Hawaii football: J.R. Hensley leads intact offensive line
It’s a rare advantage in college football to have an offensive line remain intact from one season to the next.
Hawaii will try to capitalize on such an opportunity to maximize protection and blocking for Cole McDonald and the rest of the UH backfield in the coming months.
Returning left guard J.R. Hensley, one of the Rainbow Warriors’ best communicators, feels strongly about his unit’s chances of doing something special come the season opener vs. Arizona on Aug. 24, and beyond. Last year’s O-line was unique in that it featured two true freshmen, Ilm Manning (left tackle) and Solo Vaipulu (right guard), and usually succeeded at holding things together despite the youthfulness.
>> 2019 FALL CAMP DAY 1 PHOTO GALLERY
Trust that was forged on the fly in the trenches last season has built significantly in the months since.
“They’re young guys and you gotta be patient,” said Hensley, a red-bearded fifth-year senior from Edmond, Okla. “Ilm is on my side, and I think that he and I have a really great chemistry together, and I think that Kohl (center Levao) and Solo have a great chemistry together. It just makes sense. These are the kind of guys who are going to blossom as the year goes on. They’re going to do some amazing things. Very lucky, very, very lucky to have them.”
The elder statesman of the #HawaiiFB offensive line, fifth-year senior J.R. Hensley, shares his outlook for his final season of 2019. pic.twitter.com/zDejoDO82A
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) July 26, 2019
And what does that trust allow that the unit couldn’t otherwise accomplish?
“It just slows things down,” Hensley said. “It has everything to do with our trust for one another, and with that we only have to worry about executing plays. The rest, it just gets put in place.”
While play slows for the player, a rapt position coach like Mark Weber is watching for things to speed up. That’s going to be essential for the group to take the leap he and others expect it to take. UH allowed 3.3 sacks per game last year, compared to 2.1 by its opponents.
“J.R. provides good leadership, very good leadership,” Weber said, “and then we’ve got Kohl in there, who’s a senior, who’s a center, who has to provide a bunch of communication. But they all have to communicate. The nice thing is we’ve got a guy like Ilm at left tackle who, now he can anticipate things, he can make communication, and he understands what J.R.’s saying when J.R. says it to him. As opposed to a year ago, maybe not so much. (There was) hesitation. Now there should be no hesitation; we should be able to play faster.”
Hensley, who noted he was making his “last first day out here” at the opening of 2019 fall camp, started all 14 games in 2018. Manning and Vaipulu also started every game. Levao, who debuted as a junior out of City College of San Francisco, started the first 11 games at right tackle then shifted to center for the last three games. Waianae graduate Joey Nu‘uanu-Kuhi‘iki took over at right tackle for the last three as a third-year sophomore. Taaga Tuulima, an ‘Iolani alumnus who started the first 11 games at center, is back as well.
Then there’s the influx. There are five true freshmen in Arasi Mose (Saint Louis), Caden Hilborn (Highland High in Utah), Kauka Umiamaka (Castle), Elias Wong (Kailua), and Hau‘ula native Bubba Wa‘a (Crescent Valley High).
(Here’s a look at the entire roster.)
“It’s night-and-day difference,” Hensley said of the line’s preseason readiness. “We have freshmen who’ve come in now who are fantastic players who will help us in the long run. They’ll get their opportunities. We have all of our returning starters, and that’s very exciting and something I’ve never had since I’ve been here. And the depth is just incredible. We have real guys in here, real dudes who are ready to play. So I can count on all 15 of us.”
Weber is counting on some competition, even with most of the line entrenched. Especially so when the pads come on in the coming days.
“We’ll see how guys improve,” Weber said. “You got a good competition at right tackle with Gene (Pryor) and Joey and Micah (Vanterpool), and Micah’s in there at guard. And Sana (Alesana Sunia) is here another year and older. So we’ve got a lot of guys who’re going to be able to push. We just have to see them in pads. It’s too early to say.”
There’s a couple of wild cards: Saint Louis School graduate Eliki Tanuvasa, an Eastern Illinois transfer, is in camp, as is Arizona transfer Michael Eletise, an All-State alumnus of Kaiser High. Tanuvasa has been cleared to play, but there’s been no word on Eletise yet.
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The Rainbow Warriors’ faith in a new offseason workout regimen was rewarded.
Coach Nick Rolovich was asked after Day 1 how he felt his players looked in conditioning and readiness.
“I think the players were excellent, but this credit needs to go to Dwain Bradshaw (director of football athletic performance) and his offseason program,” Rolovich said. “Unbelievable hire by Tommy (strength coach Heffernan). … He’s got a very outgoing personality. The kids trust him. They know he cares. He’s always consistent with his energy and it’s always up here (raises hand high) and I think he’s a really good addition to our program.”
Linebacker Penei Pavihi seconded it.
“Summer training, compared to the last summer training, we had Coach Dwain Bradshaw and his staff, I feel like they did a great job of getting us ready for fall camp, for the season. New drills, a lot of conditioning, a lot of mobility stuff, a lot of stuff we never did before in the past. I feel like that really helped us.”
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Here’s a little more from Day 1:
UPDATE: Here’s Stephen Tsai’s news and notes wrap-up from opening day.
(Thread) #HawaiiFB quarterback Cole McDonald, linebacker Penei Pavihi and head coach Nick Rolovich weigh in on who’s got the best hair at fall camp.
The dreadlocked McDonald called Pavihi’s mane “majestic.” Rolovich said he thought his team has “the best hair in America.” pic.twitter.com/SdaAjzFVXh
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) July 26, 2019
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) July 26, 2019
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) July 26, 2019
Yassss🙌🏼
It all starts up front…an all too predictable statement, but only because of the truth in it. J.R’s attitude and analysis just pumps me up!!! To have quality starters AND depth is such a luxury for us. Not only for the present but continuing into the future.
I Mua