Shane Austin and Vili Nauahi are healthy, Blaze hopes for an injury-free season

Hoping for an injury-free season, Blaze said:
“Right now, I’m just another name on the depth chart.” (HA)

HA Note: “Soares will become a full-time starter at left-side linebacker this season. He endured injuries during each of his first two UH seasons. Last year, he endured a left-shoulder injury and a stinger.”

About his injuries, Blaze said:
“It’s sore, brah.” (HA)

About his stinger, Blaze said:
“You have no feeling whatsoever in your arm.” (HA)

About playing while injured, Blaze said:
“It’s mind over matter. You have a different mentality. I’m not a wussy.” (HA)

About how he will not lose his intensity (his injuries occurred in practices, not games) but he will try to stay healthy, Blaze said:
“I’m not going to take it easy. I’m going to be smarter about things that I do and the choices that I make. That’s been my motto: the way you practice is the way you play. To me, that’s why I practice hard, because I want to play good. Unfortunately, I’ve had so many injuries. It’s been killing my self esteem and killing my goals and dreams. Hopefully this season, the luck is on my side.” (HA)

Asked for an update on his health, Blaze said that his shoulder:
“feels right.” (HA)

Blaze said that he’ll know if he’s fully recovered from the stinger:
“when we suit up with pads. We’ll see. I hope to God it won’t come back.” (HA)

About how he’s recovered from the fracture in his right foot (suffered on the final play of the Warrior Bowl in May), Shane Austin said:
“I’m back 100 percent. Now I have to scrape off the rust. Other than that, life is good. I can run at full speed.” (HA)

Not minding the other competition at QB (6 will be at Fall Camp, 4 others will join the team after camp), Shane said:
“I’m fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to be on the team. I just love throwing the football. I want to play football as long as I can. We’ll see how it goes.”(HA)

HA Note: “Austin recently returned to Hawai’i after spending two weeks in his native California. While there, he worked out under the direction of former NFL quarterback Bob Gagliano.”

I’m not sure what the quote here means, but Shane said:
“I don’t want to take off.” (HA)

Vili Nauahi said that his surgically repaired left elbow:
“is 100 percent.” (HA)

HA Note: “Nauahi underwent surgery in February for a torn ligament. He resumed participating in 7-on-7 unsupervised workouts on Monday.”

Nauahi said that the surgeon:
“grabbed a tendon out of my left wrist, and that’s how they replaced the ligament on my elbow. I’m OK now.” (HA)

The Central Arkansas game is finalized

Happy that they are opening their 2009 season at home vs. Central Arkansas, Mack said:
“I’m happy to be playing our first game next year at home. I know Jim (Donovan, UH’s athletic director) called a lot of teams, and Central Arkansas stepped up to the plate. They’re going to be a good team to open with. I have a lot of respect for their program.” (HA)

“I’m really excited about opening our season in front of our home fans. And I have a lot of respect for Central Arkansas. Having been in Texas, I know what their program is about. Jim talked to a lot of schools about playing us, and I respect them for stepping up.” (HSB)

Confirming the game, JD said:
“I can say we sent them a contract, and if we receive it signed we have a game on Sept. 4, 2009. The kickoff will be at 7 or 7:30 p.m. (at Aloha Stadium).” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Donovan said he got the blessing of Hawaii high school football leaders to play the game on Friday. UH and UCA both wanted an extra day before their next games because of travel issues.”

About the UH game (they will get their travel expenses plus $125k), UCA coach Clint Conque said:
“It’s another landmark game for our program, one that’s just another step in what we’re trying to build here. It’s good for the school and our conference.” (HSB)

Kimo Makaula commits to UH!

