Spring Day 8 Wrap-Ups

Leila Wai has interviews with Greg McMackin, Darius Bright and Aaron Brown.



Stephen Tsai profiles Aaron Brown.

Maybe it was Animal instincts, but there was a certainty that Hawai'i football player Aaron Brown would develop into a snarling linebacker.

"He's a beast," middle linebacker Jake "Animal" Heun said of the former strong safety. "He's jacked out of his mind (on the field). I think he's going to be good. He's going to kill some people this year. He runs around. He's like a heat-seeking missile out there."

Tsai also has notes about Adrian Thomas, Brysen Ginlack, Kainoa LaCount, Paipai Falemalu and Kamalu Umu.

The Star-Bulletin has a profile of safety Jordan Gomes.

Gomes walked on at a relatively slight 160 pounds in 2008, and still isn't the biggest safety around at 185. Yet he ranks among the strongest defensive backs in the program, pushing senior Spencer Smith for that distinction.

In team testing, Gomes bench pressed 405 pounds and pounded out 29 repetitions at 225 pounds. The top score among the safeties at last month's NFL Combine was 28 reps.

His 34-inch vertical leap is also second among the UH defensive backs.

"He works hard and sets a good example," strength coach Tommy Heffernan said.

Jason Kaneshiro has some news and notes about David Graves, Darius Bright and Brysen Ginlack.

"Sitting out last year, I had to dig deep, but it was what I had to do so I could come back this year."

With his school work in order, Ginlack returned to the competition on the offensive line this spring and had been backing up Thomas at right guard through the first seven practices. LaCount hurt his knee late in Monday's practice and attended yesterday's workout while Ginlack made his first appearance with the first unit.

And Ferd Lewis writes about the emphasis on forcing turnovers.

After the fewest interceptions (12) and take-aways (22) by a UH defense in four years contributed to a 6-7 record and bowl-less season, the Warriors have put a premium on raising those numbers.

And the game at Nevada-Las Vegas that UH lost, 34-33, makes for a vivid reminder. The Rebels took the game, scoring with 36 seconds left, on a 67-yard drive during which the Warriors twice had opportunities to short-circuit with interceptions.

Instead, it became Exhibit "A" of a game and season that got away from the Warriors. Determined not to repeat the experience, producing turnovers has been an overriding topic for the Warriors in the spring, much more so than in recent years.