Quotes from the roster expanding, practice updates, and Jon Medeiros

About how the players added to the rosters today will not practice this week, Mack said:
"They won't be able to do anything." (HA)

HA Note: "The Hawai'i football team's roster is expected to expand by 20 today — the first day of the fall semester, when roster limits are waived — but none of the add-ons will practice until next Monday. UH head coach Greg McMackin said the Warriors are in full "game mode" for Saturday's season opener against Florida in the Swamp. McMackin said there would be no benefit to allowing the add-ons to practice this week."

HA Note: "Running back Mario Cox also was invited to join the team today, although his name does not appear on the add-on list. Cox was dismissed from the team near the end of last season, but was reinstated for spring training. He is no longer on scholarship. Offensive linemen Levi Legay and Daniel Johnson — scholarship players who were not on the training-camp roster — are add-ons. So, too, is Marc Moody, a 2007 Saint Louis School graduate who played at Mississippi Valley State last season. Quarterback Kiran Kepo'o is not on the add-on list. His jersey No. 12 was given to junior college transfer Greg Alexander."

About how they won't post the 66-man travel roster list until after practice today, Mack said:
"We want to wait, just in case somebody gets nicked." (HA)

About how they will take Jake Santos as a 4th QB to be used as a service team player, Mack said:
"We'll need a guy to work with the defense, and he's a pretty good quarterback." (HA)

Mack said that Brent, Alexander, and Inoke will get about an equal number of reps today, but:
"Brent will get the first-team reps." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin and his staff spent several hours yesterday finalizing the details of the practice schedule. The Warriors will practice for an hour today and two hours tomorrow. They will practice at the Georgia Tech facilities Wednesday and Thursday. There will be a walk-through in the Swamp on Friday."

About how they have implemented the entire offensive and defensive game plans, Mack said:
"We may make some changes. I've always felt a good game plan is when you have to eliminate things throughout the week. I don't like to add things. I like to eliminate." (HA)

About how he wrote a list of the "keys to success" that he will pass out to his players, Mack said:
"We want to start (the season) as high as we can, and then with reps, just get better. The main thing is we have to play at the highest level that we can play and give it our best effort. I believe in these guys. I know they will play to the best of their ability." (HA)

Looking forward to the start of the season, Mack said:
"It's been a fast seven months. It's flown by. And this camp has flown by. And this season is going to fly by. Things are going fast, but we're having fun. We have to continue to get better, and strive to get better. That's what we're working hard toward." (HA)

HSB Note: "Back in high school, Jon Medeiros was known as the passing threat in Kapolei's dual-quarterback offense, while Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada was dangerous running the option and as a receiver. Now that they're in college, Kaheaku-Enhada has established himself as Navy's quarterback, while Medeiros has been among Hawaii's more reliable receivers in fall camp."

About how playing QB in high school has helped him understand how to play WR in the run-and-shoot, Medeiros said:
"It gave me a better understanding. High school and college defenses are a lot different, alignments are a lot different, but it did help me out." (HSB)

About how he has to read coverages as part of his job at slotback, so playing QB in high school was a big help, Medeiros said:
"It helps out a lot. When I first came here I was able to read coverages pretty quick because we ran an offense in high school pretty similar to this one, similar to Saint Louis' (offense). My understanding of what the quarterback goes through in the offense adapts to me (as a receiver)." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Medeiros' aptitude before the snap and his knack for finding soft spots in the secondary have helped him carve out a regular place in the slotback rotation as the Warriors head toward Saturday's season opener at No. 5 Florida. Medeiros, a 5-foot-9 junior, has been running with the second unit in practices as he and Kealoha Pilares back up seniors Mike Washington and Aaron Bain."

Praising Medeiros, Ron Lee said:
"First of all, he's smart. I liked what he did (last Wednesday) when we went live, caught the ball in a crowd, found the open areas. He knows the system. Kealoha and Jon are coming, they're right there. I wouldn't be afraid to have them play. We're going to have to use them, so they're coming along nicely." (HSB)

About how his increased practice reps has made him better, Medeiros said:
"Like Coach (Greg McMackin) says, it takes a lot of reps in order to get this stuff down on offense as far as receivers and QBs. It's more getting a feel for knowing where people are on the field before the snap of the ball. Confidence is a big thing too - the more reps you get the more confident you get catching the ball, running your route." (HSB)

About how Medeiros was their passing and their option QB after Kaheaku-Enhada graduated, Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said:
"He was so versatile he was able to fill both roles for us. He just lives and breathes football. He's the kind of kid you love to coach. ... So I'm not surprised he's finding his niche (at UH) as a receiver. He's not the biggest or the fastest guy around. He's all guts and heart and guile and finds a way to make it happen." (HSB)

Proud of how Kaheaku-Enhada is doing at Navy, Medeiros said:
"I'm very proud of him. It's kind of a trip to know the same person who was playing quarterback with me is doing it big in college, beating Notre Dame last year. I was real happy for him." (HSB)