Fall Practice - Day 14: AP, D-Line, Fonoti, Kelly, Colt, Etc.

The Advertiser gets some reaction to UH being ranked #23 in the AP poll.

"It's great to be ranked," defensive tackle Michael Lafaele said. "It's a start. It looks good for our team, our program, our state."

Dave Reardon writes that the defense, especially the line, did very well in yesterday's practice and scrimmage at Aloha Stadium.

Yesterday, the defensive line showed that all the talk about its amazing depth may be true. If you don't believe it, ask defensive ends coach George Lumpkin.

He's been at UH since Watergate was just a hotel.

He said maybe three full strings are game ready. Now, two weeks before the opener.

"I'm not talking about just being out here (at practice). I'm talking can play," said Lumpkin, a man not known for exaggeration.

Stephen Tsai profiles John Fonoti, back from an academic redshirt.

"I tried to prove myself," Fonoti said. "When I messed up in school, everybody thought I was a failure. I'm glad to be back. I'm doing it for my mom."

Fonoti has impressed the coaches with his quickness and aggressiveness. Yesterday, he served as wedge-blocker on kick returns. He caught Briton Forester's pooch kick.

During one-on-one drills between offensive and defensive linemen, Fonoti twice threw a blocker to the ground.

"It doesn't seem like he ever left, not by the way he's been performing in practice," said George Lumpkin, who coaches the defensive ends. "He's working hard and doing what we ask him to do. He loves the game, loves to hit. He does have a motor. He plays hard. He picks up things pretty quick."

It's time for a new season of the John Fonoti Show. Also from that article, some details from the scrimmage, including a note on kicker Dan Kelly.

Dan Kelly was not bothered by the new rule in which the kickoff tee is placed on the 30 — 5 yards back from previous seasons.

Both of his kickoffs landed 3 yards deep in the end zone. He said he did not kick either with full force.

"They were working on kickoff returns," Kelly said. "I didn't get everything into it. I kind of popped them. I wasn't going full blast."

Right on. Speaking of Kelly, Dave Reardon writes a profile on him. He talks about growing up in a family full of thespians, and discusses what life on the football field has taught him:

"I always thought football players were meatheads. I was wrong," he said. "To be a good football player you have to be smart. If you're not, you're going to end up watching from the side while the smart guy who's got as much athletic ability as you is playing."

I may have taken that slightly out of context. Anyway, read the whole thing. Kelly's gonna have a great year.

Dave Reardon and Jason Kaneshiro has more details from yesterday's scrimmage in this UH football notebook, including:

• RB Leon Wright-Jackson was glad to get hit hard in yesterday's scrimmage.


• Safety Keao Monteilh was glad to hit people hard.


• Defensive lineman Karl Noa, Rocky Savaiigaea and John Fonoti made some great plays.


• Punter Tim Grasso averaged over 40 yards a punt in live special teams drills.


• More players, including Viliami Nauahi and Tua Mahaley, are expected to join the team tomorrow.