While the process of preparing a game plan for Notre Dame has begun, the Hawaii football team is also looking beyond the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

With graduation taking a sizable bite out of Hawaii's depth chart on defense next season, particularly in the secondary, three junior-college players are looking to help replenish the defensive backfield.

Safety Aaron Brown of Saddleback (Calif.) College and cornerback Lametrius Davis of Butte (Calif.) College made their decisions after visiting the islands last weekend and attending the Warriors' regular-season finale against Cincinnati.

Kevin Williams, a cornerback from Los Medanos (Calif.) College, committed to UH last month and made his official visit over the weekend.

Brown and Davis had drawn interest from Pac-10 programs, but said they wouldn't make additional visits after committing to UH.

“;They let me take in the experience, the crowd, the game atmosphere,”; said Brown, who was also in contact with Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA before choosing UH. “;The players, the coaches, they all had positive attitudes, positive outlooks on everything. It was a good fit.

“;(The Saddleback coaches) just told me to go open-minded and just take it all in. I did exactly that and made my decision.”;

Brown (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) was named to the National Division Southern Conference first-team after tying for the team lead with 59 tackles, including 15 for loss, from his strong safety spot.

“;Hawaii's always been known for hard hitting and that's what I love to do, I love to bring it,”; Brown said.

While Brown is looking ahead to joining the Warriors, Davis (6-foot, 193 pounds) still has some business to take care of at Butte (11-0). The Roadrunners, ranked first in the country by JCGridiron.com, will play No. 2 Mt. San Antonio College for the California Community College Athletic Association championship on Saturday.

“;We're trying to win (the state title), that's what we set out to,”; said Davis, who had drawn interest from Utah, Oregon State, Washington, BYU and UCLA.

Davis is hoping to enroll at UH for the spring semester. Brown will finish the academic year at Saddleback.

Zach Masch, a defensive tackle from Arizona Western College, also committed this week following his visit.

Eyes on the Irish

Coach Greg McMackin said the coaching staff has started studying Notre Dame game tapes and the Warriors will get back on the field on Monday to prepare for their Christmas Eve game.

The Warriors' return to their morning practices next week coincides with final exams on the Manoa campus.

“;A couple of guys have said they have things they have to do, so we'll be flexible with that,”; McMackin said. “;Academics will come first.”;

Warriors prospects in action

Twelve players who have committed to Hawaii are slated to play in the Hawaii All-Star Football Classic doubleheader tomorrow at Aloha Stadium.

Kahuku defensive back Kamalani Alo is on the East roster for the Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl, which starts at 5 p.m.

Expected to play in the Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl at 8 p.m. are quarterbacks Corey Nielsen (Gahr High in California) and Cayman Shutter (Punahou), receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann (Saint Louis), offensive linemen Jordan Loeffler (Hilo) and Chauncey Makainai-Winchester (Kailua), defensive linemen Wade Keliikipi (Waianae), Chad Lopati (Kapolei), Kimo Makaula (Punahou), Marcus Malepeai (Radford) and Veni Manu (Mililani), and utility player Joey Iosefa (Fag'itua High in American Samoa).