RECEIVERS (R)
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Senior wide receiver Chad Mock grew up in Southern California, Texas and Kalihi, where he starred for Farrington.
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Plenty of experienced targets for UH flying circus
Seven players who have started are coming back. It's got to be some kind of record -- and probably not the only one the Hawaii receivers will set this season.
Sophomore slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins already broke several freshman marks last fall. The other pass-catchers who have started for UH are another slotback Jason Ferguson, and wideouts Ross Dickerson, Chad Mock, Jason Rivers and Ian Sample.
Dickerson and Mock were dependable receivers who combined for 1,227 receiving yards last fall, and they emerged from spring practice as the starters on the flanks. They will be pushed hard by Rivers, who piled up 1,567 yards as a freshman and sophomore in 2003 and 2004 but missed last year because of school issues, and Sample, a speedster who has been plagued by injuries since transferring to UH in 2003.
Ferguson probably won't be able to play until midseason, but the backup slot positions are in good hands with Aaron Bain, Mike Washington, Marquez Jackson and Pat Olchovy all eager for opportunities. All but Jackson, who redshirted last year, got playing time last season. Several true freshmen, including Malcolm Lane, Greg Salas and Mitch Farney, will likely redshirt.
Unit at a glance
Slotback Bess provides the spectacular and the savvy
A great catch.
That's what Davone Bess is for Hawaii, and that's what he makes at least one of in just about every game for the Warriors.
Fingertip grabs. Diving snags. Even one where he jumped high but then had to reach low when the ball was tipped.
A total of 89 catches while on the way to WAC freshman of the year honors.
One of the most impressive plays of his freshman year, though, was a ball he didn't catch. During UH's 24-0 victory over Idaho, Bess intentionally dropped a ball. If he'd caught it, he would've been tackled for a big loss.
Coach June Jones called it one of the savviest plays he'd ever seen. He can expect many more -- along with the spectacular -- from Bess for years to come.