About accepting UH’s scholarship offer, Punahou QB (who is being recruited at DE for UH) Kimo said:
“It was a dream for me. Since I was young, I wanted to play for the Warriors.” (HA)

About how they would have supported Kimo no matter where he went, but this makes traveling to his games much easier, Kimo’s father James Makaula said:
“It didn’t matter where he went. We still would have traveled there. This decision makes it totally a lot simpler.” (HA)

About how Mack is shifting him from QB to DE, the 6′3″, 225-pound Kimo said:
“Coach (Greg) McMackin said he feels more comfortable with me there.” (HA)

Kimo said that he has:
“always been a UH fan. I went to pretty much all of the games. Last season was great, and I’m excited that coach Mack is the head coach.” (HA)

“It has been a dream to play at home and I am thankful Coach McMackin and his staff have made this possible for me. I can play on both sides of the ball, but Coach wants me as a defensive end, so that’s what I’m going to focus on at UH. Whatever the coaches want.” (HSB)

HA Note: “He said he was inspired when McMackin addressed the campers last week. He also said he received positive feedback in e-mail exchanges.”

About his belief in Mack, Kimo said:
“After speaking to coach Mack, he made me feel that Hawai’i is my home, and playing for Hawai’i is what I wanted to do. … I know coach Mack will have a good team this year. I’m excited for that.” (HA)

About how Kimo wants to be a part of the Warriors, James said:
“He wants to be part of the program and what they’re trying to do. They’re moving in a positive direction.” (HA)

Note: HSB reports that Kimo also had an offer from UNLV.

About his Punahou teammates Te’o, Hilliard, and Shutter (all have offers from UH), Kimo said:
“We’ve talked about how fun it would be if we all went to the same school, if it were UH or another school, that would be something. But everyone has to go their own way.” (HSB)

Feature article on Corey Nielsen

LBPT = Long Beach Press-Telegram

About how he knew that he’d found the right college for him when he attended the UH Football Skills Camp last week, Corey said:
“It was just like going home. It was an easy decision.” (LBPT)

LBPT Note: “Gahr High quarterback Corey Nielsen didn’t have to choose the University of Hawaii. He had scholarship offers from Arizona, Idaho and UNLV as well. And with a 4.0 GPA, Nielsen was giving a few Ivy League schools a look.”

LBPT Note: “Nielsen said new Hawaii coach Greg McMackin offered him a scholarship last Tuesday and Nielsen accepted Wednesday. Nielsen, who will begin his senior season at Gahr in September, threw for a state-leading 4,363 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five interceptions last season. He was selected MVP of the San Gabriel Valley League and was an All-CIF first-team pick. Hawaii had a bit of a head start in the recruitment of Nielsen. The youngster has made many trips to the islands to visit a large extended family in Oahu, and he’s been a Hawaii fan since the early years of record-setting quarterback Timmy Chang.”

LBPT Note: “The fact that McMackin has no plans to scrap Hawaii’s pass-happy offense - former coach June Jones left to take over at Southern Methodist in January - didn’t hurt, either.”

About how his offense in high school is similar to the run-and-shoot, Corey said:
“(The run-and-shoot) is really similar to our offense at Gahr.” (LBPT)

About how UH primarily using the shotgun will help the 5′11″ QB, Corey said:
“I’m not the typical 6-3, 6-4 quarterback.” (LBPT)

LBPT Note: “By committing early, Nielsen hopes he can focus solely on his senior prep season. Gahr made huge strides in 2007 with a second-place finish in the SGVL, a CIF-SS Western Division semifinal appearance and a school-record 10 wins.”

About how committing to UH early makes things easier for his senior season, Corey said:
“(Committing early) makes my life easier. Now I won’t have to worry about what’s happening (in recruiting next season).” (LBPT)

Feature on Colt’s first practice with Washington

About the UH fans that showed up to watch his first practice, Colt said:
“That was a great experience to see them. I was really surprised (by the size of the crowd). I knew there would be a lot of fans, but it’s kind of amazing. We were doing routes — there’s no defense — you complete a pass, and the place goes crazy.” (HA)

Looking forward to showing what he could do now that he’s medically cleared for practice, Colt said:
“Today for the first time I was really pushing it, and my hip was holding up fine. Everything felt really good.” (HA)

About Colt’s adjustment to their system, head coach Jim Zorn said:
“He’s very awkward just because everything is new to him, dropping back in a disciplined manner, getting the ball, being efficient with his feet and how to hand the ball off, even reaching underneath the center, being quiet underneath the center. He’s learning right now, and I’d say he’s got a long way to go, but I like what I see.” (HA)

About how Zorn is concerned with their footwork being precisely correct, backup QB Todd Collins said:
“In a disciplined system like this, especially with Coach Zorn, he wants the steps to be exact. Everyone is different, but he wants everyone’s technique to look the same. … (Brennan’s) footwork and his release is a little bit unorthodox, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” (HA)

HA Note: “Having played almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college, Brennan is adjusting to being under center. His hip injury also led to some bad habits that he’s trying to correct.”

