STAR-BULLETIN FILE / OCTOBER 2005 UH's Chad Mock caught 42 passes for 502 yards last season.

Mock makes it work out wide

He has become one of Colt Brennan's most reliable targets despite being in the shadows

While Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins grabbed the spotlight last year with eye-catching receptions, Chad Mock quietly snagged his share of footballs, too.

Bess and Grice-Mullins, Hawaii's dynamic freshman slotbacks, garnered a lot of recognition in 2005, and rightfully so for more than 1,000 yards in receiving apiece. Meanwhile, Mock performed steadily at left wide receiver (as did Ross Dickerson on the other flank) once he got the chance to play. He caught 42 passes for 502 yards and a touchdown in eight games, replacing the injured Ian Sample in the starting lineup.

Mock, a senior this fall, finished spring camp as No. 1 on the depth chart at the left, or X, receiver. Position coach Ron Lee expects him to put up a strong fight to keep the spot once fall camp starts Aug. 4, with former two-year starter Jason Rivers and others gunning for it.

"He has great hands and he's fearless. I would say that he had a great spring and he's coming in in good standing," Lee said of Mock, who is also schooled enough to play on the right, or Z, side. "They'll all get reps. If we had to play tomorrow he'd have a good chance of starting."

He isn't flashy or extremely fast (4.53 in his latest 40 time), but Mock is dependable.

"It's great to have that solid target you always know is in the right place," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "He's always where he's supposed to be and he keeps plugging away to get better."

Mock said having the reputation as a grinder doesn't bother him often.

"Sometimes, but it's a team game and I try to play my role and do what I can for the team," he said.

Mock said he's working on "getting mentally ready" during unsupervised workouts. He's already excited about the season opener Sept. 2 at Alabama.

"I expect us to go out there and do what we do and stick together and come out with a victory," the 5-foot-11 Farrington graduate said. "I'm pretty sure we can do it, we can go down there and beat them if we stay together and stay focused."

Hey Buddy: Defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold had a fun time two weeks ago at Waikoloa, poolside with NFL coaching legend Buddy Ryan and his son, Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

It wasn't long before a tanning session turned into a pass-rushing clinic.

"We're reach-blocking each other, and people are looking at us wondering what's going on," Reinebold said. "Then Buddy took his big sun hat off and people recognized him. He asked me if (defensive coordinator Jerry) Glanville found Elvis yet. From what I recall, when Jerry was at Atlanta and Buddy with the Eagles their teams had a big brawl."

Smith joins Cav: Brian Smith, a starting center at UH from 1999 to 2001, has been hired as a graduate assistant at Oregon State, reuniting him with former Hawaii offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.

"He's an outstanding young man with great potential as a coach," said Cavanaugh, who joined the Beavers staff last year.

Prospect likes UH: Charles Brallier, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound high school nose tackle, said he is enjoying an unofficial visit here.

"I like the people, the defensive scheme and the experience of the coaches," said Brallier, who will be a senior at Elk Grove (Calif.) this fall.

The 3.0 student is also interested in SMU and Washington, in that order.