Jones hopes Faavae Hawaii football coach June Jones said Brown Faavae has the potential to be as good a defensive player as former UH linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
is Hawaii’s next Pisa
But the protégé of
last season's leading tackler
wants to play safetyBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comFaavae said the comparison is a compliment. But the sophomore transfer from West Virginia is used to high expectations -- his father named him after a California governor, Jerry Brown.
Faavae doesn't plan on running for office anytime soon, but he is campaigning this spring for a position in UH's crowded secondary.
Outside linebacker might end up being a better fit for him, especially since the Warriors have three players coming back -- Hyrum Peters, Leonard Peters and David Gilmore -- who started at safety last season, and few experienced linebackers.
"He wants to play strong safety, so we're letting him try there," defensive backs coach Rich Miano said. "He's learning and coming along. We're going to let him make that decision. If he feels he can compete there, fine; if not, we'll see about linebacker."
Faavae looked comfortable working at strong safety in full-team drills yesterday morning. You could see some of the strong instincts that had Jones comparing him to Hawaii's leading tackler last season.
"Pisa was a great player here and I think he'll be good in the NFL, too," Faavae said. "It's good to be considered in that category. He's one of the guys I look up to. I was sort of his protégé last year."
Faavae couldn't play last fall because he was a transfer. But he practiced at outside linebacker, which he also played in high school (as well as both safety spots) at powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif.
"If I can stick to one position, that would be great," the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Faavae said. "But if I have to maneuver to another one to get on the field, that's fine, too."
Faavae was recruited by Nebraska, USC, Michigan, Ohio State and Oklahoma, among others.
Landmark recruit: ESPN football analyst Chris Mortensen was at practice yesterday, but not to conduct interviews. He was with his son on an unofficial visit.
Alex Mortensen is one of the nation's top rising senior high school quarterbacks. Mortensen (6-2, 185) passed for 2,270 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions last year while leading Landmark Christian, near Atlanta, to an 11-1 record.
He has also visited Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and Arkansas. Hawaii does not have the tradition of those schools, but it does have Alex's favorite offense, the run-and-shoot.
"When I was in elementary school I read a book about it by Glenn Ellison, the guy who started it. Of course Mouse Davis made it big, and June Jones is doing great with it now," Mortensen said. "It's something I've followed all my life. You've got to like how they throw the ball. As a quarterback that's what you like to see."
Alex got to meet Davis; Jones' coach at Portland State is also visiting.
Jones and Chris Mortensen met when Jones played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1977 to 1981 and Mortensen covered football for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"June's highly regarded by NFL people," Chris Mortensen said. "If you're a quarterback you can't play for a better guy. His goals are to win and have fun doing it.
"Some people are shocked (Alex) is including Hawaii with those SEC schools, but we wouldn't be here if we weren't serious about this. He's a well-traveled kid, so he wouldn't have trouble adjusting here."
Quick and strong: Kevin Jackson is always one of the most fit Warriors, and he has bulked up without losing quickness. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 229 pounds, but Jackson said yesterday he is up to 240 pounds.
If anything, he looks speedier in drills.
Two weeks ago his body fat measured at 7 percent, and he bench-pressed 405 pounds. He squatted 665 pounds, second on the team to fellow senior defensive end Houston Ala, with 700.
Short yardage: Jones' original plan was to hold sophomore inside receiver Nate Ilaoa out of spring practice while Ilaoa recovered from shoulder surgery. But Ilaoa has been able to fully participate without a problem. ... Junior inside receiver Gerald Welch's knee problems of last year seem to be behind him. He made two excellent catches in team drills yesterday. ... Senior defensive tackle Lui Fuga had a pin removed Saturday from the ankle he broke in the first game of last season. ... Defensive linemen Darrell Tautofi and Matt Faga visited practice yesterday. Both junior college transfers are awaiting final academic clearance and expect to be eligible to play in the fall.
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