UH’s Alejado, MWC’s top preseason offensive player, says he still has to ‘prove it’

LAS VEGAS >> On the streets of Las Vegas, the mercury was at a feverish 108 degrees.

Inside the Palms Casino Resort, where the Mountain West was host to its football Media Days, University of Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado reacted coolly to being named the league’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

“It’s cool, it’s amazing, it’s a blessing,” said Alejado, a third-year sophomore.

“That’s the thing about preseason awards. Nothing’s proven yet. You have to get out and prove it.”

Alejado, slotback Pofele Ashlock, linebacker Jamih Otis and nickelback Elijah Palmer were the Rainbow Warriors named to the preseason list.

Despite playing on an injured right ankle last season, Alejado led the Mountain West with 24 touchdown passes, setting program and conference records for a freshman. In amassing 3,106 passing yards, Alejado was the only FBS quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards in four consecutive games in 2025.

“Last year’s last year,” Alejado said. “As happy and excited people are for me, the truth is, I have to prove myself. That’s what I’m focused on.”

Alejado said he has fully recovered from fractures in his right ankle suffered in the opener against Stanford and aggravated in the second game against Arizona.

“I don’t think if it were my left (ankle), I would have played,” left-handed Alejado said of his push-off foot.

New Mexico linebacker Jaxton Eck was named the Defensive Player of the Year. North Dakota State returner Jackson Williams was selected as the top specialist.

North Dakota State, UTEP and Northern Illinois joined the Mountain West on July 1.

LB Otis ready to be the man after recovery

It was what Otis described as a “freak accident” against UNLV on No. 21, 2025.

“I was tackling somebody, and placed my foot wrong on the turf,” Otis recalled. “We were both fighting for ground, and my knee kind of gave out. I thought I tweaked my knee. I was still playing on it. It got worse.”

Thirteen days later, Otis underwent surgery to repair the injured left ankle. Three days later, he began his rehabilitation program.

With his father’s help, Otis kept his left leg elevated during free time. He regularly attended E-stim physical therapy sessions. Although he could not play in the Hawaii Bowl, he offered tips and encouragement from the sideline.

“I was so excited we made it to a bowl game,” Otis said. “I didn’t participate but that was something we all contributed to as a team. Once I got hurt, all those emotions came out and fell on top of me. It was understanding God had a plan. I realized I had to be there for my brothers.”

Three months after the surgery, he began jogging. A month after that, he was able to run. Now he has been cleared to participate in summer workouts.

“God’s been working, too,” Otis said. “I think he did extra magic on my knee.”

After serving as the middle linebacker the past two years, Otis is moving to the will position. Wynden Ho‘ohuli will move from outside to the middle.

“I feel I was born to be a (middle linebacker),” Otis said. “But the will utilizes my athletic ability and allows me to play in space.”

Otis has mixed emotions about conference realignment.

“It sucks a little bit,” he said, referencing the loss of Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State to the Pac-12. “You want to go against that type of competition. But the mission doesn’t change. Our goal is the same. We want to win the Mountain West title. We’re just running that race. We knew what it took to get to 9-4 (last year). It was hard. We had to go through two losing seasons. There’s so much work and time we need to put in.”

RB Barfield ready to carry the load

Last year, Cam Barfield and Landon Sims were complementary running backs for the Warriors. At 5-7 and 185 pounds, Barfield was viewed as the jump-cutting speed back. Sims, at 6-2 and 220 pounds, was the power back. But Sims was deceptively fast and Barfield surprisingly strong. With Sims completing his UH career, the platoon will now be a one-back assignment.

“The coaches are expecting a lot from me now,” Barfield said. “I’m expecting a lot from me. I want them to be hard on me. I want to meet those expectations. The coaches put so much trust in me to make the sky my limit. And yeah, I want to touch the sky, and I want to do everything.”

In addition to rushing, Barfield said he will be used as a receiver out of the backfield and as a pass-blocker. Barfield can bench press 350 pounds, squat lift 465, and run just under 22 mph. He also is committed to keeping pass rushers off Alejado.

“I love this dude next to me,” said Barfield, pointing to Alejado, “and I’m going to protect him at all costs.”

As a pass blocker last year, Barfield did not allow a sack in 58 plays.