Spring Week 3 Wrap-Ups

This isn't the full week-in-review since there's practice today at 9:00am HST, but here's a review of the week so far...

Spring Day 7:

Dave Reardon profiles defensive lineman Victor Clore as he gets his chance in the 4-3.

Victor Clore isn't quite the poster boy for rush end in the 4-3, but he gets closer with each pound of muscle he gains.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Castle is up to about 250 now, and it was clear in 1-on-1s yesterday that he is among the quickest and most agile linemen at Hawaii spring football practice. Clore blew by the offensive linemen and had their coach, Dennis McKnight, barking extra long and hard.

Stephen Tsai profiles Keao Monteilh as he gets his shot at first-team safety.

The move completed a remarkable comeback for Monteilh. During final-examination week in December 2005, Monteilh suffered from appendicitis. His grades dropped while he recovered.

In March 2006, Monteilh was dismissed from the team because of his academic problems, but he was allowed to attend classes. At the end of the 2006 spring semester, UH coach June Jones did not renew Monteilh's scholarship. But Jones told Monteilh the scholarship would be restored if he continued to receive good grades.

And Monteilh worked hard in the classroom as well as the weight room to ascend to where he is today. Gotta love that.

Stealing from Friday, here's Advertiser video interviews with Keao Monteilh, Jacob Patek and Rich Miano, talking about being safeties.

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Spring Day 8:

Dave Reardon and Jason Kaneshiro talk to Adam Leonard as he switches from inside linebacker in the 3-4 to outside linebacker in the 4-3.

"You get the opportunity to roam and put yourself in position to make plays," he said.

"We've got two gaps and that's it. If they do this, it's this gap, if they go the other way, it's the other gap. It's easy to read and almost makes it look like a blitz, how fast we hit the holes. There's a lot of different stuff we can do from the 4-3, and the nickel package we got, so I'm just thankful for the opportunity to step up and make more plays."

Adam and Blaze Soares covering the outside this year will be a constant highlight reel.

Stephen Tsai writes that punter Tim Grasso from Saddleback CC will join the Warriors this fall. Tsai also profiles defensive end Francis Maka.

"He's got the explosiveness, the ability to get — what we call — short-quickness that all great pass-rushers have," said defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold, who recruited Maka. "Players who have the ability to snap their hips" — turn quickly — "are rare, and he has that ability."

Woo hoo!

And Mississippi State decided to go with I-AA Gardner-Webb instead of UH.

“Herman Frazier, their athletic director, and I had three or four telephone calls and exchanged several e-mails,” (MSU AD Larry) Templeton said. Ultimately, State wanted to stay with a 1-AA foe, and also didn’t want to play a 1-A foe on Nov. 3, which was the date Hawaii had available.

The game would have been in Starkville.

Oh what could've been. (Thanks Kawiks.)

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Spring Day 9:

Jason Kaneshiro profiles the resurgent Mario Cox.

"He's applied himself a lot better as a student and athlete," head coach June Jones said. "He's made all the workouts. ... Way better shape than last year, not even close. He's given himself a chance to make it."

Right on. Man, with all the running backs, I'll definitely be looking for the wishbone this year.

Kaneshiro also profiles C.J. Hawthorne, who's making the move back to receiver after playing corner last year.

"I think he's an upgrade for us," head coach June Jones said. "He's had a great spring and is starting to get a feel for it and he's going to make a lot of plays for us."

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"Last time (Hawthorne) was with us (the receivers), he was only there one week and then he went to defense, but he was already progressing," Lee said. "By the time we get done with spring I think he's going to be one of the better ones we've ever had. So fast and quick and he's eager to learn.

Stephen Tsai writes that Deyon McElroy, a cornerback from Chaffey College in California will join the Warriors on scholarship in January 2008. Tsai also writes about current UH defensive back Ryan Perry.

Perry was named the Top Defensive Scout last year. This spring training, Perry, who is 5 feet 10 and now weighs 174 pounds, is listed as the No. 2 nickelback.

"If everybody studied as much as Ryan Perry, we would not make any errors," Jones said. "He studies the game and knows what's going on."

Perry has excelled despite being born with Erb's Palsy, a nerve condition that does not allow him full use of his right arm. The condition could be traced to delivery problems during his birth.

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He also used the time to work on improving his quickness and strength. He said he increased his weight to 180 last month. During team testing, he had the fastest pro-agility shuttle, completing the distance in 3.99 seconds.

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Spring Day 10:

Jason Kaneshiro profiles defensive lineman Siave Seti, who played running back sparingly last year.

At 6-foot, 280 pounds, Seti struggled a bit in the middle of UH's 3-4 front when he first arrived. But the scheme implemented by new defensive coordinator Greg McMackin has been a better fit for his game.

"I think the change has given him new life. He's got real good quickness and he's tough," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "Mike being hurt has been a blessing for him, because it's given him an opportunity to get reps, which he really needs."

Stephen Tsai profiles incredibly athletic defensive lineman David Veikune.

Veikune is now one of the strongest Warriors. In testing last month, Veikune, who is 6 feet 3 and 260 pounds, bench pressed a team-high 455 pounds.

He also benched 225 pounds 35 times, second to linebacker R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane's 37 reps, and was one of six Warriors to squat-lift 500 pounds.

Veikune said he began to weight train "seriously" in the eighth grade. He benched 400 pounds for the first time as a Campbell High junior, earning a coveted reward.

"If you bench 400, you get a '400 Bench' T-shirt," he said. "I really wanted one."

Last month, UH conditioning coach Mel deLaura timed Veikune sprinting 40 yards in 4.75 seconds. Veikune had a faster 40 time than two quarterbacks, three wide receivers, nine running backs, six defensive backs and 11 linebackers.

That's pretty fast. Also in the article, Tsai writes about the competition at the offensive tackle positions.

And of course, Spring Practice Day 11 is today. So more news to come!