Spring Day 13, Graves, Kia, Blaze, Road Trips

Jason Kaneshiro profiles QB David Graves.

"I see a big jump in David Graves," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "The way he took that first unit down and scored, he showed he's really come a long way. He's going through his progressions better and he's always a weapon running the football. He's really helped himself this spring."

While his running ability can add another dimension to the offense, Graves knows his first priority is to deliver the ball to the Warriors receivers and running backs.

"I took off a little prematurely," Graves noted on one of his runs on Saturday. "I could have stayed in there and gotten it to one of our athletes. But it'll come with time. I'm still getting the system down and getting backside reads is part of the growing in the system."

Graves was a guest on the Warrior Beat Show yesterday. You can watch the looping replay here.

Stephen Tsai has some notes about Alex Green and Tommy Heffernan's emphasis on the power clean, and writes that Aaron Kia will get a tryout with the 49ers.

He is being asked to audition at guard. The 49ers also would like to see Kia work out as a center.

"They like his height and his arm reach and his athletic ability," said UH offensive line coach Gordy Shaw, who met with more than 50 pro scouts during UH's Pro Day earlier this month. "He plays tremendously hard. He's a very aggressive football player . All of those things were positive."

Kaneshiro talks to Kia as well as Blaze Soares about his tryout with the Bears.

"I've got to shine and show this team what I can do," said Soares, who departs tomorrow.

Soares led the Warriors with 107 total tackles last season and hopes to make a Bears roster that includes former UH linebacker and NFL veteran Pisa Tinoisamoa.

"Growing up he was one of the guys who I tried to mimic," Soares said. "Since high school I tried to play like him, and getting to meet him, it's going to be awesome."

And UHAlumni.org has info on this year's Road Warrior tailgates and travel packages.