Warriors will hit in spring

The finale of Hawaii's spring football practice will be much more like an actual game this year.

"We're going to let them go," new head coach Greg McMackin said. "We probably won't hit the quarterbacks and we don't know the exact format yet."

Spring football practice is set to start March 31, concluding with an event at Aloha Stadium on April 26.

McMackin said the scrimmage could pit offense vs. defense or the team might be split into two units, and it probably won't include special teams.

"We might not have the starters in there hitting each other, but there are a lot of young guys and we want to see what they can do," McMackin said.

In June Jones' nine seasons as head coach he de-emphasized contact in practices and rarely held full-contact scrimmages.

Close to 20 new walk-ons will be trying to make the Warriors roster this spring.

"Three to seven of them may make it to fall camp," associate head coach Rich Miano said. "They have to keep up their grades, make it through our eight-week conditioning program and do well in the spring. It's always hard with the numbers. We have 130 right now and are going to have to cut some guys."