As we approach the 2024 college football season kickoff, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors released their first depth chart ahead of their opening matchup with Delaware State at home in the warm confines of Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex.
What are the takeaways from Hawaii’s depth chart release for Week 0?
Changes on the Offensive Line
First-year offensive line coach Derek Faavi wasted no time putting his imprint on the upcoming season for the Rainbow Warriors after taking the job in the spring of 2024. For one, a former starter at defensive tackle Kuao Peihopa was moved to right tackle where he will start in Game 1 for Hawaii.
To follow that move, two starters from last year’s unit, Luke Felix-Fualalo and Sergio Muasau have been demoted to backup status for the time being. One starter from last year, Ka’ena Decambra was completely left off the depth chart for reasons unexplained in the release.
Faavi comes to Hawaii from USC, where he was a quality control analyst for two seasons. He was a mainstay as a starter at center for the Rainbow Warriors from 2002-2005, starting 37 games, and also coached the offensive line at Adams State from 2016-20. There’s experience in the job, but it is a puzzling move, to say the least, without further context.
Multiple Starters From Last Year on the Bench
In a game where Hawaii’s opponent hails from the FCS and apparently missed their flight to begin the week, it is premature to draw too many conclusions without context about starters being placed at lower status on the depth chart.
Aside from the above-mentioned offensive linemen in Fualalo and Muasau, former starting safety Meki Pei was listed as a third-stringer, and former starting corner Virdel Edwards II wasn’t listed; neither was transfer Fabian Ross, who formerly played at USC.
Coaches have a history of using placement on the chart as a motivator, and without speculating too much, there is precedent for starters to miss time or not start for various team infractions.
While there isn’t much information at the time of publication, it is clear that head coach Timmy Chang and his staff are not afraid to make the changes they deem necessary to produce winning results. Whether or not it will result in such is up for speculation, but the initial changes based on the first depth chart indicate that Chang is not here to find out.
No Steven McBride
Steven McBride was notably absent from the depth chart due to impending legal issues following an arrest in late July. It was reported that McBride had returned to team activities after completing an initial suspension, but his absence from the depth chart was noticeable.
Hawaii depth chart released ahead of the #GoBows season opener against Delaware State.
Of note, WR Steven McBride is not listed. McBride returned to team activities recently after suspension but reportedly had some eligibility issues to overcome. pic.twitter.com/tD8rXakDTU
— Oliver Hodgkinson (@ojhodgkinson) August 20, 2024
The transfer from Kansas caught 21 passes for 128 yards during his career as a Jayhawk. At 6’1″ and 190 pounds, his speed and athleticism were expected to be a major upgrade for Hawaii as they entered the 2024 season. Despite being used sparingly for the Jayhawks, McBride has the kind of escapability and twitch that makes him a fit for what Hawaii wants to do offensively under Chang.
Additionally, Tylan Hines was listed as a wide receiver but not a starter. The former running back turned wide receiver was a team captain in 2023, and the expectation was that he could be used in the offense similarly to how Calvin Turner was used before leaving the school in 2021 to chase a professional career in the XFL.
How things will shake out at the wide receiver position during the game is something to watch as the Warriors take on Deleware State in the home opener.
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