Except for wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran, who completed his eligibility, Hawai'i's offense returns every starter, including senior quarterback Tim Chang, the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

"We're probably the most experienced we've been," Hawai'i coach June Jones said. "Hopefully, that will show up early."

The Warriors open fall practice tomorrow. Hawai'i (9-5 in 2003) opens the season Sept. 4 against Division I-AA Florida Atlantic.

This past week, Hawai'i received a boost with several additions, capped by the hiring of Darrel "Mouse" Davis, an advocate of the run-and-shoot offense adopted by the Warriors.

Davis, a former NFL offensive coordinator and longtime friend of Jones, will oversee special teams and will likely assist on offense.

Other developments included the arrival of student assistant and former standout quarterback Nick Rolovich, and the reinstatement of senior running back West Keli'ikipi, who was suspended in May after his April indictment for felony theft.

"I think we're going to be a pretty exciting team again offensively," Jones said.

Last season, the Warriors averaged 34.7 points per game, good for second in the WAC and 14th in the nation. Hawai'i's passing offense (384.4 yards per game) ranked second in the nation.

Much of this season's early attention will be focused on Chang, who is on track to break former Brigham Young quarterback Ty Detmer's NCAA career record of 15,031 yards. Chang, a Saint Louis School graduate, has passed for 12,814 yards in his 40-game UH career.

Chang said he's not obsessed with the record, and deflects credit, saying, "this record is a great thing, but it's a great thing for the team, not for me."

"He's concentrating on winning football games," UH quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison said. "When the record comes, to him, it's a reflection of everyone around him. It's a shared honor that I'm sure he'll treasure the most of all.

"Right now, I don't think we've even talked about (the record) for months now," Morrison continued. "His whole focus has been trying to get better."

Last week Wednesday, UH athletic director Herman Frazier announced that he had lifted Keli'ikipi's suspension after an in-house investigation. Frazier said his decision was based on Keli'ikipi's classroom and on-field performance, his conduct since his arrival on campus and other legal issues. Keli'ikipi's court case will likely be resolved after the season, according to his lawyer.

Jones said the 6-foot-1, 266-pound Keli'ikipi provides the Warriors a power running game.

"We run kind of a finesse offense, he kind of gives us a little toughness in blocking, and running the ball, and catching it and running over people," Jones said. "It kind of gives us something offensively."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.

* Returning starters in bold

Quarterbacks

Ht. Wt. Cl.

• Kainoa Akina 5-11 187 Jr.
• Timmy Chang 6-2 194 Sr.
• Tyler Graunke 6-0 180 Fr.
• Taylor Humphrey 6-0 198 Fr.
• Jeffrey Rhode 6-5 224 Jr.
• Jack Rolovich 6-3 213 Fr.
• Brandon Satcher 6-1 195 Fr.

The skinny: Chang seems poised for a fine senior season, according to quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison. "He looks very good. He's been working hard in the film room as well as in the weight room. Physically, he looks good. His goal is to have a real solid training camp and be ready to take it into the season." Akina is No. 2 on the depth chart.

Player to watch: Jack Rolovich, who is considered a bigger and stronger version of his brother Nick, is the most intriguing of the quarterbacks. He has the size, the pedigree, the smarts and a great summer workout going for him.

Running backs

• Mike Bass 5-7 174 Sr.
• Michael Brewster 5-6 180 Sr.
• West Keli'ikipi 6-1 266 Sr.
• Kala Latuselu 5-11 215 So.
• Bryan Maneafaiga 5-8 184 Jr.
• Andrew Pearman 5-9 175 Fr.
• Ryan Stickler 6-2 218 So.

The skinny: Keli'ikipi is recovering from a right knee injury that forced him to miss the last four games last season. If he's slow to recover, Bass and Brewster will carry the load. Bass is considered the quickest of the three, Brewster the fastest, and Keli'ikipi the power runner.

Player to watch: After joining the team as a walk-on last season, Keli'ikipi became a crowd and media favorite. His on-field ability (he scored a team-high six rushing touchdowns) and his easy-going character are positives. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and his likeness is featured prominently in the popular video game NCAA Football 2005.

Wide receivers

• Lenny Boatner 511 173 Fr.
• Ross Dickerson 5-10 172 So.
• Jason Ferguson 5-5 154 Fr.
• Denny Flanagan 6-0 179 So.
• Ryan Grice-Mullen 5-10 175 Fr.
• Blake Harano 5-5 145 Sr.
• Nate Ilaoa 5-9 211 So.
• Britton Komine 5-10 187 Sr.
• Nolan Lee 6-4 174 Fr.
• Patrick Olchovy 5-8 160 Fr.
• Chad Owens 5-9 174 Sr.
• Andrew Pearman 5-9 175 Fr.
• Se'e Poumele 5-9 179 Sr.
• Jason Rivers 6-2 187 So.
• Ian Sample 5-10 186 Jr.
• Desmond Thomas 6-3 175 Fr.
• Marcus Weems 6-3 185 Jr.
• Gerald Welch 5-8 205 Sr.
• Orlando Wong 6-1 199 Fr.

The skinny: Dickerson enters fall camp as the replacement for right wideout Jeremiah Cockheran, who completed his eligibility. Dickerson is also a talented kickoff returner. Other projected starters are Ilaoa at right slotback, Owens at left slotback and Rivers at left wide receiver. Sample, Welch, Poumele and Komine will also compete for starting spots. "I think this year we have tremendous depth," wide receivers coach Ron Lee said. "It's going to be competitive." Newcomer Pearman can run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds, making him one of the fastest Warriors. Lee compares Ferguson to a "young Chad Owens."

Players to watch: Sample, Weems and Dickerson. With good spring camps behind them, the players are being counted on to be major contributors. "You know what Chad Owens and all those other guys can do," Lee said. "We need (Sample, Weems and Dickerson) to have the kind of year that we know they can."

Offensive linemen

• Keith Ah Soon 6-2 265 Fr.
• Brandon Eaton 6-3 287 Jr.
• Jonathan Ekno 6-4 307 Sr.
• Tala Esera 6-3 283 So.
• Derek Faavi 6-1 273 Jr.
• Jeremy Inferrera 6-2 281 So.
• Chad Kahale 6-2 328 Sr.
• Marques Kaonohi 6-1 270 So.
• Phil Kauffman 6-1 291 Sr.
• Michael Lafaele 6-0 294 Fr.
• Uriah Moenoa 6-2 365 Sr.
• Hercules Satele 6-3 289 Fr.
• Samson Satele 6-3 289 So.
• Larry Sauafea 6-2 269 Fr.
• Dane Uperesa 6-5 318 So.

The skinny: The starting line remains intact with the return of right tackle Eaton, right guard Moenoa, center Faavi, left guard Samson Satele and left tackle Esera. The line allowed 19 sacks in 754 pass attempts in 2003. "I think we're a year older, a year wiser and a year more experienced," offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said. "It was a real positive off-season with workouts. The kids have gotten stronger."