RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH receiver Jeremiah Cockheran went up for a catch in front of Lamar Broadway yesterday. The junior college transfer reported some jitters heading into the first practices of the season.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran was a little jittery early on at Hawaii's first football practice yesterday, dropping several balls in the first few drills. Cockheran works
Warriors open camp in good shape
through nerves
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"I'm not really used to so many people being around, and at times I didn't know which quarterback was throwing to me. But after a while I was OK," said the junior college transfer from Fontana, Calif., and Chaffey Community College. "I just hope that I'll get more comfortable and more confidence and you will be asking me about all the balls I'm catching, not dropping," Cockheran said.
With his good size (6 feet and 193 pounds) and speed (reportedly 4.3 in the 40), Cockheran could be the closest thing the Warriors have physically to Ashley Lelie, the tall and fast former UH receiver who went to the Denver Broncos in the first round of last spring's draft.
"I thought about that, but not very long," Cockheran said. "There's only one Ashley Lelie and it's not my job to try to be him. Plus we've got guys like Neal Gossett and Justin Colbert who are ahead of me."
Cockheran and Colbert, the senior who is UH's only returning starter at wide receiver, are friends going back to middle school.
Sopoaga excited: Junior defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga hopes he can live up to the big expectations Warrior fans have for him after he was unstoppable in junior college. He's also thankful just to be back playing football after spending last year getting qualified for UH.
"It was hard, but I did it. I studied and prayed every night," he said. "I was so happy, so glad when I made it and I made the team. I'm just happy to be a University of Hawaii Warrior now."
With the return of a healthy Lui Fuga, UH should be much deeper at tackle than last fall.
"If one guy falls down the next guy's ready. "There's no fall-off. Everybody's ready and it flows well." junior defensive tackle Lance Samuseva said. "Isaac's been out a year, a year and a half, so he's a little rusty. But in a couple days he should be coming around."
Hunter due back soon: A few players were not in shoulder pads and did not participate because of minor aches and pains, but junior left tackle Wayne Hunter was the only starter not at practice yesterday. He is undergoing routine precautionary physical tests, and is expected to be cleared Tuesday.
Backup punter Greg Kleidon missed practice with an undisclosed medical condition, but is also expected back soon.
He's managing: Former Waianae, Brigham Young and NFL linebacker Kurt Gouveia is a student assistant, or manager, for this year's team. Gouveia is working toward completion of a bachelor's degree.
"I'm really interested in getting into coaching and the degree will help," said Gouveia, who needs 21 more credits for a bachelor's degree in recreation management. "I'm glad coach Jones gave me this opportunity. I'm proud to be a part of this football team."
Short yardage: Former linebacker Rinda Brooks has joined former safety Jacob Espiau as a graduate assistant. Espiau began his stint last spring. ... Former receiver Craig Stutzmann will do sideline reporting for KCCN-1420's radio broadcasts. Stutzmann is also an intern at KHON-TV 2. ... The Warriors were scheduled to do conditioning drills this afternoon and return to their regular schedule of two-a-day practices tomorrow. ... Junior college transfer defensive tackle Matt Faga was not at practice yesterday, but has finished up summer school and is expected in camp tomorrow. ... 2002 Castle graduate Nolan Miranda is one of several invited walk-ons in camp. He is a backup to kicker Justin Ayat.
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