The University of Hawai'i's Malcolm Lane, Greg Salas, Aaron Bain and Michael Washington are hoping the sequel to last season's "Fantastic Four" receivers will get rave review just like the original.

The quartet practiced with the first-team offense yesterday as the Warriors suited up in pads for the first time this spring.

All four played sparingly last season and combined for 25 receptions for 429 yards and five touchdowns.

"We're trying to get an identity for ourselves," Bain said. "I thought we proved ourselves a little bit today (at practice). Each day we're going to get better and better."

Lane, a junior, was aligned at right wideout; Salas, a sophomore, was at left wideout; Bain, a senior, was the right slotback; and Washington, a senior, was the left slotback for yesterday's practice.

"The limelight is on all four of us new receivers," Lane said. "We have to step up together as one, as a unit."

Last year's starters — Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Jason Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne — combined for 367 receptions, 4,671 yards and 44 touchdowns. Bess and Grice-Mullins, both slotbacks, have the best chance of being selected during the NFL Draft, April 26 to 27.

"What they accomplished was tremendous for this program and for themselves," Washington said. "As far as the receivers' standpoint the guys that have been here two, three years, we don't feel like it's a big slack off and stuff."

Bain added: "As far as proving ourselves, we have a lot to prove still yet, but it doesn't mean that we're starting from square one."

The Warriors' passing game enabled them to average 512.1 yards of total offense and finish 12-1 with an appearance in the BCS Allstate Sugar Bowl.

"We have to step up and play as well as the other players did to continue our success," Salas said.

Lane, Salas, Bain and Washington practiced primarily with the second team last season so they're familiar with one another.

"I think the chemistry is pretty good because we've been here for a while," Bain said. "Just enough so we know where everybody is going to be out on the field, we know everybody's tendencies."

Replacing record-breaking quarterback Colt Brennan in the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense likely will be junior Inoke Funaki or senior Tyler Graunke, who started one game last season.

"I love both of them," Lane said. "Me and Tyler probably have a lot more chemistry together. Either one of them that gets the start, we're going to be great going in to Florida (for the season opener)."

The quarterbacks have taken most of the snaps this spring under center rather than in the shotgun formation like in past seasons. The change should help Hawai'i's rushing game.

"Definitely a change under center," said offensive coordinator Ron Lee. "It's faster. The ball will come out faster, the receivers have to be where they're supposed to be faster. The defense has to do things a little quicker in their coverages and so forth. It speeds the game up."

Lane is the top returning receiver from last season with 14 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He made a larger impact on special teams with 25 kickoff returns for 730 yards (29.2 average) and two touchdowns.

Lane isn't sure if he'll do double duty this season.

"That's a good question," Lane said. "A lot of people have asked me that. I'm going to focus on receiver, but if they need me back there returning kicks, then I'll go back there and return some kicks."

Washington is looking forward to seizing the opportunity. He has started one game as a Warrior and that came his freshman year.

"Getting to this took 3 1/2 years of hard work on the field and off the field," Washington said. "But I just stay hungry and humble, and when the time comes just take it."

The Warriors' second-team receivers yesterday were: senior Dylan Linkner (right wideout), sophomore Kealoha Pilares (right slotback), junior Jon Medeiros (left slotback) and freshman Joe Avery (left wideout).

Hawai'i head coach Greg McMackin and Lee also mentioned freshman Miah Ostrowski as a player who could break into the lineup this season.

LANES COMING HERE

Malcolm Lane's family is in the process of moving from Hanau, Germany, to Hawai'i.

Lane said his older brother moved here early last week, and his younger brother, mother and stepfather will arrive Sunday.

He added they'll probably live at Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa.

In past summers, Lane traveled to Germany to visit his family.

"I'll be here all summer, too," he said. "I usually go home to Germany. My family is out there, but my family is going to be out here and be stationed out here. So I'll be out here all summer."

At Hanau High School, Lane competed in a league for military dependents.