precision and effort.” Even recent offensive hiccups — six three-and-outs in the first five games, 12 in the past four games — have not evoked panic. McDonald, who has thrown for 29 TDs against three interceptions, has a better pass-efficiency rating (160.54) than Colt Brennan’s rating (159.8) in 2007, when he was a Heisman Trophy finalist. In Brennan’s best season, in 2006, he averaged an interception every 46.6 throws. McDonald averages a pick every 105 passes. The Warriors recently have faced unique defensive schemes, such as a 6-foot-9 middle linebacker and bumping coverages. The Warriors have countered with empty sets, utilizing Tristin Kamaka or Dakota Torres as the fifth receiver. Devan Stubblefield, who split reps with left wideout Marcus Armstrong-Brown, is expected to have an expanded role down the stretch. Defenses have tried to slow slotback John Ursua with layered coverages or re-route him with grasp-and-release moves. In response, Ursua often aligns wide to stretch thin defenses. The Warriors also have altered the patterns, with the wideouts running slants and crosses, and Ursua and slotback Cedric Byrd zipping straight on inside go routes. During the offseason, McDonald worked extensively on his throws. But he still is a threat on bootlegs and draws.

HAWAII DEFENSE

DE—99 Zeno Choi 6-3 280 Sr.

NT—54 Blessman Taala 6-1 310 Fr.

DT—91 Samiuela Akoteu 6-2 280 Jr.

DE—48 Derek Thomas 6-3 225 So.

LB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 Jr.

LB—53 Kana‘i Picanco 6-1 225 Jr.

LB—33 Penei Pavihi 6-2 230 So.

CB—4 Roe Farris 6-1 180 Jr.

S—16 Kalen Hicks 6-3 200 Jr.

S—22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Jr.

CB—8 Eugene Ford 6-2 195 So.

The Warriors will be without injured Jahlani Tavai, a Swiss Army knife who can play inside linebacker, strong-side linebacker and rush end. Replacing Tavai, according to defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, will be “like using your tool set. Each guy brings a unique skill set. Sometimes you have to bring the hammer, sometimes you have to use the saw.” Kana‘i Picanco is considered Tavai’s on-call understudy. Picanco can play both inside linebacker spots, and his aggressiveness draws comparisons to former Warrior Blaze Soares. Paul Scott, who took the special-teams route into the linebacker rotation, brings speed (4.5 seconds over 40 yards). Pumba Williams, who was used as an edge defender against triple-option offenses, can fill in at rush end — with a twist. As a former safety, Williams also can backpedal into coverage or make open-field tackles. “He can go out and play in space, but yet when he declares in the tackle box, he can match up against most tight ends,” Batoon said of Williams. Defensive tackle Samiuela Akoteu has emerged as a peer leader. This season, Akoteu has played between 75 and 80 percent of the defensive snaps. “He’s really violent with his hands,” D-line coach Ricky Logo said. “It showed in the first play last week when he got into a guard, pushed the pocket and made a sack.” Akoteu has adjusted to the lineman’s burden. “When you play D-line, you know what kind of life it is in there. You play the trenches, you stay low, you take a lot of physicality. It’s part of the job description.” Akoteu recently was given a new job title: co-captain.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

PK/KO—94 Ryan Meskell 6-0 185 Jr.

LS—1 Noah Borden 6-1 220 Sr.

P/H—99 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 So.

KR—28 Elijah Dale 5-10 200 Sr.

PR—19 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Jr.

During a busy offseason, Ikem Okeke not only worked on switching from linebacker to safety, but he also accepted an expanded role on special teams. This season, Okeke has made six tackles — three on punt coverage, three on kickoffs — and forced a fumble. “It didn’t just start in fall camp,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “He really worked in spring ball on his craft. It’s good to see him have production.” While dual returner Justice Augafa continues to mend, elusive Elijah Dale and speedy JoJo Ward will handle punt and kickoff returns, respectively.

FRESNO STATE OFFENSE

WR—1 Jamire Jordan 5-11 170 Sr.

WR—3 KeeSean Johnson 6-2 199 Sr.

WR—13 Justin Allen 5-11 192 Sr.

LT—58 Christian Cronk 6-5 305 Sr .

LG—62 Logan Hughes 6-4 285 Sr.

C—51 Markus Boyer 6-1 300 Sr.

RG—73 Micah St. Andrew 6-3 327 Sr.

RT—65 Syrus Tuitele 6-6 305 So.

TE—16 Jared Rice 6-5 230 Jr.

QB—6 Marcus McMaryion 6-2 203 Sr.

RB—33 Josh Hokit 6-1 220 Jr.

