HONOLULU – The University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors began year two under head coach Timmy Chang with its first practice of 2023 fall camp on Wednesday morning at Cooke Practice Field.
It was the first of 25 practices leading up to the team’s season-opener August 26 on the road at Vanderbilt. UH is among 14 FBS teams allowed to begin practice in July in preparation for college football’s Week Zero action. The team’s home opener is Friday, Sept. 1 versus Stanford at the Ching Complex.
“We got a lot of reps,” Chang said. “We hit the ground running…(and) they did a lot of really good things. You saw some mistakes out there that (we’re) going to correct on film. The great thing about these guys is that they’re willing to learn, willing to get better and they want to get better.”
The 119-player roster includes more than 70 players returning from last year’s squad. They are joined by a group of 47 newcomers, nearly half of whom were able to participate in spring practices.
“From where we were in February and spring ball to where we are now, with the player practices, it really helped us to develop a lot more and get a lot quicker,” Chang said. “There are some really good things but again, we just have to keep getting better.”
UH returns 13 total starters that include four on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams. Directing the offense once again is junior quarterback Brayden Schager who finished second in the Mountain West last year in passing yards per game. In an offense that now heavily incorporates run-n-shoot elements, off-the-field work will weigh just as heavy in the team’s progression.
“You build that chemistry when you start to watch the film together,” he said. “You get in those meeting rooms and start to talk and your ideas start to come out and they all bring something different which is nice. Us getting on the same page is the most important thing. I like where we’re at right now.”
The defense is headlined by linebacker Logan Taylor, who finished with a team-best 85 tackles last year. All eyes will also be on Cam Stone, a transfer from Wyoming, who earned preseason all-Mountain West honors at cornerback and will figure heavily in the secondary and UH’s return game.
“Cam Stone is a good player,” Chang said. “It’s hard to complete the ball on a good corner. Him being healthy and him doing his job is a real good thing for us.”
All practices are open to the public with the exception of those held on Thursdays and Saturdays at Ching Complex due to on-going construction.
Fall Camp Practice Schedule
Thursday, July 27 – CLOSED
Friday, July 28 – 7:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 29 – CLOSED
Monday, July 31 – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 1 – 7:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 2 – 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 3 – CLOSED
Friday, Aug. 4 – 7:30 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 5 – CLOSED
Monday, Aug. 7 – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 8 – 7:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 9 – 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 10 – CLOSED
Friday, Aug. 11 – 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 12 – TBA
Monday, Aug. 14 – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 15 – 7:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 16 – OFF
Thursday, Aug. 17 – CLOSED
Friday, Aug. 18 – 7:00 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 19 – TBA
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