UH football: Trading places
Dru Brown’s commitment to Oklahoma State should not be surprising.
A graduate transfer is highly valued in college football. Even players with limited playing experience benefit from training in an FBS program. And graduate transfers are not required to redshirt.
Similar to Bryant Moniz, Brown was largely under-appreciated during his two UH seasons. He was accurate (61.7 percent, fourth among Mountain West starting quarterbacks) and adjusted behind a patchwork offensive line that lost its position coach at midseason.
Tennessee also expressed interest in Brown, who took a recruiting visit to Oklahoma State this weekend.
The Warriors also have taken advantage of the graduate-transfer option. UH’s recent grad transfers were:
• Offensive lineman Chris Posa (Alabama)
• Kicker Mauro Bondi (Nebraska)
• Safety Taz Stevenson (Washington)
• Quarterback Sean Schroeder (Duke)
• Offensive lineman Kapua Sai (Utah)
• Tight end Ryan Hall (Duke)
Posa, Stevenson, Schroeder, Sai and Hall were starters. Bondi had the mis-timing of arriving in Manoa at the same time as Rigo Sanchez.
Since 2012, the Warriors added these players who started their careers at FBS schools:
> Quarterbacks: Kyle Gallup (Marshall), Taylor Graham (Ohio State), Jeremy Higgins (Utah State), Beau Reilly (Colorado State), Sean Schroeder (Duke), Larry Tuileta (USC), Max Wittek (USC)
> Running back: Willis Wilson (Washington).
> Receivers: Dylan Collie (BYU), Quinton Pedroza (Utah).
> Offensive line: Chris Posa (Alabama), Fred Ulu-Perry (UCLA), Kapua Sai (Utah)
> Tight end: Ryan Hall (Duke), Clark Evans (Colorado).
> Defensive line: Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea (Arizona), Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson (Washington State), Kory Rasmussen (Colorado), Iuta Tepa (UCLA)
> Linebackers: Jeremy Castro (UCLA), Austin Slade-Matautia (Oregon State)
> Defensive backs: Keahi Hogan (Arizona), Tony Grimes (Mississippi), Taz Stevenson (Washington)
> Kickers: Mauro Bondi (Nebraska), Ryan Weese (Oklahoma State)
By the way, this year’s departures are not the most in recent UH history. These players from the 2012 roster either transferred or were not on the team for their senior seasons:
• Justin Alo, quarterback
• Chinedu Amadi, receiver
• Ijumaa Armstrong, cornerback
• Brian Clay, defensive back
• Trevor Davis, wideout
• Desmond Dean, defensive end
• Ben Dew, offensive lineman
• David Graves, quarterback
• Will Gregory, running back
• Jared Leaf, running back/linebacker
• John Lister, running back
• Blake Muir, offensive lineman
• Mike Sellers, safety
• Alema Tachibana, linebacker
• Kendrick Van Ackeren, linebacker
• Ethan Watanabe, tight end
Isa
Who’s transferring in? Inquiring minds want to know.
That’s a lot of info packed into this post.
I think the coaches were wise to turn to the jc ranks. The guys already know what it’s like to live away from home, and UH will be a step up in terms of exposure, opportunity, competition, education and even facilities.
2018 recruiting class seems to be a good one and it all depends how the prepare and play for UH over the next few years — will it be all ” smoke ” or great players who will be winners and attract more fans to Aloha Stadium
last recruit seems to be a good one — was he one who visited this weekend?
staying with football — KGMB news caster, Lisa Kubota, mentioned on the 5pm news last night that today’s super bowl will be the coldest in history at 3 degrees – if it was to be played ‘ outside ‘ that may be true, but they will be in a dome with controlled conditions!
Mrs A-House’s green thumb is at its BEST with 5 philanopsis (sp) plants in full bloom, just a radiant maroon, and a 6th with a single mulit-color blossom
this plant has 3 “fingers/stalks” going out and all three have multiple buds
just a boom year after all her caring — water, fertilizer, and lots of love!
very proud, Mom!!!
Go Mrs. A-House!!
Great post – puts things in proper perspective. In the end, it’s what we see on the field that counts. Mahalo for your detailed reporting and analysis of all things UH Football, Mr. Tsai!
Finally, as a member of a household with four generations of Philly fans…
FLY EAGLES FLY!!!
Love you Mrs. A-House! Great job!! Love the rest of the A-House Ohana as well!! Can’t wait for September.
Mrs. A-House is as beautiful a flower as you’ll ever see! Kiss her from us, please , Colonel.
Does anybody know who are the coaches for the secondary? Got a lot of youth and potential with all types of skillsets there but seemed (in my opinion) to have under performed last year (especially in making tackles). I noticed a post yesterday that Yoro tweeted he is coaching the OLB’s.
Hudson-Rasmussen and Dominique were recruited to play safety and corner, respectively. But then the DC, I think, switched their position last year. I think they’ll probably go back to more natural positions.
While people are lamenting this year’s departures, maybe only Collie has a pro shot. The 2012 departures had pro prospects (Davis, Muir), a QB who won a JC national title (Alo) and FBS starters (Leaf, Muir, Dew).
#10: Just guessing that Batoon will take the safeties with Elimimian staying with CBs. Thought Kalen Hicks played well when he started in place of an ailing Henderson
#13
Thanks. I’m want to look for videos of some of the possible defensive stuff they may run.
I think HIcks was the viper.
Not sure what the plans are for the hybrid position this season.
