College Football Preview: Hawaii

Hawaii Warriors

2015 Results: 3-10 (0-8, 6th in West)

Returning Starters: 5 OFF, 4 DEF, 1 SP

2016 Schedule

August

27th California (Sydney, Australia)

September

3rd at Michigan

10th TENNESSEE-MARTIN

17th at Arizona

October

 1st NEVADA

8th at San Jose State

15th UNLV

22nd at Air Force

29th NEW MEXICO

November

5th at San Diego State

12th BOISE STATE

19th at Fresno State

26th MASSACHUSETTS

For Nick Rolovich, his first head coaching job will be a challenge. Hawaii hasn't been to a bowl since 2010, and their combined record for those years is 17-49. Rolovich teams up with his former teammates at Hawaii Brian Smith and Craig Stutzmann. Both coaches will be offensive coordinators; one for the run and the other for the pass game. The new offense is expected to be a hybrid of the run-and-shoot with the read-option. The days of record-setting quarterbacks at Hawaii might just be over, eventually.

The quarterback race is on. Three are in the competition, and it looks as though it will come down to the wire. Currently, it appears that Ikaika Woolsey is the favorite, but Beau Reilly and Aaron Zwahlen are not far behind. The issue is experience. Woolsey is the only one of the three to take a collegiate snap being as the other two are returning from mission trips. The Warriors will have a four-back rotation. Junior Diocemy Saint Juste will likely get the bulk of the snaps after missing last season with a hamstring injury. Paul Harris also returns to the backfield after running for 1,100 yards a season ago. Receivers are decent, but nothing to write home about with Marcus Kemp being the only real experienced player.

Hawaii was hoping to switch this season from the 3-4 to the 4-3. Implementing the switch during the spring was difficult to near impossible with injuries and suspensions slowing the learning process. For the spring game, Hawaii only had three defensive ends able to play, all of which were walk-ons. Linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Jerrol Garcia-Williams return to hold down what is left of the defense. No one returns from a year ago for the secondary.

Player to Watch: Marcus Kemp

Forget the change in offensive philosophy. Kemp will be the prize of the Warriors. The 6'4" receiver will garner opposing team's attention as he leads the new offense change. Kemp has 1,470 receiving yards and 5 TDs in his career. As long as the injury bug doesn't bite him again, he's likely to have his best season by far as a senior.

If you only watch them once, watch:

8/27 California (Sydney, Australia)

Because why not? It's football outside of the country, and despite what you might believe, Hawaii will have a decent shot at an upset. Cal will be breaking in a new quarterback, and travel for who knows how long to get to the game. It will be just another normal road game for the Warriors.

What to Expect

Not much. Nick Rolovich is the only new coach in the conference. He will be overhauling the entire team by switching up the offense and the defense. This will take time, but it just might work. It just won't be this year.

Prediction

3-10 (1-7, MWC)

-Dug

@chansm1th