About how things are different with Washington’s system than any other systems he’s been in, Colt said:
“What (Zorn has his quarterbacks do) under center is a lot different than the generic under center. I grew up my whole life running under center and I thought it would be like just jump back into it, and I come to find out we run things a little bit different than everybody else. It’s definitely a learning process.” (HA)

Impressed with Colt’s arm strength but mentioning that Colt has a lot he needs to learn, WR Burl Toler said:
“Guys joke with him in the huddle because sometimes he calls the wrong formation, but for the most part he’s doing a great job.” (HA)

HA Note: “Brennan seems to be adjusting well to his new team. He’s even gotten a nickname from his teammates, who are calling him “McGarrett” after the Jack Lord character in “Hawaii Five-0.”"

Feature on Leon Wright-Jackson

About how he was taught to follow his instincts, LWJ said:
“My high school coach would tell me, ‘Don’t think so much.’ He would tell me, ‘The play’s designed to go to the right, but if you see a hole in the middle or a cutback to the left, just do it and make sure you do it fast.’ ” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Trusting those instincts resulted in a 47-yard touchdown run against Louisiana Tech, in which Wright-Jackson followed his blockers, then spotted a seam in the defense and showed off the speed that helped him attain Parade All-America status at Pasco High in Washington. Wright-Jackson reached the end zone just one other time that sophomore season and played sparingly down the stretch. This summer, he’s approaching his second fall camp in Manoa more comfortable in his role.”

About how LWJ and Libre as competing for the starting RB spot, RB coach Alex Gerke said:
“Right now, those guys (Wright-Jackson and Libre) are split at one. It’ll be a great battle between those two in fall camp. One day one guy will run with the ones, another day the other guy will run with the ones. We’ll grade them out and whoever has the best day is going to keep running with the ones.” (HSB)

About how he feels good about prospects for this season, LWJ said:
“I think I have the confidence back that I was looking for.” (HSB)

About how he’s changed since high school, LWJ said:
“I feel like I’m a completely different person. When I first got into college I was a little jittery and letting things get the best of me. Now I’m calm and just taking it day-by-day.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Wright-Jackson, then simply Leon Jackson, blazed to Parade All-America honors at Pasco (Wash.) High School and was a prized part of Nebraska’s recruiting class in 2005. But after shuffling among running back, safety and receiver, he found Cornhusker red an uncomfortable fit and left after one season. He returned home to attend Columbia Basin Community College in Pasco, and after not playing in 2006, he received an unexpected opportunity to resume his career in Hawaii.”

About playing at UH after leaving Nebraska, LWJ said:
“It was something I had to prove, not to anybody, mostly just to myself, that I wasn’t going to give up after I left Nebraska. A lot of people probably thought that was it after I left Nebraska and nobody was interested in me. I kept looking for schools and I didn’t think Hawaii even knew about me. But Coach (Rich) Miano called me and I jumped aboard as fast as possible because I knew the success the school was going through and I wanted to be a part of that.” (HSB)

About adding Wright to his name before he joined UH, LWJ said:
“I looked at it as a new era. I’m not going to look back in the past. There was some success, but the past is the past … and I have to keep moving forward.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Wright-Jackson (who measures in at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds) regularly studies film of backs who share his attributes as a taller, long-striding runner — such as Adrian Peterson, Darren McFadden, Eric Dickerson and Eddie George — and implemented some of Peterson’s training techniques to his regimen to build greater explosiveness into his game.”

