Hawaii's quarterbacks weren't very sharp early yesterday morning. But they had a good excuse -- it was their first day back to practice from spring break. UH QBs don’t
spring back right awayBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comShawn Withy-Allen, Jeff Rhode and Jason Whieldon were a combined 4-for-11 to start 7-on-7 drills, but steadily improved as the two-hour practice wore on and the Warriors evolved into 11-on-11.
"I thought they looked pretty good for being off a week," coach June Jones said. "I know everybody's glad to be back and I'm glad to see them back."
Withy-Allen and Rhode both continue to display outstanding arm strength and improving touch. Whieldon's passes mostly wobble, but they get to open receivers.
Rhode completed the most impressive long pass yesterday, finding Clifton Herbert streaking through the secondary.
RBs look good: Their main job is blocking, but the running backs broke off some good carries toward the end of practice.
Redshirt freshman Pesefea Fiaseu opened some eyes, turning the corner for a 20-yard gain.
"Thero (Mitchell) has had a really good mini-camp," Jones said. "He's worked really hard to increase his speed and quickness and he's very intelligent. Everybody's had their moments. Brew's (Michael Brewster) had his. We moved John West back to running back. He looks like he has a chance. All of them, Josh (Galeai) and Keiki (Misipeka). Junior's (Fiaseu) blocked well and run well. Everybody looks like they can play."
Don't count Jonathan Kauka out of the mix, either.
The special teams stalwart is one of UH's hardest workers. During spring break he was spotted working out at a local health club.
"I just wanted to get some extra work in," he said. "The main thing is don't overtrain, but I felt I needed to do some extra work during the break at night."
He isn't discouraged that there are so many players vying for one spot.
"No, I don't see it like that. I see it as an opportunity. The running back position is a tight group of guys. We're like a big family. We compete in a way that we know the best man will play and we all make each other better. No matter who is in, it's always an obligation of the other running backs to help the new guys."
Brewster, the transfer from Tennessee, is happy to be promoted from the scout team.
"Last year they tried to take my head off, now they're not after me as much. But it's all fun," he said.
Sophomore Mike Bass, who started most of last year's games at running back, will be out the remainder of spring practice while he recovers from hernia surgery.
"Every one of those guys can play," linebacker Chris Brown said. "We've got the shifty guys, Bass and Brewster. We've got some power guys like Pesefea and of course Thero. Right now there's so much depth. Kauka's an inspiration to me. I feel like I'm one of the hardest workers, but I watch him and he works harder than me."
Niners show interest in Rolo: Former UH quarterback Nick Rolovich will work out for the San Francisco 49ers at the team's Santa Clara practice facility on April 11, little more than a week before the NFL Draft.
"That's what I'm aiming for now," said Rolovich, who also got to show what he could do for a large group of scouts in Santa Monica, Calif., last month.
Rolovich said former UH receiver Ashley Lelie has one more workout scheduled before the draft, in South Carolina.
Short yardage: Former Waianae, Brigham Young and NFL standout Kurt Gouveia took in practice yesterday.