Blount, Pollard, Taylor, Moniz, Fresno

Stephen Tsai profiles receiver Dustin Blount, who is back after clearing up an academic issue.

"I'm back," Blount said.

Blount provides added quickness to the Warriors' four-wide offense. He also is a threat as a kick returner.

"We have to try to get him involved," offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. "There might be a few plays we can use him."

Tsai also talks to Royce Pollard and Jovonte Taylor.

Jason Kaneshiro profiles Taylor and Pollard and writes that Adrian Thomas will get his second straight start at right tackle in place of an injured Laupepa Letuli.

Kaneshiro has some notes from today's practice, including:

>> Defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano practiced for the first time this week and will be in the rotation for Saturday’s game. The freshman suffered a stinger in the game against Louisiana Tech and was held out of practice until today. The return of Hanohano and Vaughn Meatoga give the Warriors more depth in the middle of the defensive front. Rocky Savaiigaea and Tuika Tufaga are expected to start.

Dave Reardon asks, Can the Warriors beat Fresno State? The Fresno State defensive end Kenny Borg sure doesn't think so.

"Watching that game was pretty exciting because La. Tech really exposed a lot of things," defensive end Kenny Borg said. "It's very exciting for us to see that they're very vulnerable to that kind of stuff, and we're going to take advantage of it."

Bryant Jon Anteola of the Fresno Bee profiles former Fresno City quarterback Bryant Moniz.

"Emotions are running really high right now," Moniz said. "I came in with no expectations of this season. Now, I go from being a walk-on to getting my first D-I [starting] shot.

"It's very exciting. I was a little nervous. But at least now, I know I'm going to be playing."

Fresno State has gone back and watched film of Moniz playing at Fresno City to get a game plan for the 6-foot, 190-pound quarterback.

And Ferd Lewis writes about the Warriors' long time away from home.

Not since 1964, when they packed a season's worth of road games in one trip, have the Warriors been away so long between home games. Never have they traveled more miles between home games.

In the interim the Warriors have already traveled more than 14,000 miles, which is more than seven NFL teams will each do the entire season (preseason and regular season combined) this year.

At least five Warriors are a year older since the last time they played in Halawa. And some of the coaches look like they are.