University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin is hopeful the sequel exceeds the original.

Last season, his first as UH head coach, McMackin rebuilt the offensive on the run in finishing with a 7-7 record.

This training camp, which opens today, McMackin is intent on rebuilding a defense that returns one full-time starter (defensive end Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti).

"I'm excited about this year," McMackin said. "I've got a lot of belief in my players. I've got a lot of belief in my coaches. I know the people of Hawai'i are really excited about this season. They will us to win, and they pray for us to win. ... This is a team that we have to do a great job of coaching, and the players have to do a great job of learning."

The Warriors lost three coaches — Alex Gerke (offensive line, running backs) to Utah State, Ikaika Malloe (defensive tackles, special teams) to Yale, and Craig Stutzmann (receivers) to Portland State.

Gordy Shaw replaces Gerke, with Brian Smith moving to running backs coach, and former Nevada head coach Chris Tormey will coordinate special teams and coach the safeties.

A replacement to fill Stutzmann's graduate assistant's position must go through the university-mandated waiting period.

Greg Alexander, who struggled early last year to master the four-wide offense, enters as the starting quarterback.

"I'm ready to start," McMackin said.

Here is a look at the Warriors:

QUARTERBACK

Greg Alexander, Shane Austin, David Graves, Bryant Moniz, Corey Nielsen, Brent Rausch, Cayman Shutter.

Outlook: During a spring-practice drill, Alexander tossed a pass that sailed way out of bounds. And then he threw another incompletion — drawing praise from the coaches. By design, Alexander was accurately inaccurate. While Alexander averaged more than one broken tackle per scramble last year, too often he held onto the ball — absorbing sacks — rather than throwing it away, "to live another day," as they say in football parlance. Last season, the downside was as much physical as statistical; by the end of the season Alexander's knees were puffy. But during spring training, quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich noted, Alexander showed dramatic improvement in interpreting defenses and situations. He also lost some weight, which helped his footwork. And during the summer, Alexander improved on another aspect: he helped lead unsupervised workouts, often supplying the equipment, and tutoring newcomers Nielsen, Graves and Shutter.

Keep an eye on: Austin, a third-year sophomore who earned a scholarship because of crisp passes and feisty leadership. Austin and Rausch are bracketed as No. 2 quarterbacks.

RUNNING BACK

Kainoa Carlson, Chizzy Dimude, Inoke Funaki, Alex Green, Kahekili Kalalau, Jayson Rego, Hogan Rosehill, Leon Wright-Jackson.

Outlook: Last season, the Warriors ran out of necessity, using the strategy to help shorten games and ease the pressure on Colt Brennan's quarterback successors. This year, they will run to counter opponents trading tackle-box defenders for pass-coverage guys. The blueprint actually was conceived when McMackin took over in January 2008. He sought a power back with agility; his first signing was Jake Heun. Heun, who did not play last season because of a back injury, moved to linebacker. The role now will be filled by Funaki, who switched from quarterback; a rejuvenated Wright-Jackson, and Green, a heralded junior-college transfer.

Keep an eye on: Dimude, who has drawn comparisons to former Warrior Michael Brewster. Dimude is a speedster who is strong enough to be used in short-yardage situations.

RECEIVER

Wideouts: Joe Avery, Rodney Bradley, Justin Clapp, Jett Jasper, Malcolm Lane, Troy Lauduski, Royce Pollard, Earvin Sione, Billy Ray Stutzmann, Jovonte Taylor.

Slots: Dustin Blount, Ryan Henry, Jon Medeiros, Jeremiah Ostrowski, Corey Paclebar, Kealoha Pilares, Greg Salas, Mike Tinoco.

Outlook: Bradley was once timed running the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds. Off a standing jump, his open right palm can touch the ceiling of the UH weight room. What impressed coaches came from a video of a spring-practice scrimmage. It appeared Bradley, who is about 6 feet 1, needed two strides to cover 5 yards. Bradley's deep-route ability enabled Salas, also 6 feet 1, to slide from left wideout to left slotback. Salas and Kealoha Pilares, who was used mostly as a running back last season, will provide skilled targets at the slots. Last year, Pilares caught a team-high 76 percent of the passes in which he was the primary target. His yards-after-catch (YAC) average was 8.18. The moves also should benefit Lane, who was very good when he had the opportunity. He averaged 17.5 yards per catch, and scored a touchdown once every 5.8 receptions. But the UH quarterbacks could not find Lane consistently. There were six games in which he was the intended receiver three or fewer times. The Warriors plan to rotate six to eight at the four receiver positions. That should open the pass routes. The slotbacks' abilities in selling their routes are key in drawing defenders away from the wideouts.

Keep an eye on: Pollard, the son of a decathlete. Pollard is perhaps the most athletic receiver.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Tackles: Clint Daniel, Aaron Kia, Kainoa LaCount, Clayton Laurel, Laupepa Letuli, Brett Leonard, Joey Lipp, Adrian Thomas.

Guards: Andrew Faaumu, Austin Hansen, Ray Hisatake, Raphael Ieru, Daniel Johnson, Levi Legay, Ikaika Rodenhurst, Tui Tuiasosopo, Drew Uperesa, Chauncy Winchester-Makainai.

Centers: Kahai Choy, John Estes, Matagisila Lefiti, Bronson Tiwanak.

