Warriors seeking to smooth out their corner position

The key to the Hawaii football team’s pass defense can be found ’round the corner.

In boosting the pass coverage, the Rainbow Warriors had to reload the cornerback position this offseason after the departures of last year’s starters. Cam Stone completed his NCAA eligibility, and Caleb “C-Bo” Brown, after being granted an exemption for another season, transferred to Virginia Tech.

Virdel Edwards, who missed the 2024 season because of an injury, has reclaimed one of the starting jobs. Devyn King and Jaheim Wilson-Jones have rotated at the other spot. But the UH coaches expect several newcomers to contribute.

“With football, it’s a long season,” said Semaj “Jet” James, who transferred from Troy. “Somebody is eventually going to go down or something is going to happen. You’ve got to be ready when your name’s called.”

After entering the transfer portal last December, James’ accepted Brown’s invitation to reunite with the Warriors. James and Brown were starting corners at Butler Community College in 2022.

“I got on C-Bo about leaving (UH),” James said. “I told him, ‘it was supposed to be me and you out here.’ But it’s a blessing for anybody to get an opportunity to do something they want to do in their life. You can’t do anything but congratulate him. At the end of the day, we’re all all in it for the same things. We’re all trying to make ourselves better every day.”

After committing to UH, James trained near his home in Tallahassee, Fla., from January through his May 1 arrival in Hawaii. At 6 feet and 190 pounds, James brings aggressiveness and speed. Last year at Troy, he was timed at sub-4.4 seconds over 40 yards and 23 mph in the flying 10. He is capable of squat-lifting 475 pounds and bench-pressing 315 pounds. He also has easily adapted to Hawaii’s climate.

“In Hawaii, you’ve got a cool breeze, a constant breeze,” said James, who has lived in Florida and Alabama. “I remember one day, one of my (UH) teammates who’s from here came up to me, ‘man, it’s so hot out here.’ I just looked at him. ‘You think this is hot?’ I was like, ‘you don’t want to be in the South, especially places like Florida, ‘Bama, Georgia. It’s just straight dry heat there. You’re not getting any breeze.’”

Elijah Gipson, a 5-10, 165-pound transfer from Glendale College, has marked the Sept. 13 game against Portland State on his calendar. Gipson was a Viking his first two college seasons.

“They’re definitely my friends,” Gipson said of former PSU teammates, “but right now, they can’t be that. I’m building a new home with this family. We got pretty close here.”

Gipson said he is fulfilling his life-long goal of playing football. He became enamored with the sport while watching telecasts of the San Francisco 49ers.

“I fell in love with the sports from there,” he said. “My parents put it on the TV when I was a baby, and I just fell in love.”

Gipson also brings quickness to cornerback. He has been timed at 10.45 seconds over 100 meters. As an Oaks Christian School senior, he was ranked ninth in California in the 300-meter hurdles and 11th in the 100-meter dash.

Ben Drake, who joined UH in June after transferring from Sierra College, has picked up the schemes installed by defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman and cornerbacks coach PJ Minaya.

“My transition to Hawaii has been pretty good,” said Drake, who is 6-1 and 180 pounds. “I learned the playbook. I picked up the speed of FBS football coming from (junior college).”

There was no doubt Drake would be up to speed. After excelling as a sprinter, he began playing football only three years ago.

“When I first transitioned to football, my trainer back home (in Nashville) helped me become a corner,” Drake said. “It gets easier the more you do it.”

As a member of the Whites Creek High track team, Drake ran 200 meters in 21.8 seconds and 400 meters in 48.37 seconds. He also was timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Drake attended Reedley College as a freshman and then transferred to Sierra College last year.

At UH, the coaches and older teammates, according to Drake, “introduced me to a new level of football. To have them in my corner and teaching me the ins and outs of football, I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”