The University of Hawai'i has the most seasoned football coaching staff in the Western Athletic Conference.

But during the summer, the coaches turn into youngsters on Christmas Eve.

"I'm anxious to get started," UH coach June Jones said of Thursday's opening of training camp. The players report that day, with the first practice Friday.

"I've been looking forward to this for a long time," Jones added. "The last three weeks, we've been counting down the days until the players show up (for camp)."

A few weeks ago, Jones completed the drill-by-drill schedule for every training camp practice. His assistant coaches have analyzed videos of Northern Colorado, the season-opening opponent.

The coaches also have tried to craft a roster. The NCAA allows each Division I-A team a maximum 105 players to compete in training camp. On Aug. 20, the first day of UH's fall semester, the roster may expand.

There are several players on the bubble. Defensive end Francis Maka, the star of spring practice, said he needs to do well in a summer-school class. The session ends Aug. 10, but he will be allowed to practice.

Safety B.J. Fruean, who served a team-imposed academic redshirt last season and spring, is not listed on the roster. A final decision has not been made on his status.

Kenny Graham, a four-star cornerback, also is not on the roster. Graham, who is enrolled in summer school in California, needs to earn an associate degree to play for UH this season.

Still, the Warriors appear to have enough talent. They were picked to win the WAC in polling of the media and league coaches.

"We're definitely getting excited," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "When you start putting together all of the pieces, you're creating a team. It's all building up. We understand the opportunity we have in front of us, and we want to take advantage of it."

QUARTERBACK

Shane Austin, Colt Brennan, Inoke Funaki, Tyler Graunke, Kiran Kepo'o, Bryce Kalauokaaea, Jake Santos.

Outlook: Bad news for opponents: After having the best statistical season in NCAA history, Brennan has improved his knowledge of the four-wide offense. "It was apparent in the spring that he's seeing things so much faster," quarterback coach Dan Morrison said.

Brennan said: "I know I can always do more. It has nothing to do with throwing for more touchdowns or yards. It's making better decisions."

Brennan has spent the summer improving his strength. After deferring to the more experienced offensive linemen and running backs the past two seasons, he is prepared to step into a leadership role. His intensity in difficult situations already has won over teammates.

"The more you put him under stress and in competitive situations, the better he is," Morrison said. "He loves competitive environments. When things aren't right, which is normal in football, he's good at saying: 'Let's make a play.' "

Notes: Kepo'o, who will redshirt this season, will not join the team until Aug. 20, when the roster may expand. ... Santos must redshirt this season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.

RUNNING BACK

Cameron Allen-Jones, Alonzo Chopp, Mario Cox, David Farmer, Jason Laumoli, Khevin Peoples, Kealoha Pilares, Leon Wright-Jackson.

Outlook: Before leaving to report to the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp, running back Nate Ilaoa had warm wishes for the Warriors. "They're going to have a great season," he vowed.

There already is a buzz about the competition to find a successor to Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia. Pilares, the state's best offensive player in 2005, drew raves in spring practices because of his speed and quick-cut skills (4.07 seconds in the pro-agility shuttle). During a recent workout, Pilares caught a swing pass, juked past a cornerback and then sped past the safety. "That's how it's going to be, huh?" a defender yelled to Pilares.

Wright-Jackson arrives in town Wednesday carrying high expectations. An All-America running back at Pasco (Wash.) High, Wright-Jackson played at Nebraska as a freshman in 2005. This past year, he attended a community college but did not play. "The year off really helped me mature," Wright-Jackson said.

After watching highlight videos, Jones and last year's defensive coordinator, Jerry Glanville, agreed the 6-1, 215-pound Wright-Jackson is comparable to Eric Dickerson in running style. "Eric Dickerson is my favorite running back," Wright-Jackson said. "When I was little, I used to watch his NFL films, and I trained to do what he did."

Wright-Jackson also welcomes the opportunity to block.

"If you're going to be a running back, you have to be ready for the whole job," he said. "Pass-blocking is my job. My main job is to take care of the quarterback. He's the key to the offense. I don't mind going in there and hitting the linebacker."

Notes: Wright-Jackson, who got married this offseason, was known as Leon Jackson until last year, when he added his maternal grandfather's surname. ... Cox, who turned down a request to move to linebacker, has lost 25 pounds and now weighs 230.

