Scout runner
Rego durable

The former Kamehameha
star endures the UH
defense’s punishment

Jayson Rego has passed the first challenge all running backs face when transitioning from high school to college football.

It's the toughness test.

Last fall he was the state's best high school running back. Last week he was a tackling dummy for the hardest-hitting defenders at Hawaii's fall camp.

"He can take the pop and still make the move," running backs coach Mouse Davis said. "He's still a little hesitant, but he'll get better and better because he's not frightened of what's going on. It ain't too big for him."

Rego has been in the thick of the most physical action on the UH practice field in years -- scout offense vs. first-team defense with no holds barred and new defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville watching everything.

The drill is designed to give the defense swarming and tackling practice. If a non-scholarship freshman offensive scout like Rego makes it to the next play and the next day, all the better. His job is to give the defense something to hit.

"Coming in as a walk-on you start from the bottom. You have to work your way up, that's what I'm trying to do right now," Rego said after Saturday morning's practice.

He was a workhorse for state champion Kamehameha. The Star-Bulletin's state offensive player of the year rushed for 1,537 yards last fall. He carried 39 times for 212 yards in the state final against Leilehua.

Rego realized dominating at the prep level does not always equate to survival at the college level.

"I knew the hits, the games, would be a lot faster, the guys would be a lot stronger, bigger and faster. I prepared myself mentally and physically. Lifting, trying to get myself stronger to take the hits as they come," said Rego, who came to camp at 5-foot-9 and a solid 198 pounds. "Especially since they put you on the scout at first and you're taking on the first D.

So who is the biggest hitter among the UH defensive players?

"There's a lot of them, I don't know. Maybe Ikaika Curnan. He lays the hat, yeah," Rego said.

It is unlikely Rego will play this year with experienced running backs like Bryan Maneafaiga and Kala Latuselu -- and four or five others -- ahead of him. And the slim odds are cut in half with UH using a one-back set.

But Davis said Rego could develop into a power back who eventually gets playing time in future seasons.

"He's a great little kid, and he's not that little," Davis said. "By the time he gets out of here I suggest to you he'll be a player to be proud of. He's just got to gain another 20 or 25 pounds and he'll be the real deal."

This week's schedule: After a day off yesterday, the Warriors were scheduled to return to practice this morning at 8:30 and finish at 11:30.

They go every day this week through Friday at those hours, with 3:30 to 5 p.m. sessions tomorrow and Thursday. Those practices are all at the UH grass field. This Saturday, UH practices at Aloha Stadium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Single-game tickets available: Individual tickets for UH football and volleyball were scheduled to go on sale today starting at 8 a.m.

They can be purchased online at hawaiiathletics.com, by phone at 944-BOWS (2697), at the Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium box office or OCET at Windward Community College.