Whether in a three-wide formation or power alignment, the Bulldogs’ success is rooted in the offensive line. The Bulldogs have relinquished five sacks in 223 pass plays this season despite a revolving lineup. Their best blocker, former Warrior Netane Muti, moved from guard to blind-side tackle in training camp. But Muti suffered a season-ending injury in the second game, forcing Christian Cronk, a former UH commit, to move back to left tackle. Center Markus Boyer and right guard Micah St. Andrew flip-flopped positions three weeks ago. Of the moves, offensive coordinator Kalen Deboer said, “those guys just said, ‘We’re not going to let it get us down. We’re going to figure it out. If we have to move around a couple spots, that’s OK.’” The offense is collection of schemes Deboer picked up at Southern Illinois (double tight ends, heavy sets with play action) and Eastern Michigan (spread). FSU head coach Jeff Tedford, noted for blending spread and pro-style concepts (as well as coaching Aaron Rodgers at Cal), has been influential. Every stop, Deboer said, “you expand your knowledge base. (Tedford has) forgotten more than I’ve ever thought about.” Quarterback Marcus McMaryion, who transferred from Oregon State as a graduate student last year, is 15-3 as a Fresno starter. He is a dual threat as a passer (70.8-percent accuracy, with 19 completions of 25-plus yards) and runner (5.0 yards per carry on third-and-short situations). Wideout KeeSean Johnson is clutch (60 percent of his red-zone catches are in the end zone). Tight end Jared Rice deceptively transitions from a three-point stance to a check-down receiver (83.3 percent of his third-down catches result in first downs). Running backs Josh Hokit, Jordan Mims and Ronnie Rivers have been tackled in the backfield only 10 times in 155 carries.

FRESNO STATE DEFENSE

E—3 Mykal Walker 6-3 220 Jr.

T—93 Jasad Haynes 6-1 283 Jr.

T—90 Kevin Atkins 6-2 300 So.

E—5 Emeka Ndoh 6-0 250 Sr.

LB—34 George Helmuth 6-1 225 Sr.

LB—9 Jeff Alllison 6-0 242 Jr.

LB—7 James Bailey 6-1 225 Sr.

CB—6 Tank Kelly 5-10 183 Sr.

SS—23 Juju Hughes 5-11 182 Jr.

FS—4 Mike Bell 6-3 205 Jr.

CB—14 Jaron Bryant 6-0 176 Jr.

The Bulldogs had a case of northern exposure last season under defensive coordinator Orlando Steinauer, who had spent the previous seven seasons coaching in the Canadian Football League. Steinauer proved what worked on a larger scale — wider field, a 12th offensive player, pre-snap running starts by receivers — would work under NCAA conditions. But after the season, Steinauer joined June Jones’ Hamilton staff in the CFL. To maintain continuity, Bert Watts was promoted from linebackers coach. It made sense because the linebackers, led by Jeff Allison, are the heart of the 4-3 defense. “We’re just going about business as usual,” said Watts, whose defense has allowed 12.6 points per game (only Toledo scored more than 20 points), manufactured 18 takeaways, and limited opponents to 27-percent conversion on third down. In the base, the tackles fill the interior gaps, and ends frame the edges out of two-point stances. Allison, who aligns in the middle, has 76 tackles — 36 more than the co-No. 2 tacklers, linebackers James Bailey and George Helmuth. “Jeff is a blue-collar guy,” Watts said of 242-pound Allison, who weighed 275 two years ago. “He comes to work every day.” Cornerback Jaron Bryant, who was the defensive star of last year’s Hawaii Bowl, often moves up to serve as a fourth second-level defender. Tank Kelly has conquered growing pains and has developed into a shut-down corner. He is the national leader in passes defended (2.4 per game). “Anytime you have a senior that has played a lot of ball, his best ball sometimes shows up his last year because he’s learned so many lessons through his career,” Watts said. “I think you see that with Tank.” The Bulldogs prefer to play a two-deep zone, but free safety Mike Bell is comfortable as the centerfielder when strong safety JuJu Hughes covers an inside receiver.

FRESNO STATE SPECIALISTS

PK—37 Asa Fuller 6-2 227 Fr.

LS—53 Jacob Westberry 6-3 250 So.

P/H—47 Blake Cusick 6-2 185 Jr

Kr—11 Dejonte O’Neal 5-7 175 Sr.

PR—20 Ronnie Rivers 5-8 175 So.

Place-kicker Asa Fuller, who redshirted in 2017, has had uneven production as successor to Jimmy Camacho. He is three of six on field-goal attempts, with all of his misses from beyond 40 yards. But Fuller and punter Blake Cusick, a former walk-on, have been instrumental in winning field position. Opponents have started drives 27 times inside their 20, including 14 times inside the 10. Of Cusick’s 34 punts, five have been returned, for an average of 3.8 yards.