About how the new offense could be good for his game, LWJ said:
“(The quarterback) being under center and being able to see the defense from that perspective is a lot better than being on the side of the quarterback in the shotgun. It’s going to open up some holes.” (HSB)

About how he was too critical about himself last season, LWJ said:
“Coach (June) Jones would try to tell me, ‘you’re fine, just relax.’ But for some reason I was just harder on myself. It was just me trying to critique myself way too much. It’s maturing. It’s a slow process, but I think I’ve got a hold of it now.” (HSB)

Looking for college football tickets this season? Try this site

HSB Note: “Yesterday, McMackin spoke to hundreds of aspiring young football players at the Hawaii Football Skills Camp, and he passed around his Sugar Bowl ring for them to see what hard work can do. McMackin talked to the youths about how the Warriors came back to beat San Jose State and Washington to keep alive their unbeaten regular season last year against daunting odds.”

Relating UH’s comeback to the kids at their camp, Mack said:
“You have the power inside you to make it happen. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you don’t.” (HSB)

About how there really is no offseason for football anymore, Mack said:
“That’s what I’ve found. But it’s fast and fun. Just like this camp. The most important thing is we wanted the kids to have fun.” (HSB)

Happy with the attitude of their campers, Mack said:
“The attitude has been outstanding from the kids.” (HSB)

Pleased with what they have accomplished since he took over at UH, Mack said:
“I feel really good as far as we’ve accomplished a lot of things. Getting Jim Donovan as athletic director has been a big plus. I’ve been meeting with Under Armour the past two days. We’ve recruited a staff, recruited players, spring ball, summer school, raising money. On Aug. 19 we have a women’s football clinic, hosted by my wife, Heather. And then we have our own camp. And then we play Florida.” (HSB)

About how their coaches have been working together, Mack said:
“I want to go over philosophy, our coaching routine, fundamentals and drills for our camp. We have a lot to do. The staff has been breaking down Florida, Weber State and Oregon State.” (HSB)

About his interest in UH despite his commit to New Mexico, Punahou QB Cayman Shutter said:
“I still consider (the New Mexico commitment) solid. But this is something I’ve really got to look at. UH is the one school I would consider de-committing for.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “The skill camp ended yesterday with 7-on-7 drills. On the final play, Shutter lofted a beautiful long pass to the speedy Stutzmann, who gathered it in behind the defense despite having to run up a hill to get it.”

Praising Shutter’s passing, Billy Ray Stutzmann said:
“He has a nice release. The ball just floats. I’m going to talk to him about (signing with UH).” (HSB)

HSB Note: “McMackin is not allowed by NCAA rules to speak on individual recruits. But he did say 24 scholarship offers are out for the incoming class of 2009. Jones had begun to recruit earlier in his last year, but nothing of this scale (which is standard procedure at most schools).”

About how camps are not just for recruiting, Mack said:
“We wanted to do our fundamentals and techniques that we teach here. The assistants that aren’t on our staff, our staff taught them what we want to do. We wanted to have (student-athlete consultant) Doris Sullivan come over and teach them about drugs and alcohol awareness and also what you have to do to get into college. Academics is important, we wanted to stress that. The attitude has been outstanding from the kids.” (HSB)

Bess and Leonard Peters helped out with UH’s camp

HSB Note: “Bess and Peters were among the Warriors alumni working at the Hawaii Football Skills Camp yesterday with Bess closing the session with a talk stressing the importance of education.”

About helping out at UH’s camp before returning to the Dolphins, Bess said:
“It just feels good to give back. I love to come back and show my support for these kids.” (HSB)

About how he benefitted from the workouts with the Dolphins, Bess said:
“I think (the workouts) helped a lot in giving me my confidence to go into training camp ready to play. I’m pretty comfortable with the offense and knowing what’s at stake.” (HSB)

About how Samson and Reagan helped him adjust to the Dolphins, Bess said:
“Reagan and Sam are well respected on the team, so for them to take me in as a little brother I’m happy about that and just can’t wait to get out there and get things rolling.” (HSB)

About helping the kids this week at the camp, Leonard Peters said:
“It’s great to see the kids. There’s so much talent here and coming here and showing what they can do. They get to compete against the best on the island.” (HSB)

About how they emphasized education to the kids at the camp, Bess said:
“Whatever you do, give 100 percent effort, on and off the field. Without grades, there’s no college, there’s no football, there’s none of that. That was the No. 1 thing I was stressing to them.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “The skills camp concludes today and UH’s trio of summer clinics continues Monday with the start of the three-day Big Man Camp for offensive and defensive linemen. The kids camp drew about 500 youngsters last weekend and about 350 have attended this week’s skills camp, bringing organizers within sight of their goal of 1,000 total participants as they couple football with education.”

