Training Camp Day 3: Noa, McMackin, LWJ

Jason Kaneshiro profiles senior defensive end Karl Noa, who is poised for a breakout year.

At 6-foot-4, Noa's range has long been among his assets and he's added a bit more bulk in anticipation of playing on the line in his final season, checking in for fall camp at a solid 250 pounds after entering the program at 209 and playing at 238 last year. According to the figures in this season's media guide, he's also the fastest of the UH defensive linemen at 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"It really doesn't matter how big you are, if you've got the technique down, and the fundamental things, you should be OK," Noa said. "But it helps me a lot, strength-wise. Now it's transferring that from the weight room out here."

On the other end of the line, Stephen Tsai writes that senior defensive end Amani Purcell is first-team left end.

"It's a good defense," Purcell said. "I feel comfortable playing back down in the (three-point) stance."

Purcell said he weighed 245 at Penn State. He said he gained about 30 pounds since the end of last season and now weighs between 275 and 280 pounds.

From Kalani Simpson's column about defensive coordinator Greg McMackin comes this quote about what the defensive ends will be doing in his scheme:

Now, suddenly, sleek ends are in. "Our ends are really outside linebackers," the coach said.

Perfect for Amani Purcell. Karl Noa, we'll know his name.

It's all attacking, and speed.

Grrrr!!!

Going back to Tsai's article, he writes about the defense putting on pads for the first time this camp and notes:

• Greg McMackin has very high praise for freshman safety Le'Marcus Gibson.


• Davone Bess is healthy for the first time in two years (which is scary.)


• Colt Brennan discusses shaving his dread-braids off


• JC transfer safety Erik Robinson talks about learning a new defense

Dave Reardon writes about the defense's eagerness to hit some people. He also notes:

• Bess and receiver Greg Salas did well in practice.


• Defensive end Francis Maka needs to finish a couple summer school classes in order to be eligible to practice to be eligible to play this year.


• David Farmer was first string running back, while Leon Wright-Jackson had an impressive cutback move.

Expanding off that last bullet point, Reardon has a new post up on UH Sports Extra where he discusses trying not to get too excited about the potential of Leon Wright-Jackson while admitting that he's very excited about that potential.

But for the second practice in a row, I saw LWJ do something that makes me think he’s a superstar running back waiting to explode. It’s all I can do to keep from chugging the entire pitcher of Action Jackson Kool-Aid.

On Saturday, it was a sudden burst of speed that got him deep into the secondary faster than I’d seen any human being do so in person since the 2006 Pro Bowl.

On Monday, it was a cutback at the line that turned what would’ve been a 2-yard gain into a TD. Yes, against the scout team — but a great instinctive move nonetheless.

He’s starting to remind me of Adrian Murrell, the former Leilehua great who went on to star at West Virginia and rush for 1,000 yards in a season with the New York Jets.

Same great size. Same electric burst. Same devastating cutback move.

All I can say for now is Nebraska must have some incredible talent at running back if this guy had to play defense.

I'm sippin on the Kool-Aid too. OHHH YEAHHHH!!!!