For the first scrimmage of training camp, the University of Hawaii football team aced the physical examination.<\/p>\n
The goal was to demonstrate grit and toughness in the first practice in full pads. Performances during the 52-play scrimmage would count toward separating second- and third-unit players.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be tough to play in this offense, especially going against our defense,\u201d said TJ Fo\u2018ilefutu, a 6-foot, 240-pound freshman running back from Peoria, Ariz. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to play our defense soft, it\u2019ll be a long day for you. They\u2019re coming. They\u2019ve got some dawgs on defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
While speedy Cam Barfield and DeVon Rice are considered the top two backs, Fo\u2018ilefutu and 5-11, 230-pound Sitani Mikaele are sources of reserve power. Both repeatedly broke through arm tackles for large gains. On a dive, Fo\u2018ilefutu flattened a safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really had to focus on lowering my shoulder-pad level because that was a big thing I needed to improve on in spring ball,\u201d said Fo\u2018ilefutu, who graduated a semester early from Liberty High School and joined the Rainbow Warriors in January.<\/p>\n
As a Farrington High senior in 2023, Mikaele rushed for a state-best 1,557 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was on the scout offense while redshirting for UH in 2024,and then played on special teams in 2025. He said he learned from Barfield and Landon Sims, who completed his UH eligibility in December.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt was good learning from Landon,\u201d Mikaele said of the power back with speed. \u201cHe was a good example. And now I\u2019m taking all the things he taught me, and putting it all together, and being that player UH needs.<\/p>\n
During the scrimmage, Mikaele mixed round-house moves with jab steps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always physical,\u201d Mikaele said, \u201cbut sometimes it catches (would-be tacklers) because they think I\u2019m going to truck them, but I (cut away) from them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The backs also set up the Warriors\u2019 run-pass options. Quarterback Micah Alejado faked a handoff and then sprinted 23 yards. Backup QB Bjorn Jurgensen also took off on a 43-yard keeper.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fun part of our game plan,\u201d said Jurgensen, who transferred from Virginia in January.<\/p>\n
At Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, Jurgensen was a dual-threat quarterback.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy high school coach figured I could run the ball pretty well,\u201d Jurgensen recalled. \u201cWe ran some quarterback power and zone read with me. I can run a little bit. I feel that\u2019s a super power about me, honestly. When you look at me, you don\u2019t really see that. And then it just goes out of nowhere, which is really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jurgensen also is an improvisational passer. On Saturday, he launched throws off side-arm, three-quarter and over-handed motions. He lasered an 8-yard scoring pass to slotback Audric Harris.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019\u2019m just trying to make a play,\u201d Jurgensen said. \u201cSometimes with the line in front of you, you\u2019ve got to have a different arm slot to get to where you want to go. I feel that\u2019s a big part of why I\u2019m doing that. Just trying to get the ball out quicker to my guy. We\u2019ve got really good athletes on this team. If I can be like a point guard and get them the ball and let them make a play, I\u2019m doing my job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alejado was in top form. In his first drive, he was 4-for-5 (with a 46-yard pass dropped in the end zone). Later, Alejado connected on a 38-yard scoring pass to Virginia Tech transfer Devin Alves.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to track it over your shoulder and make a play,\u201d Alves said of Alejado\u2019s arced throw. \u201cHe put it to where only I could get it. I went up and made a play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alves entered the portal in January.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first day I was in the portal (UH receivers) Coach (Jared) Ursua called me four times,\u201d Alves said. \u201cI knew they really wanted me here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ursua said: \u201cI felt he had a lot of tools. He played corner, safety and receiver. Outside of Travis Hunter, there aren\u2019t a lot of guys who have done that in college football. I knew he had special ability. I watched his high school tape and fell in love with him as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n
The projected starting defense played well, but most of the scrimmage was designed to give reps to the newcomers and developing players. Cornerback Jeremiah Hughes, a transfer from Michigan State, had a solid performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know right now there\u2019s going to be some ups and downs,\u201d defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. \u201cWe have some guys who need to play, who need some game snaps, some practice snaps. They need experience. They need to play football. Until we do, there are times I\u2019ll be a little pissed. Just pour some water on me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For the first scrimmage of training camp, the University of Hawaii football team aced the physical examination. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":800733,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[6813,399,398,396,397,99],"class_list":["post-800732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-football","tag-editors","tag-football","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-football","tag-ncaafootball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=800732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/800733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=800732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=800732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=800732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}