WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Estes finds way to first team on depth chart
The freshman will be pushed by Larry Sauafea and Marques Kaonohi for the right guard spot
If the depth chart released yesterday holds up, Hawaii will start second-year freshman John Estes at right guard at Alabama in the Sept. 2 season-opening football game.
But Estes (6-foot-1, 275 pounds from Stockton, Calif.) will have lots of experience around him. He'll be flanked by right tackle Dane Uperesa and center Samson Satele, both seniors who have started since they were freshmen. Left tackle Tala Esera is also a fourth-year starter, and left guard Hercules Satele got valuable playing time toward the end of last season.
"Nothing is set in stone," offensive line coach Wes Suan said at the end of spring camp last month, and either junior Larry Sauafea or senior Marques Kaonohi could still find himself starting at right guard instead of Estes.
Estes' first-team status is only a mild surprise, but the biggest one on the two-deeps.
Other notes of interest:
» Junior Jason Rivers is on a good pace to regain his starting spot of 2003 and 2004 at X receiver -- or at least get meaningful playing time this year. He is listed No. 2 behind senior Chad Mock after joining spring practice a week late because of university obligations.
Rivers missed all of last season with an ankle injury and academic issues. In 2004 he caught 80 passes for 973 yards and seven touchdowns.
» Seniors Nate Ilaoa at running back and Leonard Peters at free safety are both listed No. 1 at their positions. Both are awaiting resolution of NCAA appeals for a sixth year of eligibility in 2006. So is Z receiver Ian Sample, listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind senior Ross Dickerson.
Senior Reagan Mauia, a 299-pound converted defensive tackle, is listed No. 2 at running back. Sophomore walk-on Dane Porlas is listed behind Peters.
» Sophomore C.J. Allen-Jones is listed ahead of sophomore Tyson Kafentzis at weakside linebacker after Kafentzis got most of the first-team reps in spring practice.
Freshman Brashton Satele is listed behind sophomore John Fonoti on the other side, but Satele might see action at other linebacker spots, too.
» The Warriors have decided to leave converted inside linebacker Brad Kalilimoku at strong safety, where the junior experimented in the spring. He is listed No. 1 going into fall camp.
» The quarterback order remains the same as it was at the start of spring camp: Junior Colt Brennan, sophomore Tyler Graunke, freshman Inoke Funaki and freshman William Brogan.
Kick and punt returners were not listed on the depth chart.