RECEIVER

Left wideout: Joe Avery, Jett Jasper, Jason Rivers, Greg Salas.

Left slotback: Davone Bess, Mitch Farney, Rick Taylor, Mike Washington.

Right slotback: Aaron Bain, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Daniel Libre, Jonathan Medeiros, Eric Shaffer.

Right wideout: C.J. Hawthorne, Malcolm Lane, Dylan Linkner, Royce Pollard.

Outlook: Every week, the coaches receive dozens of highlight videos from receivers across the country. When played, the videos appear to be on fast-forward. "From all of the exposure we're getting, and the amount of times we throw the ball, a lot of people are interested," receivers coach Ron Lee said. The result is the Warriors have more depth at receiver than ever before. Rivers, Bess and Grice-Mullins have had productive careers. But the best of the starting receivers might be Hawthorne, who requested permission to move from cornerback. "I'm back home on offense," said Hawthorne, who first played receiver as an eighth-grader. In testing in March, Hawthorne tied Rivers and cornerback Ryan Keomaka by running a team-best 4.45 seconds over 40 yards.

Lane and Linkner will press Hawthorne for playing time. "Competition is good," Hawthorne said. "But it's not a popularity contest. We're all here to do a job. Whoever does the job, praise God, will play."

Notes: Needing extra credits, Lane took tai chi this summer. He said it turned out to be a demanding class. "Sometimes you're standing on one foot the entire class," he said. ... Farney, for now, will not be added to the roster until Aug. 20. ... Avery is a 6-foot-4 receiver from Banning High in California.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Left tackle: Travis Campbell, Brysen Ginlack, Ray Hisatake, Keoni Steinhoff, Adrian Thomas.

Left guard: Daniel Johnson, Laupepa Letuli, Hercules Satele.

Center: John Estes, Joey Lipp, Clarence "Lafu" Tuioti-Mariner.

Right guard: Austin Hansen, Larry Sauafea.

Right tackle: Keith Ah Soon, Raphael Ieru, Lucas Kennard.

Utility: Aaron Kia, Clayton Laurel, Sila Lefiti.

Outlook: The good thing about the inadequate capital-improvement budget is there was not enough money to build a panic room. Lose three linemen to the NFL? "I have all of the confidence in the guys who will play," line coach Dennis McKnight said. Steinhoff and Ah Soon are the new starting tackles. "They won't be like Apollo Creed, they'll be like Rocky Balboa," McKnight said. "They'll win the fight. It just won't be a knockout. It'll be a 15-round decision. Give me guys who'll go 15 rounds all day long."

Estes moves from right guard to succeed second-round draft choice Samson Satele. Of UH's 138 trap plays last year, Estes received a negative grade only two times. "People ask why we would move a great guard," McKnight said. "It's because he's going to be a great center."

McKnight said Satele has emerged as the line's leader. "You can't force somebody to be a leader," McKnight said. "That rah-rah stuff doesn't work. Herc's the guy who plays his ass off, the guy everyone respects. It's like that old commercial: When Herc speaks, everyone listens."

Notes: Sauafea, who practiced at center in the spring, enters as the No. 1 right guard. He lost 25 pounds and now weighs 290. ... Ieru is 315 after losing 20 pounds. ... Ginlack answers to the nickname "Bulla."

DEFENSIVE LINE

Left end: Amani Purcell, Nate Russell, Alasi Toilolo, David Veikune.

Left tackle: Fale Laeli, Siave Seti, Keala Watson.

Right tackle: Michael Lafaele, Chris Leatigaga, Vaughn Meatoga, Elliot Purcell, Rocky Savaiigaea.

Right end: Victor Clore, John Fonoti, Josh Leonard, Antwan "Tua" Mahaley, Francis Maka, Karl Noa, Korey Reynolds.

Outlook: Every club needs a bouncer, and in football, every bouncer needs a club. Lafaele, who will be the point defender in the new 4-3 scheme, has as vicious a club move as any interior lineman. The club resembles a boxer's uppercut, with the forearm striking an offensive lineman's shoulder, and is used to create an open path into the backfield. "That's Michael's signature move," line coach Jeff Reinebold said. Last year, Lafaele used the club to floor an Oregon State offensive lineman. "You really need that kind of physicalness at the point," Reinebold said. Lafaele also was used as a pass defender on screens last year. He should be even more effective this year after losing 20 pounds.

