To fill a void at defensive end, the University of Hawai'i football team is turning to the middle man.

Brashton Satele, who started eight games last season, is moving from middle linebacker to left end.

He is listed No. 1 on the Warriors' defensive depth chart that was released last night.

The move enables Mana Lolotai to ascend to No. 1 middle linebacker.

"We want to get our best 11 guys on the field, and this is one of the ways to do it," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "Brashton Satele is one our top players. He's one of our playmakers. We think he can do a really good job over there."

Satele will succeed David Veikune, who was the Cleveland Browns' second-round choice in the 2009 National Football League draft.

Satele fills a key position, McMackin noted, because most offensive linemen are right-handed. Satele will be counted on as both a run-stopper and pass-rusher.

Satele, who is 6 feet 2, weighed 259 pounds during Junior Pro Day testing last month. McMackin said the position change means that Satele can "fill out naturally" to a heavier weight.

McMackin said Lolotai had a successful spring and deserves to enter training camp as a No. 1 player.

Satele's move means that there will be new full-time starters at 10 defensive positions. Right defensive end Fetaiagogo Fonoti is the lone returning full-time starter. R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, who is listed as the No. 1 weakside linebacker, started four of 14 games last season.

Vaughn Meatoga and Rocky Savaiigaea, who missed all but one game last season because of a torn left triceps, are bracketed as the No. 1 left tackles.

Tuika Tufaga, who will go on scholarship this summer, is listed as the No. 1 right tackle.

Blaze Soares and Corey Paredes are the co-No. 1 strongside linebackers. Soares missed the entire 2008 season because of a torn achilles' tendon suffered in the second week of training camp. Soares has been cleared to work out. In an e-mail, he indicated he would be ready for the Aug. 3 start of training camp.

Two Neighbor Island residents — Mana Silva of the Big Island and Kenny Estes of Kaua'i — are listed as the top two safeties. They will be challenged by Aaron Brown, a heralded safety from Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, Calif. Spencer Smith, who will be a fourth-year junior, also earned first-team reps during spring training.

Tank Hopkins, who transferred from Navarro Junior College (Texas) in January, and Jeramy Bryant, a junior who redshirted last season, are the No. 1 cornerbacks.

"It feels good, but I know I still need to do better," Hopkins said.

Hopkins, who is 5 feet 10, said he has gained 10 pounds since January, and now weighs 170.

"It's hard for me to gain weight," Hopkins said. "I want to get to 175 before the season starts. I think I can do that if I keep working hard and doing the right things."

While Richard Torres is listed as the backup free safety, he doubles as the No. 1 nickelback. The Warriors use a nickelback in the majority of defensive plays.

One of the interesting moves was Jake Heun, who did not play last season because of a herniated disc, moving from running back to middle linebacker.

He is listed as Lolotai's top understudy.

CAMPING TIME

The UH coaching staff is preparing for a series of camps, to be held on the Manoa campus.