UH offense clicks and 2-a-days end

By Dave Reardon / dreardon@starbulletin.com

The Hawaii receivers are the team's most experienced unit, with two seniors and two juniors slated to start. Slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins said it's the opposite of two years ago when he and fellow slot Davone Bess were freshmen.

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"Everyone looks faster and the offense is in sync," Grice-Mullins said. "Our running backs and linemen are working to adjust to our level. In other years we had to pick up things to get to their level."

Yesterday, the last day of two-a-days, quarterbacks Colt Brennan and Tyler Graunke found Grice-Mullins and Bess often as usual, and senior wide receivers Jason Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne also had their moments. Sophomore wideout Malcolm Lane also had a good day.

Bess caught the first three passes of team drills.

But the defense also had some fine moments with interceptions by senior safety Jake Patek, junior safety Desmond Thomas and sophomore cornerback JoPierre Davis.

"It did seem like it," Bess said, when asked if he thought the defense did well. "That happens sometimes, and it's good for our team because we need the defense to have confidence, too."

Patek and Gerard Lewis also later blocked kicks.

Held out briefly

Sophomore running back Leon Wright-Jackson was pulled out of practice yesterday morning because verification of his associate's degree had not yet arrived from Columbia Basin Community College in Washington.

But the paperwork arrived in time for Wright-Jackson to practice with special teams in the afternoon.

Wright-Jackson, who was a Parade All-American in high school and spent two years at Nebraska, is one of three running backs expected to carry the biggest load for the Warriors this season.

The other two are Kealoha Pilares and David Farmer. Pilares did most of the ball-carrying in yesterday's practice.

Freshman walk-on receiver Joe Avery was also held out yesterday.

"The (NCAA) Clearinghouse mixed up my information," Avery said. "It should be cleared up by Monday."

Practice today at stadium

The Warriors' practice today will be at Aloha Stadium.

It is scheduled for 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., but is closed to the public.

Tomorrow is a day off, and UH begins school on Monday. The Warriors then go into their regular practice schedule of 7 to 9 a.m. in preparation for the Sept. 1 opener against Northern Colorado at Aloha Stadium.