About reaching so many kids in Hawaii through their camps, Rich Miano said:
“We want to get these kids when they’re in the fifth and sixth grade and talking about academics and staying in school and being around good people. By the time you’re a (high school) sophomore it’s too late with the core requirements you have to pass. If you do bad your freshman and sophomore years, you’re not going to a Division I college. You have to get these kids in intermediate school to realize the importance of their freshman year in high school.” (HSB)

About how he’s learned a lot about UH’s offense and QB skills at the camp, Leilehua QB Andrew Manley said:
“I’ve learned a lot about the UH offense and just how to throw the ball and when to throw the ball, how to read defenses. It’s helped a lot.” (HSB)

About how Brad Kalilimoku and Timo Paepule have been teaching the campers the ha’a, Miano said:
“They’re getting into it and learning it,. Coach (Greg McMackin’s) going to be shocked tomorrow because they’re going to put on a show.” (HSB)

About how he’s recognized now that he led Leilehua to a state championship after being brought up from JV during the OIA playoffs (he led Leilehua to 5 straight wins), Manley said:
“It’s weird now — everybody’s like ‘what’s up Drew,’ and I don’t even know half of them. It’s been fun; I’m having a good time with it, but I’m ready to go next season.” (HSB)

Corey Nielsen commits to the Warriors!

About how his desire to go to UH has motivated him in the classroom, Corey said:
“My Auntie Pat (Chang) said if I get a 4.0 every year, she’s going to send me to Hawai’i on her dime. That’s been my motivation.” (HA)

HA Note: “The newest future University of Hawai’i football player led all California high school quarterbacks in passing yards last season. A more significant achievement is Corey Nielsen’s 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. He ranks No. 1 in his class at Gahr High in Cerritos.”

About accepting a scholarship offer from UH, Corey said:
“It feels great. This feels like home already.” (HA)

About making his decision on Tuesday, Corey said:
“I told my friends and family I was going to commit. They told me: ‘Congratulations. I’m so excited for you. This is what you’ve always wanted. It finally comes true. I’m happy for you.’ ” (HA)

About calling Mack yesterday to tell him about his acceptance of UH’s offer, Corey said:
“He was ecstatic. I was even happier. It was crazy. It all happened so fast. But it feels right.” (HA)

HA Note: “Nielsen said he has followed the Warriors for several years. His mother, Cheryl, is a Punahou School graduate.”

About how Corey has followed the Warriors for a long time, his father Don Nakaya Nielsen (former world kick-boxing champion) said:
“We go to Hawai’i a lot. He’s been exposed to UH football for a long time.” (HA)

About how Nielsen’s grandmother videotapes all of the Warriors’ games that past few seasons and Chang delivers the videos during frequent visits to California, Don said:
“We’ve been doing that for years. We have a system.” (HA)

HA Note: “In March, Nielsen accompanied his uncle, Jon Nielsen, to UH’s Pro Day in Carson, Calif. Nielsen met his idol, Colt Brennan, and slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins.”

About meeting Colt, Bess, and RGM at UH’s Pro Day, Corey said:
“Colt’s a cool dude. I got to hang out with Ryan and Davone. It was all good.” (HA)

About how Chang sent him UH T-shirts, Corey said:
“I’d wear them at school. Everybody would say, ‘Where’d you get that?’ Nobody wears it back home. It was good to wear.” (HA)

HA Note: “Last season, Nielsen passed for 4,363 yards and 35 touchdowns. He was named to the All-California Interscholastic Federation’s first team. Nielsen has received scholarship offers from Arizona, Nevada-Las Vegas and Idaho. He chose: None of the Above.”

