Pulse rates spiked briefly when University of Hawaii left tackle Dejon Allen was carted off the football field with an apparent ankle issue during Saturday’s spring practice.
“It looks like he’ll be OK,” coach Nick Rolovich said of the Rainbow Warriors’ best offensive lineman. “It’s just an ankle.”
Rolovich said Allen probably will not participate in contact drills in the final six practices of spring training.
“We’ll let him heal up and get some of the young guys work and get him ready for his senior year,” Rolovich said.
The Warriors are seeking a successor to right tackle RJ Hollis, who completed his UH eligibility in December. The top candidates — Matt Norman and Kingjames Taylor — have practiced with the No. 1 offensive line this spring.
When Allen was withheld from contact drills the previous four practices, Taylor played left tackle and Norman was on the right side. During early team drills on Saturday, Allen was at left tackle before suffering the injury, and Norman and Taylor rotated at right tackle. Now Norman and Taylor will play on the first unit, with other offensive-tackle reps going to Austin Webb and Chris Posa.
“We’ll look a lot different come fall with our guys getting healthy,” Rolovich said, referring to four offensive lineman who did not practice on Saturday, “but also our recruits coming in.”
Brownholtz goes ‘live’
In a tough-love approach, backup quarterback Cole Brownholtz is designated as “live” — fit to be hit — during scrimmage-like sessions.
UH quarterbacks usually wear orange jerseys, a color code signifying that they are not to be tackled during practice. Just prior to Saturday’s scrimmage, Brownholtz was given a white jersey similar to the ones worn by the other offensive players. The tactic is motivational and educational. Brownholtz is a gifted scrambler who too often abandons the pocket prematurely. The thinking is a few knocks might deter Brownholtz’s early-evacuation plans.
“Everybody can see I can run,” Brownholtz said. “I need to stay on script and stay in the pocket. I’ve got to work on staying in the system, trusting the plays and making my reads. Sometimes I don’t trust myself and scramble. I need to stay in there.”
In two series, Brownholtz was 3-for-6 and led a scoring drive.
Barker diamond in rough
In practices, film reviews and JUGS sessions, wideout Ammon Barker has worked on refining his diamond.
A receiver’s technique is to have the thumbs touch and index fingers meet to create a diamond-shaped target. Receivers coach Kefense Hynson and graduate assistant Mikahael “Blood” Waters have worked extensively on Barker’s hand placement.
“They’ve been helping me build up on my craft,” Barker said. “It’s been good. It’s been helping.”
Barker, who started seven games at left wideout in 2016, has practiced as the No. 1 right wideout this spring. He made two tough catches in Saturday’s scrimmage.
