Golden State Warriors secure two new players, but see a few depart via free agency portal
Hawaii Football in Motion: Offensive Line Reinforcements Join the Fray
The Rainbow Warriors are buzzing with action this week, as they welcome two offensive-line transfers: Tai Marks from Tulsa and Erik Adkins from Bakersfield (Calif.) College.
With Caleb "C-Bo" Brown dipping into the NCAA transfer portal, the Warriors bid farewell to a cornerback after two seasons. Center Sergio Muasau and long-snapper Jax Thompson, too, have called it quits for the gridiron. Two-sport athlete Jarret "JJ" Nielsen is retiring from football, seeking a new baseball team. Previously the Warriors' co-No. 2 quarterback in spring training, Nielsen hopes to revitalize his baseball career.
As the baseball portal doesn't open until June 2, Nielsen submitted his paperwork for the football transfer portal, ensuring the Warriors enough time to sign another QB. With Micah Alejado, Luke Weaver, and Caleb Freeman as the only quarterbacks on the UH roster, Head Football Coach Timmy Chang is optimistic.
The arrival of Marks and Adkins will help the Warriors address key areas of need in the offensive line. Muasau served as the Warriors' primary center for the past two seasons, with Ethan Spencer delivering most of the snaps in spring training. Marks, standing at 6 feet 1 and 304 pounds, found success as a guard and center for Tulsa, and Adkins, 6-3 and 305 pounds, is predicted to compete at offensive tackle.
Marks made the move to Hawaii from Colorado State, where he redshirted and played in 10 games as a second-year freshman in 2021. With a stop at Tulsa and a healed shoulder injury, Marks is prepared to make his mark on the Warriors' offensive line. Adkins, a defensive lineman through his sophomore season at Frontier High in Bakersfield, switched to the offensive line in his finalyear at Bakersfield College.
Friendships with UH linebacker Jalen Smith and safety Julian "JuJu" Smith played a role in Adkins' decision to transfer to the Rainbow Warriors. "I already felt a connection," Adkins said. "My visit was superb; I felt right at home." Thanks to college football's transfer rule, Adkins has four years to play three seasons for Hawaii.
Adkins and his friends have channeled their competitive spirit into recreational poker games, which Adkins credits for sharpening their focus on the field, potentially throwing off defensive ends and pass rushers.
Brown, who participated in the senior-night festivities after the Warriors' regular-season finale against New Mexico in November, received an exemption as he played in a non-NCAA program, Howard College, prior to joining Hawaii. Injured during spring ball, Brown sat out contract drills while nursing a shoulder injury. The Warriors recently welcomed Sierra College cornerback Ben Drake, while Virdel Edwards II is now fully healthy, having participated in spring training.
