VIDEO: UH football team dons shoulder pads for the first time in fall camp

The redshirt sophomore from Kane'ohe spent most of yesterday's practice as the top strongside linebacker as the Hawai'i football team closed the book on day three of fall camp at the UH grass practice field.

Paredes, a 2007 graduate from Castle, was a regular on special teams last season, but played sparingly at his natural position. He also spent some time with the offense as a running back before being moved back to defense in the spring.

"Corey was No. 1 in the spring and really, we think we have seven or eight really good linebackers," Warriors' head coach Greg McMackin said. "Right now, we're still evaluating, but Corey has been working really hard and I think it's showing so far."

Paredes, who is 5 feet 11 and 230 pounds, said he is learning on the job.

"In football you learn every single day, you correct mistakes every single day," Paredes said. "I haven't met anyone who has had a perfect practice or perfect game, so I try to take every practice as a learning experience."

Paredes said he is making the most of learning under new graduate assistant Mike Smith, who played linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens for four seasons.

"Coach Cal (Lee) and coach Mike, they both work with us and they both know their stuff," Paredes said. "Coach Cal is more old school — he loves to hit — and old school football will never die, but coach Mike brings a different perspective with some of the newer stuff."

Middle linebacker Brashton Satele said Paredes "hasn't missed a beat" with the first team.

"He's a young guy, but he's good," Satele said. "He's another Castle guy. With Blaze (Soares), actually we've got a lot of Castle boys on our team. They've always had some good linebackers and Corey is one of them, so it's good to have him."

LET THE HITTING BEGIN

Yesterday marked the first Warriors practice with shoulder pads, which meant hitting for the first time since spring camp.

While the contact was limited, the players still relished the opportunity to pad-up.

"After a long summer of just lifting, lifting and more lifting, to come back and hit somebody, it feels good," Satele said. "We've got stuff to work on, but as a team we looked good. Our offense especially looked really great today."

Paredes said the pads will take some getting used to.

"Without any pads on, you kind of feel like you can fly around everywhere because no one is really hitting you, but today was definitely fun to finally get some pads on," Paredes said.

McMackin said he likes his team's progress so far.

"The effort is really good, we've worked them hard. We just have to continue to get better," he said.

CRAMPS STOP TANK

An early scare at yesterday's 2 1/2-hour practice proved to be nothing serious as cornerback Tank Hopkins dealt with a cramp in his right leg. It initially appeared Hopkins may have injured his knee, but he said he was OK and expects to be ready for tomorrow's practice.

"I just had a couple of cramps," said Hopkins, who has been practicing as the No. 1 left cornerback. "They were just icing me down and making sure it wasn't my hamstring."

Although he initially remained in drills, Hopkins eventually was told to sit out as a precaution.

"We didn't want to take any chances with him so we pulled him out for the day," McMackin said.

Hopkins, a 5-foot-9 junior, earned all-conference honors at Navarro Junior College (Texas) last season with 53 tackles - 40 solo - and a forced fumble.

BAIN WILL ASSIST

In a move that will help to fill the vacancy left by assistant receivers coach Craig Stutzmann, former Warrior slotback Aaron Bain will be a student manager this season.

"He can help us on the field and he gets another year of education," McMackin said. "He's been here, Aaron obviously really knows the offense and can be a big help to us this season."

Bain, who caught 52 passes for 557 yards and six touchdowns last season — including eight grabs for 102 yards and two TDs in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl — will be on scholarship.

Stutzmann, another former UH slotback, accepted an assistant coaching job at Portland State last week. McMackin said he still plans to fill the graduate assistant position.

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