University of Hawaii running backs provide triple threat for ground attack

The evaluation on the University of Hawaii football team’s running backs was this: all were productive in the season-opening victory over Fresno State.

It was a game of Rushing Roulette in which every number called was the right one. Miles Reed, Calvin Turner and Daveon “Dae Dae” Hunter combined for 212 rushing yards, an average of 5.9 yards per carry.

They were good on third down (8.3-yard average), in the wildcat (Turner’s 7.5), and after contact (4.2).

“All three of them are different and they work well together,” said Bo Graham, the pass-game coordinator and running backs coach.

Each took a different path to Manoa. Reed, a co-captain, is a third-year sophomore who led the Warriors in rushing with 908 yards last season. Turner, who was an option quarterback the past three seasons, arrived as a graduate transfer after Jacksonville dropped its football program at the end of the 2019 season. Hunter was a standout at Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High before transferring to Arizona’s Chandler High for his senior season in 2019. Last year, Hunter rushed for 1,748 yards and 33 touchdowns. He turned down an offer from Wyoming — UH’s road opponent on Friday night — to sign with the Warriors.

Against Fresno’s thin 4-1 defensive front, the Warriors shifted from a four-wide passing attack to a running game involving split-back formations, outside-zone runs and rushes off run-pass option (RPO) sets. But for all the take-what-you’re-given approach, the Warriors were prepared to unleash an eclectic ground attack, anyway.

At 5 feet 8 and 190 pounds, Reed has narrowed his style to make the most of his strength and leverage. Graham has implemented visual drills to help Reed look at specific places. Reed also has limited his use of leaps and extra cuts — false movements, in football parlance. “One stick and go,” Graham said. “Get the ball north and south. He did that. He trusted that.”

Reed said: “It’s how this offense is set up. Holes are opening quicker and closing quicker. I’m trying to get through those holes and get something out of nothing.”

Graham praised Reed’s quick-study comprehension. “Miles is the smartest football player I’ve ever coached,” Graham said. “He never makes the same mistakes twice. I think being smart is a talent. He is able to comprehend things on a level that makes him unique.”

Turner, who is 6-1 and 195 pounds, was recruited to UH as a slotback. Following the coaching change — Nick Rolovich went to Washington State and Todd Graham was hired as UH’s head coach in January — Turner was reassigned to running back. Sort of. He also can play wideout, slot, halfback, 3-back and wildcat quarterback.

“Calvin is very smooth,” Bo Graham said. “He’s kind of a glider.”

Turner also displayed a fierceness with his on-the-move blocks and past-the-sticks hunger. In the opener, six of Turner’s 10 touches resulted in first downs.

“Whenever I touch the ball, I’m trying to score a touchdown,” Turner said. “A first down is a steppingstone to getting to the end zone.”

Hunter, who is 5-10 and 200 pounds, showed his quickness (4.5 seconds over 40 yards) and aggressiveness in scrimmage-like sessions in training camp.

“The best thing — the most exciting thing I saw — being around guys in the past who have done this, he elevated his game,” Graham said of Hunter. In what could make a catchy bumper sticker, Graham said: “Game-day Dae Dae was a lot different than regular day-to-day Dae Dae.”

Against Fresno State, Graham said, Hunter showed “explosiveness” on first-step quickness, cuts and blocking “guys who outweigh him by 50 pounds or so.”

Graham added: “He’s one of the most athletic guys I’ve been around. I think his potential, his roof, is extremely high. I’m excited to have him here and to be coaching him.”