Hawaii linebackers merge roles to create versatile defensive unit
Associate head coach Chris Brown says Wynden Ho'ohuli and Jamih Otis now share a single position, swapping between the box and perimeter based on game situations.
By Victoria Hayes ·
The University of Hawaii football team has abandoned traditional position labels for two of its key defenders. Wynden Ho'ohuli and Jamih Otis now function as a single, interchangeable unit within the Rainbow Warriors defense. Associate head coach Chris Brown, who oversees the linebacker group, stated that there is effectively one position now, which he refers to as the linebacker.
The two players bring distinct physical attributes to the field. Ho'ohuli, who stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 240 pounds, recorded 45 tackles and two sacks during 444 snaps this season. Otis, measuring 5 feet 11 inches and 220 pounds, leads the team with 54 tackles in 421 defensive plays. Brown described Ho'ohuli as a force who uses violence and striking with his hands, while Otis utilizes speed to get around blockers.
Earlier in the season, the players had separate assignments. Ho'ohuli, a converted defensive end, played the middle linebacker spot in the team's 4-2-5 scheme. Otis was reassigned to the weak-side dime linebacker position to leverage his speed, which he clocks at 4.5 seconds over 40 yards. However, the coaching staff decided to drop these rigid labels in recent games to maximize their effectiveness.
The new system allows both athletes to swap roles depending on the matchup. If Otis has a better advantage in the middle, he aligns there. If Ho'ohuli is needed to attack the perimeter or bracket the pocket, he moves to the outside. Brown noted that both players possess the ability to perform the same duties using different tools. They also take turns relaying defensive calls from coordinator Dennis Thurman to the rest of the unit.
Ho'ohuli, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds, feels comfortable with the change. He noted that he is now fully engaged with the defense, unlike the early season when he was still adjusting. Brown, a former UH teammate of Ho'ohuli's father Watson, taught Wynden how to use controlled aggressiveness and proper footwork to tackle linemen.
Otis made a full recovery from a torn ACL suffered last year before summer practices began. His parents, both of whom ran track, help him train in Las Vegas. Otis relies on quick-twitch movements, change of direction, and elusiveness. Brown said Otis has speed no one else on the team possesses and uses it to deceive offensive linemen. Otis described his approach as a chess game, noting he attacks the pros and cons of his opponents and is willing to take risks on the field.