About how he wanted to be a Warrior, Corey said:
“Hawai’i was always No. 1. I liked Hawai’i since I was a little kid. I always said: ‘I want to be a Warrior.’ Now, to finally be a Warrior, it feels great. No words can explain it.” (HA)

“It was always a goal to come to UH, they’ve been my number one school for a long time. So when they offered I couldn’t pass it up.” (HSB)

“I’ve been a big fan ever since Timmy Chang was here and I’m excited to be a part of the Coach Mack era. I was watching every game. I had my grandma tape the games for me and send them back so I knew what was going on.” (HSB)

The 5′11″, 185-pound Corey said that he hopes to:
“grow a little bit this year.” (HA)

About attending UH’s camp, Corey said:
“It always an audition when you’re in front of coaches, when they see you in person and see what you can do.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Nielsen, a 4.0 student, was named most valuable player of the San Gabriel League and said Gahr runs a similar passing attack to UH’s run-and-shoot system. He completed 65 percent of his passes and went 21-for-23 with six scores in a season-opening win over Valley Christian last September.”

About meeting Billy Ray at the camp, Corey said:
“He was real cool. I’m happy he committed so we’ll be going to school together.” (HSB)

Feature on the UH Coaches’ Skills Camp

About how he attended the Arizona, Nike Elite, and All-Poly football camps but only the UH camp offered a lesson in the ha’a, Punahou QB Kimo Makaula said:
“That was pretty good. It was good to learn our heritage.” (HA)

HA Note: “This camp — for quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, linebackers and defensive backs — runs through Friday. There were about 350 participants, including many of the state’s top prospects, for yesterday’s two-hour session.”

About coming from the mainland for the camp, QB Corey Nielsen (a lifelong Warrior fan) said:
“I love Hawai’i. I can’t get enough of it. My mom went to Punahou, so I’ve got some local ties. To be here, it feels like home already.” (HA)

HA Note: “Nielsen, who will be a senior at Gahr High School, led California quarterbacks with 4,363 passing yards last season. He threw 35 scoring passes. Gahr employs an offense that is similar to the Warriors’ four-wide attack.”

About how he tries to emulate Colt, Nielsen said:
“My grandma taped all of the (UH) games for me, so I’ve been watching. I’m always asking: ‘What’s CB doing this week?’ ” (HA)

About how he’s already attracted interest from several colleges, Mililani RB/WR Taz Stevenson (a 2010 recruit) said:
“I’ve got a couple of years to see my options.” (HA)

About how he learned at the camp, Taz said:
“The drills were good. It’s been fun.” (HA)

Kailua QB Kenny Ellis (6′5″, 225-pounds) signed up for the camp to:
“try to get better at my position.” (HA)

About learning footwork from Nick Rolovich and Jack Rolovich, Ellis said:
“This is really going to help me.” (HA)

Hoping to get UH’s recruiting interest, Ellis said:
“I would like to play for Hawai’i. I’m going to work for that.” (HA)

About committing to UH, Billy Ray (who was at the camp) said:
“It feels good to get all of that stuff off of me. It feels like a whole weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. It’s been an unbelievable experience.” (HA)

HA Note: “Stutzmann displayed quickness — he can run 100 meters in 10.7 seconds — during passing drills, despite not fully recovered from a tight hamstring.”

About how he needs to keep working hard on rehabbing his hamstring, Billy Ray said:
“I have to keep working on it. I want to be ready for the start of the season.” (HA)

About how UH’s camp was comparable to the others he attended on the mainland, Makaula (who has 4 offers already) said:
“The competition is the same. It’s very good.” (HA)

Pearl City incoming freshman Jayden Zadlo discussed why he attended the camp:
“I came here to work on my skills and try to learn things and get better.” (HA)

HA Note: “Zadlo took part in the ha’a, which was taught by this version’s creator, former UH linebacker Brad Kalilimoku.”

About the ha’a at their camp, Rich Miano said:
“This has to be the only camp that does the ha’a. It was pretty good for the first day. Wait until the fourth day. Those guys are going to look like true Warriors. Right now they’re Warriors in training.” (HA)