Injury sidelines receiver Pofele Ashlock as Hawaii football opens camp
· Yahoo Sports
The University of Hawaii football team opened training camp on Wednesday without its top receiver participating in contact drills.
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Slotback Pofele Ashlock is recovering from a knee injury and did not participate in drills during the first of 20 practices of training camp. Camp runs through Aug. 22, after which the Rainbow Warriors will go on their usual practice schedule leading to the Aug. 29 opener against Stanford.
“Pofele’s dealing with an injury right now, but we hope to get him back shortly,” head coach Timmy Chang said. “We’re just going to keep prepping away.”
Acknowledging Ashlock will miss reps in training camp, Chang added, “We’ll see how his progression goes. He’s looking a lot better than what we ended spring with until now. Day-by-day with him.”
Ashlock, who suffered the knee injury in March, said he is ahead in his rehab program, and expects a speedy and full recovery.
“It’s the Hawaiian air,” Ashlock said. “I’m good.”
Ashlock is the lone starting receiver from last year’s four-wide offense. Slotback Nick Cenacle completed his UH eligibility in December, and wideouts Jackson Harris and Brandon White transferred.
In 2025, Ashlock caught 76 passes on a team-high 118 targets. He secured 14 catches on 17 targets for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the Hawaii Bowl. Ashlock was named to the 2025 All-Mountain West second team and to the conference’s 2026 preseason first team.
“New faces will get an opportunity,” receivers coach Jared Ursua said. “There’s still a whole stash of really good football players. By no means do they have the accolades of Pofele Ashlock, but there’s a lot of good ability, and we’re excited to help them along in the process.”
Ursua cited quick slots Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho, Blaze Kamoku and Titan Lacaden. Ursua said Washington transfer Audric Harris, Koa Eldredge and Tama Uiliata “are a little bit bigger, a little more rangier, and can catch the ball with their frame. They’re bigger targets to hit down the field.”
The slots are “playmakers,” Ursua said. “We have to give them the opportunity to make plays. We try to train as many good ones as we can. We’ve really benefited the last couple years in having some good leadership, where they’ve grown and developed. … The run-and-shoot is a pretty favorable offense.”
The Warriors also can use a tight end as a slot receiver.
Audric Harris and quarterback Micah Alejado were teammates at Bishop Gorman High School, a Las Vegas-based national contender. Harris, who transferred to UH in January, also is close with Ashlock.
“I talk to Pofele almost every day,” Harris said. “He’s always helping on the field whenever he can, I’m coming in as a new slot, learning the playbook and different things. He’s really experienced in this offense. Being able to learn from him and having him give me tips on how to play the right way in this offense is pretty great.”
Harris said Ashlock’s most helpful advice is “just being able to play free. If you watch his tape, he just plays free. He’s one of the best slots in the conference, if not in the country. Just being able to watch him and learn from him is amazing.”
Uiliata, who appeared in all 13 game as a second-year freshman last season, has emerged a mentor to newcomers.
“Just trying to teach them the offense and be there for them,” Uiliata said. “Everybody has a voice. (And) keep everything simple. When everything’s simple, everything’s easier. Same as the offense. Keep everything simple, reading coverages. That’s the bread and butter.”
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