If Hawaii football is going to have any success whatsoever on defense in 2018 it’s going to come on the production of these three players.
There’s no way to sugarcoat the fact the Rainbow Warriors’ defense was awful in 2017. They finished the season conceding an average of 33.9 points and 458.8 yards per contest.
To put these statistics into perspective, compare them to college football as a whole. Out of 130 teams, the Rainbow Warriors’ defense ranked 106th and 115th respectively, for points and yards allowed.
Most of the attention this offseason has, quite rightly, been on the team’s decision to bring back the run-and-shoot offense. Certainly, it will make for a more entertaining product on the field.
However, if Hawaii is to actually improve on their three wins from last season, the offense can’t do it alone. They will need some help on the defensive side of the ball.
Corey Batoon is the man charged with helping the defense improve, after being named as the new defensive coordinator following the debacle in 2017. The Hawaii native helped FAU’s dramatic turnaround last season, which came in large part due to the improved play of the defense.
Batoon will have his work cut out after losing six of last year’s defensive starters, and yet, when you consider how bad the defense was, maybe this isn’t such a bad thing. Regardless, let’s look at the three players who will be key to turning things around in 2018.
1. Jahlani Tavai
Yes, picking Jahlani Tavai as one of Hawaii’s key players is an obvious selection. However, it doesn’t make him any less important to the team’s chances of success.
Pure and simple, Tavani is the heart and soul of the Rainbow Warriors’ defense. And this will be the final season fans get to see him in action for the team, so they would do well to make the trek to Aloha Stadium as often as possible.
The Inglewood, California native had a typical standout year in 2017, as he played in all 12 games. He led the team with 124 tackles, good enough to rank 10th nationally in total tackles and tackles per game.
On the subject of tackles, Tavani has a genuine shot at becoming the Rainbow Warrior’s all-time tackle leader by the end of his college career. With 309 total tackles entering the 2018 season, he sits 125 behind Solomon Elimimian, who currently holds the record.
The linebacker also has a chance to move up the all-time sack list for Hawaii. He recorded 5.5 last season and with a similar return this year, he can move up to fourth all-time in school history. (He enters this season in 10th place, with 15.5 takedowns.)
Overall, Tavani has an excellent opportunity to be in contention for the Butkus Award this season. Regardless, as long as he continues to produce as he did the two previous seasons, he can be Batoon’s galvanizing force in helping turn the defense around.
2. Samiuela Akoteu
Samiuela Akoteu is about to be thrust into a prominent role. Fans will understandably hope he’s ready for it.
Akoteu started seven games last season and will see this number increase in 2018. He will be the lone returning starter on the defensive line, after the Rainbow Warriors lost Meffy Koloamatangi, Viane Moala and David Manoa.
As such, the Inglewood, California native will also be expected to take on more of a leadership role, due to the lack of experience around him. We’re going to learn a lot about his mental fortitude this season.
At least Akoteu showed signs of development last season, following a promising 2016 campaign. He recorded a career-high 26 tackles, including seven multiple tackle games, along with one tackle for a loss and a quarterback hurry.
It helps that “Big Sam” will be surrounded by lots of young talent. Of course, whether they can actually fulfill their potential so soon, is another matter altogether.
In fairness to Akoteu, this season is going to be a learning curve for the defense as a whole under Batoon. However, this doesn’t change the fact a lot of pressure will rest on him, hence why he is one of the key players on defense.
3. Rojesterman Farris II
If there was a strength on the Rainbow Warrior’s defense last season, in was in the secondary. In reality though, “strength” is pretty redundant, when the pass defense still ranked 102nd in college football for average yards allowed per game.
More from Saturday Blitz
- Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
- ACC Power Rankings: Can #4 FSU overthrow Clemson at Death Valley East?
- Most heartwarming social media reactions to Nick Chubb’s injury
- Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
- Things are going to get much darker for the Houston Cougars
As with the D-line, the secondary faces a big challenge after losing both starting safeties from last season. This will arguably be Batoon’s biggest challenge as defensive coordinator, as he is also the safeties coach.
However, the secondary does see one of the better cornerback duos in the Mountain West Conference return. Of the two, Rojesterman Farris II is the third key player on defense for Hawaii.
Farris led all returning secondary players with 43 tackles last season. He also had four or three pass defenses, depending on which media outlet you go with.
The Coral Springs, Florida native has good size for a corner and is generally regarded as a solid contributor with upside. He’s also already shown he can handle being a regular, after starting all 11 games he appeared in last year.
However, Farris is going to have to step up his game this season and prove he can shut down, or at least contain the opposing team’s top receiver. If he can justify the faith put in him, it will give the secondary — and in turn the rest of the defense — some much-needed confidence.
Do you agree with our three key players on defense, or is there anyone else you believe is worthy of inclusion? More generally speaking, what kind of production are you predicting for the Rainbow Warriors defense this coming season? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.