Outlook: Estes, Ieru, Kia and Letuli were trumpeted members of Generation Next, prizes of the 2005 recruiting class and projected heirs to Samson Satele, Tala Esera and Dane Uperesa. But only Estes, who started as a guard as a second-year freshman before succeeding Satele at center, has had considerable long-term success. The promise of Ieru, Kia and Letuli has been hindered by injuries. They also had to endure several teacher changes. They were recruited by Mike Cavanaugh, who then bolted to Oregon State. Since then, Wes Suan, Mouse Davis, Dennis McKnight, Alex Gerke and Brian Smith have served as line coaches. Gordy Shaw is this year's coach. Estes, who is being promoted as an All-America candidate, returns at center. Kia and Letuli are the No. 1 tackles, and Ieru and Hisatake are the top guards. "Ray is our brother," Letuli said. "He's part of our class. It feels good for us to play together. There were a lot of setbacks because of injuries. John really progressed. He set the example. We're all following in his footsteps."

Keep an eye on: Drew Uperesa, Dane's younger brother, who has developed into a technically sound blocker.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Left ends: Ho'oikaika Cavaco-Amoy, Victor Clore, Antwan "Tua" Mahaley, Bo Montgomery, Elliott Purcell, Aaron Rink, Alema Tachibana.

Left tackles: David Hafoka, Geordon Hanohano, Michael Maracle, Zach Masch, Rocky Savaiigaea.

Right tackles: Haku Correa, Chris Leatigaga, Vaughn Meatoga, Tuika Tufaga.

Right ends: Cameron Allen-Jones, Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti, Waylon Lolotai, Liko Satele, Alasi Toilolo.

Outlook: The post-spring plan was for Brashton Satele to move from middle linebacker to defensive end. But that changed after he lost 26 pounds. The search is on for a pass-rushing bookend to Fonoti, the Warriors' best defensive lineman. Clore, Mahaley and Rink are agile speed-rushers; Purcell is an effective combo pass-rusher/run-stopper. Savaiigaea, who missed all but one game last season because of a torn left triceps, is in good shape after completing a month-long training program in Arizona. Tufaga, who can bench press a team-high 455 pounds, is finally on scholarship. Vaughn Meatoga, who can squat 550 pounds, is part of the No. 1 rotation at defensive tackle.

Keep an eye on: Leatigaga, who was highly regarded when he transferred from a junior college two years ago. Finally injury free, Leatigaga was impressive in spring practice.

LINEBACKER

Outside: Po'okela Ahmad, Paipai Falemalu, Kaiser Iuta, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Art Laurel, Viliami Nauahi, Corey Paredes, Josh Rice, Blaze Soares.

Middle: Josh Andrews, Tim Brown, George Daily-Lyles, Cory Daniel, Jake Heun, Mana Lolotai, Brashton Satele.

Outlook: In the new math, the Warriors, who play a 4-3 scheme, lost two starting linebackers but return three. Four-year starters Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian are gone, but Satele, Kiesel-Kauhane and Soares are back. Satele underwent Chad Ikei's training program in Arizona, where he dropped to 238 pounds and cut his body fat from 25 percent to 14 percent. Kiesel-Kauhane put up breathtaking workout numbers: 455 bench press, 35 bench reps of 225 pounds, 38-inch vertical jump. Soares has recovered from a torn calf muscle that forced him to miss the 2008 season. Paredes, who was a No. 1 linebacker in the spring, and Falemalu, the top recruit of 2008, will take turns in the rotation.

Keep an eye on: Lolotai, who was set to inherit the job in the middle if Satele moved to defensive end. Lolotai can play all three linebacker positions. He also trained under Ikei in Arizona, reducing his body fat to 11 percent.

SECONDARY

Corners: Chris Black, Jeramy Bryant, Steve Christian, Lametrius Davis, Tank Hopkins, Kawika Ornellas, Steve Stepter, Richard Torres, Lewis Walker.

Safeties: Kamalani Alo, Aaron Brown, Jordan Gomes, Kenny Estes, Mana Silva, Spencer Smith, Aulola Tonga, Michael Wadsworth.

Outlook: Brown is expected to provide a boost for a defensive secondary that lost all of its 2008 starters. Brown, who is 6 feet 1 and 215 pounds, is fast enough to defend inside receivers one-on-one and strong enough to play in the box. He is expected to also be used as a nickelback. Bryant is one of the top cover defenders. Hopkins, Black, Walker and Ornellas also will be part of the rotation. Davis, who is capable of playing safety, will focus on corner. Smith worked out in Georgia the past four weeks, and Estes, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, trained in the Northwest.

Keep an eye on: Davis, who gives the Warriors a physical cover defender. "My (junior college) team last year ran a bear defense," said Davis, who is 5 feet 11 and 191 pounds. "It was all man-to-man, one-on-one, the whole game. It was fun."

SPECIALISTS

Kickers: Kevin Bell, Brian Blumberg, Scott Enos.

Punter: Alex Dunnachie.

Long-snapper: Luke Ingram.

Holders: Inoke Funaki, Brent Rausch.

Outlook: It will take two players to replace punter/holder Tim Grasso, who completed his eligibility in December. Funaki, who handled the holder's job in 2006, gets another shot this year. Dunnachie, who was raised in Australia, earned high honors at the Ray Guy Academy for punters. Trained in Australian Rules Football, Dunnachie can launch punts with 5-plus seconds of hangtime, or place end-over-end kicks on rollouts. Enos enters as the leading candidate to succeed Dan Kelly as placekicker. Brett Symonds transferred.

Keep an eye on: Ingram, whose older brother, long-snapper Jake Ingram, was the New England Patriots' sixth-round pick in April's draft.