Ala, Mitchell, Bass still in running for top back
| • | 2,000 Montana fans making trip to Maui |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones said senior Tui Ala was incorrectly listed as the starting running back on a depth chart recently distributed by the school.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
While Ala has competed well in preseason training and is expected to play, "most likely he won't start," Jones said after yesterday's morning practice.
Freshman Mike Bass found running room during practice yesterday at the University of Hawai'i campus. Bass, senior Tui Ala and junior Thero Mitchell are vying for the Warriors' starting running back job. Coach June Jones said he won't announce a starter until game time Saturday.
Jones said he will not announce his starting running back until "game day at 6:05." The Warriors open the season against Montana Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium on Maui.
The lone running back job was vacated when James Fenderson, Afatia Thompson and Avion Weaver completed their eligibility in December.
Jones said freshman Mike Bass and walk-ons Ala and Thero Mitchell are in the top tier of running backs. They each took a turn with the first-team offensive line in yesterday's light contact drills.
Jones has praised Bass' quickness and elusiveness, and estimated he would be used in up to 40 offensive plays per game. But he stopped short of announcing Bass — or anyone else — as the top running back.
"Nobody knows" who will start at that position, Jones said, adding he has not released any depth chart.
"I haven't told anybody anything," he said.
• Health report: Boundary cornerback Hyrum Peters, who is aligned on the narrow side of the field, estimated he is at 80 percent in his recovery from a pulled hamstring.
Yesterday, Peters practiced without wearing a rubber thigh-warmer for the first time in a week. The injured hamstring "feels good, and I can run sprints and back-pedal," Peters said.
If Peters is unavailable to play, safety Nate Jackson will move to boundary cornerback and Robert Grant will start at right safety. Abraham Elimimian also can play boundary cornerback.
Defensive end Travis Laboy, who is recovering from a hamstring tear, and defensive tackle Lui Fuga, who underwent surgery on both shoulders during the offseason, participated in light workouts yesterday. But defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said it is unlikely that Fuga will play this week, and Laboy might be used only as a designated pass-rusher.
• Musical linemen: Right guard Vince Manuwai and backup Shayne Kajioka were used at different positions along the offensive line yesterday.
Kajioka is considered to be the Warriors' sixth lineman. In case of injury, Kajioka can play right guard and Manuwai can play left guard, left tackle or right tackle. If center Brian Smith is injured, left tackle Lui Fuata moves to center, Manuwai to left tackle and Kajioka to right guard.
"(Kajioka) is the key guy," Manuwai said.
