QB Zwahlen is transferring to Murray State
Quarterback Aaron Zwahlen, who completed his second season with the Warriors, is transferring to Murray State.
It is an amicable parting between Zwahlen and the Warriors. While he has fondness for the Warriors and the state, Zwahlen decided his drop-back skills would be a better fit at Murray State.
The Warriors used a pro-set offense when Zwahlen signed with them on Feb. 6, 2013. He served a two-year church mission in Baltimore before joining the Warriors in 2015. He redshirted that year, Norm Chow’s final season as UH head coach. This season, the Warriors implemented an offense that featured zone-read and quarterback-option elements.
Because Murray State competes in FCS, Zwahlen would not have to redshirt in 2017. He begins classes on Jan. 16. He will have three years to play three seasons.
“I love everything about Hawaii,” Zwahlen said. “I love the people. I love the culture. I love the family mentality that we all have, and the relationships I’ve built. But going forward, my capabilities playing quarterback didn’t fit super well here.”
Head coach Nick Rolovich praised Zwahlen as “a fantastic teammate, and I wish him the best of luck. He’s definitely got the ability to play. This is an opportunity.”
The three scholarship quarterbacks in spring training are no longer on the roster. Ikaika Woolsey, who graduated this month, completed his eligibility at the end of the Hawaii Bowl. Beau Reilly is transferring to Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Dru Brown went 6-4 as a UH starter this past season. Cole McDonald, Cole Brownholtz and Kyle Gallup redshirted this past season. Walk-on Hunter Hughes is expected to return.
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JR Hensley, a second-year freshman, made his first start because of injuries on the offensive line.
Elijah Tupai underwent surgery last week. Asotui Eli was not fully healthy.
There was concern when Hensley suffered an apparent ankle injury during Tuesday’s practice. Matt Norman then took reps at right guard. But thanks to intensive treatment from the athletic trainers, Hensley was able to play. Norman was used as the blocking tight end in short-yardage situations.
First!!
Good luck to AZ!
Good luck to Aaron as he is now a Racer! Hensley played well enuff overall. Like they say if dog is gonna bite they’ll do it as a pup!
Best wishes ro your future Aaron Zwahlen! you were a great Warriors team mate. Maintain your Hawaii ties.
The Warriors football team made Hawaii proud!
So many uninformed fair weather folks-I never lost sight of What Coach Lempa was trying to do with his personnel all year-just wait and see with a few additions. The criticism of Coach Smith also unwarranted and again once pieces are put in place the Offense will yield 35 plus. Buy your tickets early they are gonna go fast!!!!
If I’m not mistaken, not the first time Murray State and a player with local ties intersects–Roland Ruff, Iolani -All ILH 79, played at the aforementioned school.
what a season. cant wait till next year
Guud Morning Tsaikos…Bootiful Day!
End of the year coming up fast. New Year on the horizon.
Good Luck to Aaron…will be watching you and Milton now.
Not a football mind but couldn’t he have made the transition? Thinking if you got a accurate arm, one could transition to another offensive scheme. However, Dru might have put a lock on the position as he could well have been 8 -2 if not for a few mistakes….imho
Anyhoo, waiting for good news on getting new Warriors. LOI day around the corner.
Good luck to Aaron at Murray State.
Good luck to AZ, he will be successful in life after football as well.
Best of luck to Aaron at Murray State. Thanks for being a Warrior and for your time spent here.
best wishes to AZ on his future at Murray State!
he was my 1st choice for QB in 2016, but his QB skills were not “right” for UH?
a reliable source said Cole McDonald was the “best” QB in 2016 which bodes the question of who will be #1 out of spring ball and fall — must count Dru Brown as a contender – believe McDonald is like 6′ 3″ tall and 200 – 210 #s
competition will be fierce for nearly all positions on O and D – newbies are quite talented and 2017 recruiting may bring in several who can start or make significant contributions in 2017.
9 wins and 4 losses may be on the “light” side — maybe 10 and 3 or 11 and 2?
who’s is Western Carolina and are they UH first opponent?
will they be the “August” game for UH?
pins and needles for settlement onUMass game day — this could change our travel plans significantly
McKenzie Milton isn’t very accurate and had a bunch of ugly turnovers and was at times, wildly inconsistent as a freshman. I’ll take my chances with Dru Brown over Milton.
#14 Western Carolina, an FCS school finished 2016 with a 2-9 record. Game scheduled for 9.2.16, one week before UH travels to UCLA. UMass & BYU are the other two non conference games.
Western Carolina is on Sept 2nd. I don’t think that UH has a 13th game scheduled for 2017. OOC opponents are Western Carolina (home), UCLA (away), UMASS (away), BYU (home).
ST – are we still working on a 13th game for 2017?
Lose 3 scholarship QBs then I think you have to sign at least 2 QB in Feb. Tullis and Ursua played QB in HS. I liked what I saw about Terrell Carter on him film. Best wishes to Zwahlen.
Great Morning All!
Best wishes Mr. Zwahlen.
Fondest Aloha and best wishes to Aaron!
I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE TOP PLAYERS, WHO TURN DOWN THE CHANCE TO IMPACT THE RESURGENCE OF THE U.H. PROGRAM BY GOING TO SOME ODDA BIG DEAL SCHOOL PROGRAM ELSEWHERE, WHERE THEY WILL JUST BE ANOTHER PLAYER BURIED IN THE LINEUP OF A PROGRAM THAT HS BEEN ALREADY THERE FOR DECADES.
I MEAN LOCAL PLAYERS WHO GO TO BFD SCHOOLS ON THE MAINLAND, INSTEAD OF HELPING BUILD U.H. TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE OF PROMINENCE.
