The middle of the University of Hawaii football team’s offensive line is now a call center.

Following a growing trend, the Rainbow Warriors are experimenting with the center, not the quarterback, making the pre-snap cadences.

“It gives a little more responsibility to the O-line,” said Craig Stutzmann, who coordinates the passing game. “It’s good because it gives them the freedom if they have to re-identify something up front. They can slow it down and make sure the core is good before we snap the ball.”

Nevada assigned the cadences to the center last year when UH head coach Nick Rolovich was the Wolf Pack’s offensive coordinator.

“We like it because it gives us a chance to make some calls if things change,” Rolovich said.

It also is hoped it will reduce false-start penalties. The Warriors committed 18 false starts in 13 games last season.

“It’s pretty fun,” said John Wa‘a, who has played center the majority of plays with the first team. “We can control everything.”

The Warriors shuffled the offensive line, with right guard Dejon Allen at left tackle and center Asotui Eli at right guard. Eli also has taken reps at center. Fred Ulu-Perry, who is redshirting this season after transferring from UCLA in December, has practiced at center.

“When I was at UCLA, I was mainly playing guard,” said Ulu-Perry, a Saint Louis School graduate. “I practiced at center, but I never played center in a game.”

Ulu-Perry has embraced the switch, as well as working with his mentor Chris Naeole, who coaches the offensive line.

“The center has to be that leader,” Ulu-Perry said. “You’re making the calls, reading the pre-snap.”

Defensive switch

In a bold move, the Warriors switched Jahlani Tavai from edge rusher to middle linebacker, a position he had not played previously. Tavai received an endorsement from Solomon Elimimian, a former UH middle linebacker who holds the school record for career tackles.

“He plays with a lot of energy,” said Elimimian, who is in town for seven weeks while on break from the Canadian Football League. “I remember one play when he chased a guy probably 40 yards down the field until the guy was out of bounds. That was good effort. That’s one thing you can’t coach.”

Told of Elimimian’s comments, Tavai said: “That’s awesome. That’s pretty cool for him to say that. He’s someone to look up to.”

Tavai is adjusting to his new role in the 4-3 defense. He was the hybrid end in last year’s 3-4 scheme.

“I prefer to make more tackles than be a sack guy,” Tavai said. “If I can lead our conference in tackles, I’ll be good with that.”

Keeping focus

To spice up punt-return drills, assistant coach Kefense Hynson used a Super Soaker to spray the returner as the football approached.

“Returning punts is a big focus thing,” said Dylan Collie, one of five candidates. “You can’t let (the spray) affect you. You have to get over it and focus on the primary purpose, and that’s to catch a punt. No matter what’s in your way, it doesn’t matter. I have to make sure (the football) goes in the bread basket.”