ATLANTA — Before old friends and possible future teammates, the University of Hawai'i football team practiced with the greatest of ease in a two-hour workout that was a mixture of fun and focus.

"It was very good," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said after the evening practice at Georgia Tech's football facility. "We had 'relaxed intensity,' if there's such a phrase."

In attendance were about a dozen former Hawai'i residents, including Stan Berry, who was head coach June Jones' UH teammate in 1973, and five recruits — three of whom are being recruited by Georgia Tech.

That left the UH coaches in a pickle. The Georgia Tech coaches allowed the Warriors to practice here in preparation for tomorrow's season opener against Alabama. But while the Warriors were practicing, the Georgia Tech coaches were making sales pitches to the recruits.

After watching Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey greet Jonathan Dwyer, one of the top high school running backs in the South, a UH coach turned to a reporter and said: "(The recruiting) ain't over yet."

Gailey announced that Dwyer verbally committed to Georgia Tech yesterday. Dwyer, who lives 30 minutes from Georgia Tech's downtown Atlanta campus, said he is committed to Georgia Tech "for now." He said he has not ruled out visiting UH. A high school recruit may not sign a binding national letter of intent until the first Wednesday in February.

Quarterback Nick Hicks and defensive ends David Duran, John Julien and Stan Herring also said they are interested in joining the Warriors. Those four and Dwyer are seniors at Kell High School, where UH freshman safety Spencer Smith attended last academic year.

"Who wouldn't want to go to Hawai'i?" said Hicks, who is 6 feet 1 and 195 pounds. "Coach Jones and coach Glanville are great coaches. The quarterbacks they produce are really great quarterbacks."

Hicks said he also is being recruited by Clemson and Furman.

Duran, who is 6-5 and 235 pounds, said UH received a glowing review from Smith.

"I'm going to research it, because Spencer said it's a great program," Duran said.

Julien, who is 6-5 and 225 pounds, monitored UH defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis, who has gained 75 pounds in three years and now weighs 290.

"He gained weight, but he looks really good coming off the edge," Julien said. "I like the way he developed."

Julien is fielding offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Central Florida and Southern Mississippi.

"I'll definitely be considering Hawai'i," Julien said. "Spencer is loving it up there. And I enjoyed watching their practice."

Limited to a 60-player travel roster, the Warriors did not have a scout team, instead using the second team to portray Alabama during the practice. In doing so, the Warriors acknowledged they have decided on a starting lineup.

The offensive starters are left wideout Jason Rivers, left slotback Davone Bess, left tackle Tala Esera, left guard Hercules Satele, center Samson Satele, right guard John Estes, right tackle Dane Uperesa, right slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, right wideout Ross Dickerson, quarterback Colt Brennan and running back Nate Ilaoa.

On defense, the starters are left end Melila Purcell III, nose tackle Michael Lafaele, right end Alama-Francis, left outside linebacker Tyson Kafentzis, buck linebacker Solomon Elimimian, middle linebacker Adam Leonard, right outside linebacker C.J. Allen-Jones, left cornerback A.J. Martinez, free safety Leonard Peters, strong safety Jake Patek and right cornerback C.J. Hawthorne.

When the Warriors go to the nickel defense, strong safety Brad Kalilimoku replaces Leonard.

"We've got to be special on Saturday night," Glanville said. "But I don't think we're nervous. I think we're tired of practicing. We're ready to go play somebody."

After a month of practices, Jones acknowledged, his players are restless.

"When the ball is snapped, we're pretty focused," Jones said. "That's what we set out to do."

This morning, the Warriors will leave for Birmingham, Ala., where they will spend two nights. They will practice for 90 minutes today at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Alabama's campus in Tuscaloosa.

"We'll try to recoup our legs a little bit, get some work in at the stadium, and before you know it, we'll be ready to tee it up," Jones said. "(The players are) tired of looking at each other. They want to see other faces."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.