Hawaii has an abundance of options on the offensive line

It was about 72 hours before signing day in February 2017 when a Wildcat strike was launched.

“They offered me (a scholarship) toward the end of my recruiting process,” offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool said of the Arizona football coaches. “They came in and tried to talk to me. I was already committed (to Hawaii). Once my mind was made up, it was made up.”

Vanterpool, who grew up in Phoenix, was one of the Copper State’s top prospects. As a Phoenix Central High senior, he was named to the 6A All-State first team and was ranked in the Arizona Football Coaches Association’s Top 25 prospects.

“(Arizona) was the home school, but when you know, you know,” Vanterpool said. “Hawaii felt like home. I trusted Coach (Nick Rolovich) and the staff he brought in.”

It will be a reunion of sorts when the Rainbow Warriors play host to the Wildcats in Saturday’s season opener at Aloha Stadium.

“I can’t wait,” Vanterpool said. “I’ve got a couple of friends who play on U of A. It will be good seeing those guys. All the Arizona boys linking up. I’m pretty sure we’ll take a picture.”

This preseason, Vanterpool is part of the Rainbow Warriors’ bigger picture of cross-training offensive linemen. It is a teaching method Mark Weber has employed during his 30-plus seasons as an assistant coach.

“Always have,” Weber said of having offensive linemen practice at more than one spot. “You don’t want somebody to just learn right tackle or left guard. You want them to learn concepts. By cross training them, you create more competition. They learn at a deeper level. And on game day, you’re able to make adjustments easier because they understand concepts rather than just memorizing a play. And then, of course, you have position flexibility, and you can move people around. It helps in every way.”

The past few weeks, Vanterpool, who was recruited as an offensive tackle, has been able to fill in at right guard.

“I really love it,” Vanterpool said of cross training. “It keeps everybody on your toes. It makes a lot more competition in the (offensive linemen’s) room. It makes everybody better.”

Gene Pryor was an offensive tackle through his sophomore year of junior college. Last season, his first at UH, he trained as an offensive guard, appearing in one game. He has been practicing as the No. 1 right tackle.

On moving from guard, Pryor noted, “the stance is different, the speed is different. But I feel confident (at tackle). I trust in the coaching. I trust in my teammates.”

During training camp, Taaga Tuulima has played the three interior positions on the line. “Taaga is very versatile, very smart,” Weber said.

Tuulima joined the Warriors as a 6-foot-2, 270-pound walk-on in 2016. He redshirted that year, played in seven games in 2017, and another 13 in 2018. He now weighs 310. When Tuulima is in the starting lineup, the Warriors are 6-6 and averaging 427.3 yards per game.

Solo Vaipulu has trained at guard and center. Kohl Levao has started at right tackle and center.

“We have a lot of combinations we can work with,” Rolovich said.