The game started slowly, as both teams seemed to be feeling each other out, but then things took off in the second and third quarters as the offenses got a feel for things and made big plays. Hawai’i featured the short passes and wide receiver screens typical of the run and shoot, while Oregon State chose to pound it with Yvenson Bernard and take advantage of opportunities in the passing game with Joe Newton and Sammie Stroughter. Both quarterbacks showcased good arms and better-than-advertised athleticism. In the end, however, a couple big plays by the OSU defense sealed the deal in a close 35-32 game.
College: Hawaii
Conference: WAC
Columnist: Steve Martin
Name - # - Ht - Wt - Speed - Pos - Class
Samson Satele - 64 - 6' 3.0" - 312 - 4.98 - OG - 2007
Satele is a big presence at C. He exhibits outstanding strength at the point of attack. He has a great base and is rarely caught off-balance. He uses his hands well and jolts the defender. Surprisingly, he pulls well too. He gets to the edge fairly quickly and eliminates his target. A couple of his shotgun snaps were off-line, including one that resulted in a turnover. (Grade: B+)
Colt Brennan - 15 - 6' 2.4" - 190 - 0.00 - QB - 2008
Brennan is a great game manager. He is in complete control and makes decisions instantaneously. He has a good pocket presence and can sense the pass rush. He is not asked to make many deep throws in the run and shoot, but some of his outs and mid-range throws hung up a little bit (although it didn’t help that the wind was really gusting, grabbing many a pass and sending it off-target). He is on the money in the short passing game. He was less effective in the fourth quarter than he had been earlier in the game. I don’t know whether he was folding under the game pressure or whether he was just getting fatigued (he runs to the sideline to get the play before every huddle). He surprised me with some good athleticism and toughness. He made a few nice runs on broken plays and called bootlegs. I’d estimate his speed between 4.7 and 4.8. (Grade: B )
Nate Ilaoa - 4 - 5' 9.0" - 254 - 4.60 - HB - 2007
Nate didn’t start the game, as he is battling a bruised heel. He did enter the game after a few series and then got some extensive playing time. I was very impressed with Ilaoa’s athleticism given his size. One of the announcers said that he had run a 4.38 forty as a defensive back about 75 pounds ago. He still has good speed and quickness, and he’s nearly impossible to bring down with one tackler. One of his most impressive assets is his soft hands. He’s an outstanding receiver and often has to make quick catches in very tight quarters as he took a few pitch-passes at the LOS. On one catch out of the backfield, he found some open space and then took a big hit which spun him completely around. He kept his feet when most backs would have stumbled and picked up another 10 yards. He runs all-out on every play. (Grade: A)
Melila Purcell - 98 - 6' 4.5" - 276 - 0.00 - DE - 2007
Purcell was very inconsistent in this game. He’d make a big play, and then he’d disappear for a long stretch. To be fair, most of the running plays went to the opposite side of the field, but I expected to see more from him as a pass-rusher. It seemed like Purcell got blocked too easily at times (especially given a couple outstanding efforts in his previous two games). Purcell appears to have good strength and athleticism, but I would have liked to have seen a more consistent effort from him. (Grade: C)
Players to watch: WR Davone Bess (SO) – Bess has some of the best hands I’ve seen (they rival Sidney Rice’s). He’s a small, fast WR with terrific ability to change direction quickly. He’ll be one of the top WRs in the nation next year. He also returned a punt late in the game. He side-stepped a tackle and was one player (punter) away from taking it the distance. RB Reagan Mauia (SR) – He’s listed at 351 pounds on the school website, although the announcers said he was 295. He looked even less than that as he’s rock solid. He started the game and showed amazing athleticism for a man his size. He ran the ball once (effectively) and was a consistently good receiver out of the backfield. When he stayed in to block, it was like having another OG in the backfield as he absolutely destroyed a few OSU players. I don’t think he’s draftable, but he’s got to have a home in the NFL at some position.
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College: Oregon State
Conference: Pac 10
Columnist: Sam Maxwell
Name - # - Ht - Wt - Speed - Pos - Class
Sabby Piscitelli - 24 - 6' 3.0" - 224 - 4.35 - S - 2007
Piscitelli was clearly the emotional leader on the OSU defense. He made a couple key interceptions in the second half of the game. One was a diving effort in the endzone as OSU was driving. On the second one, he made a great read and jumped the receiver’s pattern, making a tough catch right in front of the WR. The interceptions were #s 14 and 15 in his career, showing his outstanding ball skills. Piscitelli also showed me a little something that he’s been accused of lacking – physicality. He was credited with 9 solo tackles and one assist. He made an outstanding open-field tackle on Nate Ilaoa (not an easy task) late in the game that kept UH from converting a long third down. He also made some big hits on the receivers, although the trash-talking following those hits was unnecessary. (Grade: A)
Joe Newton - 89 - 6' 7.0" - 257 - 4.68 - TE - 2007
Newton only had a couple catches in this game, but his first one went for a TD as he used his height to snare a tall pass that the defenders couldn’t get to. He went up to get another high pass the second time and fell into the end zone, but the official ruled him down inside the one-yard line. He looked to be running well and was able to find seams and get open against a quick UH secondary. Despite his size, he’s not much of a blocker. He’s good once he gets to the second level, seeking and engaging targets, but as an inline blocker he suffers from a lack of physicality as he looks like more of a finesse guy. (Grade: B )
Matt Moore - 8 - 6' 4.0" - 193 - 0.00 - QB - 2007
Moore had good numbers, but they were a bit deceptive. He had an 80-TD pass in the third quarter that was woefully underthrown (despite throwing with a gusting wind behind him), but the WR lost the CB on a stop-and-go, and had just enough time to wait for the ball. His balls floated a bit at times, although the wind may have had a lot to do with that. (Grade: C+)
Yvenson Bernard - 26 - 5' 9.0" - 203 - 0.00 - HB - 2008
Bernard had a decent game, although he wasn’t as dominant as he can be. He averaged just over 5 yards a carry on 20 carries and had an easy one-yard TD to the edge in the fourth quarter. He didn’t break anything long, despite some decent blocking up front. He is small, but powerful, and very quick. He should be one of the more exciting (and experienced) backs in the nation next season. (Grade: B- )
Alexis Serna - 13 - 5' 8.0" - 157 - 0.00 - K - 2008
Serna did not get any FG attempts. He converted all five of his XP attempts and looked good (with help from the wind) on his kickoffs. (Grade: A – he did what he was asked to do)
Players to watch: WR Sammie Stroughter (SO) – He’s an exciting player. He has outstanding speed and body control that are evident as a WR and return specialist. He sells his routes and can make the tough catch. DE Dorian Smith (JR) – Smith came from the JC ranks and has really played well this year. He seemed to be playing through an injury, but was still unstoppable at times. He exhibited great strength and technique from the DE position.