With Aaron’s transfer any thoughts of a return to the Run ‘n Shoot are dead. I love the new offense but it takes a different type of QB, and Aaron is making a good move for himself. As for the UH, Dru makes good decisions and shows the flexibility needed for the new offense. I don’t think he’s as good a thrower as others (note his throwing short on a regular basis … e.g., Kemp TD and Ursua’s deflected 4th Down pass in yesterday’s bowl game), but I’m satisfy that he won’t be as inconsistent in the future as he was this year. However, if he is, McDonald looks pretty good on tape.
The last two Hawaii Bowls in attended were vs ASU and Notre Dame. I feared an ND scenario, but thank goodness MT did not have a Golden Tate. So happy and proud of my adopted team. Go Bows~ a team on the rise.
Expected the Zwhalen transfer. As hyped as he was, I thought we’d at least see him play a little. Murray State?
As for the future, I was OK with Brown for now, but still feel the offense is limited with him as the starter due to his height and arm strength. I hope there is a competition next season. He deserves a lot of credit for UH success this year and had a heck of a Hawaii Bowl performance. But I’d like to see more talent at the position.
What an awesome season! Great job to the boys and Rolo.. UH football is back.
Hope some other receivers for up in place of Kemp who will be missed
Kind of amazing…previous years under Chow Hawaii receivers kept
dropping the ball. Not one drop Saturday…amazing!!! Is that coaching??
Best of luck to Aaron Zwahlen!
Thanks you for honoring your commitment to Hawaii after your mission. Things change in the those years after high school, but there will also be a spot for an honorable man.
Good news for AZ move to Murray State.
Gets to play in Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois.
That’s where U of Illinois plays, too, right?
Bad news is that is fricken cold thar…
Re #28
isleboy — we had plenty of drops this year too but as I commented on Saturday night, I felt deja vu or a time warp as I thought I saw Colt Brennan, Bess, Grice-Mullins, and Rivers wearing different numbers and white helmets on the field. Maybe Timmy Chang snuck in to as some of those deep throws looked so catchable…and were.
Any QB that reminds me of Colt or Timmy is good enough for me. Much kudos to Dru Brown in the Hawaii Bowl!
Aloha and mahalo to Aaron Zwahlen, who, by all accounts, was a solid student and great teammate. Hope he’ll have a chance to showcase his ESPN top 300 (155?) skills at Murray State.
No strictly run and shoot, Ault-style pistol offense, or read-option here. We’re in the era of Rolo-Ball, now if I could just figure out exactly what it is 😉
We probably won’t know what “Rolo-ball” is for a couple more seasons. Gotta see the kind of recruits they go hard after.
Very true MIH, just a little over a month to signing day.
Does anyone know what D. Brown’s quarterback rating was for the Hawaii Bowl? I could not find that figure anywhere.
Dru Brown has got to work on his speed if its possible. Cause I heard that redshirt can run, throw and tall. Great adjustments by Brian
Smith. I was impressed with that fake to Laka with Dru taking the end, reminded me of what Colt used to do from time to time. That’s what I call play calling. Also, great strides by K Lempa in only his first year (as I had said before gotta give time) with basically NC’s Def! Great call to go with Okeke too. right on Warriors!!!
I think Hawaii sticks with Dru Brown next season as he has shown to be developing game by game into a solid D1 QB. Talent gets a player into the door but it is not everything when it comes to winning games. Dru has experience and the swagger to lead this team next year. Best of luck to AZ
Does anyone know Drew Brown’s QB rating for the Hawaii Bowl? Just wondering. Couldn’t find that stat anywhere.
add to the victory hawai’i bowl xmas eve to immortalize it
http://www.espn.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2944780/
CHEEHOO!!!
Morning Tsaikos!
Great win in the Hawai`i Bowl. Nice way to end the season.
Haoa – ESPN: 88.3 but 2 qbr calculators come up with 135.27
DLM,
Thank you very much. Wow, much lower than I thought it would be. Still, those are just cold “numbers”. Perhaps the first two drives skewed the numbers toward a lower result. I thought it was an absolutely masterful performance. Especially when it all counted–with the game on the line.
On a different but related topic… I am afraid, at times, that quality (meaning, good natured/charactered) coaches may not possess the “trickery” that allows them to woo high level recruits to their programs. I mean, look at some of the incredible talent that Gib Arnold and Bruce O’Neil (yeah, going way back) brought in. Incredible talent. Compare that to the recruits of Gannot and the women’s basketball coach. No comparison. Sure, Gannot has been saddled by the ridiculous NCCA harassment (which in itself would almost seem worthy of a lawsuit in return). But still, his recruits pale in comparison with his predecessor. So, it makes me think that doing it the right way (not lying to the recruits and “cheating” in some cases) leaves one at a disadvantage. Of course, I would prefer to them to do it the right way–bringing in scholar athletes who are good for the team and community. (And a part of me has to believe that good guys do not finish last.)
But that is for the basketball. I sense and hope that Rolovich has it going in the right direction. That is why this bowl win was huge. Doing it the right way means that he needed this win more than others who might make up things and lie to recruits. The proof is in the pudding so to speak with this bowl win. I think Rolo can take this win and run with it. Go coach!
Best of luck to AZ… I think he has some skills, but definitely not a fit with Rolo’s offense. Also Dru Brown, on national TV, left everybody no doubt that he’s the guy going forward. It’s not surprising to see some of the top backups transfer out in search for playing time.
Dru Brown’s type of play reminds me of a QB from my era, Jim McMahon–gunslinger, a bit on edge, not always elegant, but certainly always with grit and a nose going forward…..
43.
Dru Brown did well but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Middle Tennessee did not have a great defense. They score a lot of points but they also give up a lot of points. He has done well in games this year but he has also struggled against the teams with good defenses. I think they should hold off and see how spring and fall goes until naming a QB for next season.
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