Defensive backs Ryan Mouton, Keenan Jones, B.J. Fruean and Kenny Graham will not attend the opening of the University of Hawai'i football team's training camp.

Today is the mandatory reporting day for the UH players who will participate in the two weeks of training camp. The first practice is tomorrow.

Mouton, Jones and Fruean are awaiting certification of summer-session classes.

Graham, a four-star cornerback from Bakersfield College, is not expected to play for the Warriors this season.

Mouton, a cornerback who played at Blinn College in Texas, has earned an associate degree, an NCAA eligibility requirement for a junior-college transfer. But he was told to remain in Texas until his transcripts have been certified. That could take at least another five business days.

Jones, a junior cornerback, and Fruean, a third-year sophomore strong safety, could miss even more time. They are attending UH's second summer session. The term ends Aug. 10.

This is the second year in a row that Jones, who transferred from Compton College last summer, will miss the start of training camp. His eligiblilty was delayed last year while the NCAA reviewed his case. He had attended two junior colleges after Compton lost its certification.

Jones redshirted last year because of a back injury.

He was suspended from spring practice after missing several mandatory meetings and conditioning sessions.

He also was arrested following a loud argument with his girlfriend, but no charges were filed and the case is considered to be closed.

"It was a misinterpretation," he said of the arrest.

But his suspension for missing team functions cost him his football scholarship.

"It's self discipline — I have to have it," he said of his missed assignments. "This is my learning experience. They snatched my scholarship. They said if you work hard, you can get it back."

SUMMER FUN

Offensive line coach Dennis McKnight said he has eagerly awaited the start of camp — and resuming on-field coaching.

"I feel this is why you coach football — strategize, teach technique on the field, interact with the kids, practice," McKnight said. "That's what's fun about coaching. Sitting in an office — there's nothing fun about that."

Three of last year's starters — center Samson Satele and tackles Dane Uperesa and Tala Esera — are in NFL camps.

"We're going to miss the three guys," McKnight said. "At the same time, the three guys we're replacing them with are going to get the job done somehow, some way. They expect to do better than other people expect them to. They want to leave their own mark. They secretly are talking about setting their own goals, how they want to be remembered. 'That last line was a hell of a line, but they left without any WAC championship rings. We're going to make sure that doesn't happen to us.' "

Entering camp, the projected starters are left tackle Keoni Steinhoff, left guard Hercules Satele, center John Estes, right guard Larry Sauafea and right tackle Keith Ah Soon.

But McKnight told the others to fight for starting jobs in camp.

McKnight said: "The old theory I hang my hat on is: life is like a dog-sled team. If you're not striving to be the lead dog, the view never changes. If you're content looking at someone's rear from Nome in the Iditarod, then that's fine. But I want to be out front, breathing fresh air and leading the way. That's what I want to instill in them."

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Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.