George Lumpkin, who coaches the ends, said Noa will be "outstanding. He'll be as good as anybody we've ever had." In team testing, Noa ran 40 yards in 4.55 seconds and finished third in the pro agility shuttle (4.05 seconds). He can bench press 400 pounds. "He looks lean, but he's 250, and he's strong," Lumpkin said. "He understands offensive linemen, and he knows how to get by them."

An intriguing battle will be among Veikune (benched a team-high 455 pounds), Purcell (who transferred from Penn State two years ago) and Maka, who was the best pass rusher in spring camp.

Notes: Maka promised to be academically eligible to play this season. "No doubt about it," he said. ... Watson will start at left tackle. ... Veikune, Leonard and Leatigaga also can play end. ... Mahaley, who is moving from wideout, will not join the active roster until Aug. 20.

LINEBACKER

Middle: Solomon Elimimian, Mana Lolotai, Timo Paepule, Rustin Saole.

Outside: Po'okela Ahmad, C.J. Allen-Jones, Brad Kalilimoku, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Kevin Konrath, Micah Lau, Adam Leonard, Josh Rice, Brashton Satele, Blaze Soares.

Outlook: Since his hanabata days, Soares has played linebacker and loved football. Family members recall that Soares always clutched a football in the house. When he was 7, he played for the 'Ewa Beach Cardinals in the Military League, even though his family was not in the military. "Football is something I need," he said. "It's in my blood. When I'm playing football, I'm happy."

Cal Lee, who coaches the linebackers, recruited Soares out of Castle High. "I looked into his eyes, and I knew he had passion for football. It's everything to him. He loves to make contact, which makes him an ideal linebacker, because linebackers make a lot of contact. He can run. He can hit."

Soares should complement Leonard, who led the Warriors in tackles last year. Leonard has successfully recovered from offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Elimimian takes over as signal-caller and on-field coach. "He has a sense of where the ball is going," Lee said. "You can't teach that. He's awfully bright. He could be a hell of a coach."

Notes: Kalilimoku, who was awarded an extra season, is considered part of the No. 1 unit. ... Lolotai, who did not play last year, has met the NCAA eligibility requirements.

SECONDARY

Cornerback: JoPierre Davis, Guyton Galdeira, Ryan Keomaka, Gerard Lewis, A.J. Martinez, Ryan Mouton, Myron Newberry, Ryan Perry, Calvin Roberts.

Safety: Kirk Alexander, Kenny Estes, Le'Marcus Gibson, Jakeem Hawkins, Tyson Kafentzis, Keao Monteilh, Viliami Nauahi, Jacob Patek, Erik Pedersen, Kealoha Porlas, Erik Robinson, Spencer Smith, Desmond Thomas.

Outlook: It seems every week the Warriors are recruiting another defensive back. "It doesn't matter to me," said Newberry, the starting right cornerback. "Competition is competition. There's going to be competition everywhere."

Mouton, a junior college All-American, and Roberts will push for playing time.

The competition is as heated at safety, where Patek appears to have a clear advantage. At the end of spring practice, Thomas, Porlas and Monteilh had taken turns with the first team. The new challengers are Robinson, a promising JC transfer; Kafentzis, who started at outside linebacker last year; and Nauahi, a former All-State safety from Kahuku.

"Defense is going to step up this year," Newberry promised.

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker: Britton Forester, Dan Kelly.

Punter: Davone Bess, Tim Grasso, Kelly, Aaron Thomas.

Kick returner: Malcolm Lane, Jason Rivers, Michael Washington.

Punt returner: Bess, Ryan Mouton, Washington.

Snapper: David Farmer, Jake Ingram.

Outlook: Kickoffs will be moved back 5 yards, to the 30, but Dennis McKnight, who will coach the special teams, said that should not affect Kelly. Last year, Kelly was instructed to place kickoffs to the corners; this year, with new coverages, he will be allowed to blast away.

Grasso, who has attended a prestigious punting camp, enters as the leader to succeed Kurt Milne.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.