Can’t compare with 2012. Those players were leaving the most immature, vindictive coach in history. He actually went out of his way to bad-mouth players so no one would take them in. Talk about no class…
Oklahoma state has been known for its offense for several years now, emphasizing the passing game but with a strong running game as well. I think Dru will fit the offense. Way back when Rolo was our coordinator he was a finalist for the Oklahoma State Offensive Coordinator position.
UH LBs will be the team’s strength in 2018. Looking forward to seeing Fr redshirt Paul Scott on the field, going Jahlani Tavai and Solomon Mautatia and other returnees (Pritchard, Okeke). It’ll be up to Coaches Banker and Yoro to coach them up and get the best from this group.
I remember UH having a trade of players in Mens BB back in the 70’s. I think it was Jimmy “Bad Boy” Baker came to UH from UNLV (before redshirting was required) and UH sent Boyd Batts in return. Them was the days, as UH was out in the middle of the Pacific for anyone (NCAA) to care.
So ST who’s your Super Bowl pick?I was reading about a guy who won millions in the World Series and has the chance to win millions again by picking the Eagles with several bets placed in different casinos with the two largest at $500,000 and $700,000. ANd this is a guy who doesnt bet on regular season games. Only the World Series and Super Bowl.
As a lifelong Jets fan, I hate the Patriots. And I used to like the Eagles because they had Bill Bradley (same name as the Knicks forward). That said, I think the Pats win again because nobody can cover their slots or TEs.
So I checked, and Yoro is coaching OLBs and NBs, and Batoon has the safeties
If the Punahou Carnival can raise some $2 million each year, you’d think that UH Athletics could do the same or think of some ways to do so. I believe they have a marketing and fundraising department there. But, nothing but ……………………. silence.
Thanks for checking, Stephen. And, as a lifelong Niners fan, I feel your misery. Patriots ought to win. I marvel at Tom Brady’s leadership, and … as Stephen says, Gronk and Amendola are tough covers.
Collie a pro? Zero chance
GO EAGLES AND WARRIORS, OF COURSE!
Win WARRIORS win
✭ i bleed da ✭ so gotta root for the Eagles in this one.
the Niners will be back in 3 or 4 years and win #6!
have faith in Jimmy G as the next great QB for the 49ers!
Other Transfers since 1999
QB: Kevin Gilbride (BYU), Kainoa Akina (Eastern Michigan), Colt Brennan (Colorado)
RB: Michael Brewster (Tennessee), Leon Wright-Jackson (Nebraska)
WR/SB: Tafiti Uso (Stanford), Kealoha Pilares (Air Force)
Oline: Wayne Hunter (Cal), Ikaika Rodenhurst (Oregon St), Fred Ulu-Perry (UCLA)
Dline: Laanui Correia (UNLV), Travis LaBoy (Utah St), Lui Fuga (UNLV), Amani Purcell (Penn St), Reynolds Fruen (Washington St), David Veikune (Colorado), Cameron Allen-Jones (Marshall), Kaniela Tuipulotu (Arizona)
LB: Kapono Rawlins-Crivello (Boise St)
DB: Mana Silva (Oregon St), Jameel Dowling (Oregon), Darius Ward (Texas Tech), Mike Edwards (Tennessee)
K/P:
20. We forgot about Nick Foles and his receivers and the whole team and coaches. The HC said they run the RPO in the post game interview.
If Robert Kraft wants another ring, he’ll have to get back the stolen one from Putin.
I just want to celebrate the new group of incoming Warriors! Looking forward to Wednesday and getting this locked in-based on last several years I think this to be overall the biggest infusion of talent in a long time. Combination of new experienced and teaching coaches and this group look for a turn around season…….more passion fight and grit!!!! GoWarriors!!!!
Dru Brown probably won’t play like how Harrison(what was his first name?) rode the pine for LSU.
Mike Harrison
http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=174159
How does the death of a grand parent and “Want to play closet to home” land a Northern California guy in OK?
That excuse is used as much as workers quitting their job and abandoning their post stating, “I want to spend more time with my family”, then months later taking a parallel position at another job site.
Dru Brown will be closer to home. He will be about 1501miles from home. I doubt he will be going home that often to California though during the season.
With his degree in hand this summer, he will be a graduate transfer. Aside from more playing time, I can understand the reasoning of him transferring and getting a graduate degree from another university. If he said that from the start, he probably would have come across differently to some of the Hawaii fan base. Instead he went the family reason route and then said he was going to Oklahoma st.
We don’t know his intentions. Maybe he will visit family more now since he will be on the continent. I think it’s a win-win situation for both him and UH. DB gets to transfer with a degree and UH can now open up QB competition for Rolo’s RnS offense. The next QB might even do better than what DB accomplished here.
Who knows? Maybe Dru got the offer from Okie State AFTER he made his decision to pursue a graduate transfer opportunity. Perhaps he was hoping to land at a school along the West Coast, but when a P5 school comes a calling, tough to turn down. Still thank him for his two seasons here, and wish him well. As someone said earlier, time to close this chapter.
Was good to see the Eagles get one. Enjoyed the game. Lots of offense from both sides. Tired of seeing NE so often. Good SB.
Dru Brown was crappy. Glad him
And Dylan Collie left. Good riddance. Obviously they’re loyalties were elsewhere. Next one up.
Too busy celebrating incoming class to waste another minute on departures or speculation-still think a few additional surprises to come! GoWarriors and welcome to new staff members!!!!!
#34 … “BigWave” … agree …
LIVE ALOHA / PLAY WARRIOR / DEFEND THE ROCK … GO ‘BOWS … !!!!!
Superior people talk about ideas
Mediocre people talk about things
Little people talk about people
A-House: That is a great quote! It’s one of the most insightful things that I have heard this week. Thanks!
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