Ten minutes after the conclusion of the Hawai'i football team's 77-play scrimmage, wideout Jovonte Taylor sat on the Ching Field track, imploring a trainer to cut off the tape wrapped around his cleats.

"They're burning up," Taylor said.

Wideout Rodney Bradley said when he first approached the artificial surface, he noticed steam emitting.

"I'm like, 'that can't be a heatwave?' " recalled Bradley, who was raised in Texas. "I thought I was back home. It was kind of hot."

It was a tale of two scrimmages, and in the first part, the receivers figuratively provided the heat, blazing their way into the open field.

Bradley broke past cornerback Alex Walker to haul in a 28-yard scoring pass from Greg Alexander.

Later, Taylor chased down Shane Austin's spiral for a 42-yard touchdown play.

Slotbacks Greg Salas, Jon Medeiros, Ryan Henry and Dustin Blount also made big plays.

"You look a lot better as a coach when you've got the thoroughbreds," said Craig Stutzmann, who tutors the receivers. "The players we had last year did a good job. But this year we've got more overall speed, more depth. We've got guys who can flat-out run."

Bradley, who enrolled at UH in January after transferring from Navarro College, is capable of running 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds. He also had a long scoring catch in last week's scrimmage on Maui. His progress will enable Salas, last year' No. 1 left wideout, to play left slotback.

And Bradley was not even at his best.

"I'll let you in on a little secret: I was tired," he said.

Taylor missed the final 2 1/2 months of the 2008 season after suffering from a viral infection. He lost 25 pounds, and was forced to withdraw from school.

"I'm healthy," said Taylor, who is 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds. "I got all of my weight back. I got my strength back. My legs are strong. I'm ready to go."

Taylor is listed at No. 3 at right wideout, behind Malcolm Lane and Royce Pollard. Opportunities are few.

"The ball usually goes to the slot receivers," Taylor said.

But Taylor got the call on a skinny-post route.

"When I saw (Austin's pass), I had to accelerate to get it," Taylor said. "I went up and grabbed it."

UH coach Greg McMackin said improving overall speed was one of his goals when he was hired in January 2008. McMackin brought in five speedy receivers last year — Taylor, Blount, Henry, Mike Tinoco and Craig Bell. All redshirted.

"We wanted to give them an extra year to learn the system," McMackin said.

Bradley and Billy Ray Stutzmann, who completed his studies at Saint Louis School a semester early, enrolled in January, enabling them to participate in the offseason conditioning program and spring training.

"We're going to evolve to a speed team," McMackin said.

Henry said: "We have a lot of depth at each (receiver) position. Everyone is trying to prove themselves. It's friendly competition, but we're all trying to make plays."

There were a couple hundred spectators at the afternoon practice, which followed a clinic for coaches.

"When there's a crowd out there, some people take a step back," Stutzmann said. "It was good to see we had some guys step up. If we can continue that, and make strides in training camp and going into the first game, we're going to have a very good receiving corps."

FRIENDS HIT IT OFF

The biggest hit came in team drills when cornerback Jeramy Bryant knocked down Henry, who held on for the reception.

"It was a good hit, but what happened after got me in trouble," Bryant said.

Bryant stood over Henry, drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty.

"It was a mistake, and I learned from it right away," Bryant said.

Bryant and Henry are close friends who knew each other when they attended California junior colleges.

"We're always getting real competitive with each other in video games and in the weight room," Bryant said. "He's like my brother. It's a friendly competition. It wasn't anything dirty."

Henry agreed, saying: "We're cool. We don't hold grudges. We go out and play hard. I don't expect him to do anything else. And I'm glad I held on. It was a good play on both sides."

But McMackin said even friendly taunting will not be tolerated.

"I'm not going to put up with any of that stuff," McMackin said. "I checked with the officials here and on Maui last week. We're going to cut down on penalties. We had 28 holding penalties last year. (Offensive line coach) Gordy Shaw is doing a good job, making sure our hands are in when we block. We have four practices left to continue to get better."

LOLOTAI LEADS DEFENSE

The defense forced six turnovers in yesterday's scrimmage.

"That's how you win games," associate head coach Rich Miano said.

McMackin praised middle linebacker Mana Lolotai, who filled in for Brashton Satele. Satele suffered a tweaked shoulder. He said the ailment is not serious.

"Mana Lolotai was all over the field," McMackin said. "He's physical."