New defensive leaders step up as UH football prepares for Stanford opener

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaiʻi football team kicks off the season against Stanford on Saturday.

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To prepare, the Rainbow Warriors’ defense gets tested daily, facing quarterback Micah Alejado and the team’s offense at practice.

“It’s great competition,” said defensive back Matagi Thompson. “I’d say our skills are some of the best in the conference, and we’re lucky and blessed to compete against them because they’re only gonna make us better.”

This season, the ‘Bows return only three starters, prompting new leaders to step up.

Punahou School grad Matagi Thompson is one of the upperclassmen taking on a bigger role in the secondary, following the loss of graduating seniors Peter Manuma and Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen.

“We had to learn a lot about how to play with each other, what’s the best way to learn from each other. We needed to learn more about each other during this off-season,” said Thompson.

Linebackers establish a new-look lineup

The linebacking corps is also in the process of figuring out a new-look lineup.

The one constant is veteran Jamih Otis, whose leadership style has become key for the group.

“Every day I’m learning what to do as a leader. I don’t have it all figured out yet, but the biggest thing is leading by example and really just speaking life into other people. When everybody’s joyful, speaking life, it’s contagious,” said Otis.

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Otis established his voice last season after he was sidelined with a knee injury late in the year. While many would have been discouraged, he saw the injury from a different perspective.

“Having the game taken away from me, it kind of did something to me. In the off-season getting back, it was like a flip that switched for me and so for me like my motor, understanding that any play could be my last so just playing with that mentality,” said Otis.

Entering the lion’s den

The unit’s relentless intensity, with values that trickle down to the rest of the team, earned them the nickname “the lion’s den.”

“Competition brings the best out of these guys,” said associate head coach Chris Brown. “Jamih and Wynden have solidified themselves as the starters going into the first game but it’s after that. It’s a bunch of young guys that are hungry and the future looks really good for the lion’s den.”

Brown added, “It’s more of a mentality. We call ourselves the standard of the football team. We are the leaders. It’s what I expect out of them. Just like a lion, you gotta be able to hunt.”

Their first test begins Saturday at 1 p.m. Hawaiʻi time on the ACC Network and various streaming services.

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