DAVONE BESS
position · “H” receiver
key stat · caught passes for more than 100 yards in six games last season

1 Ryan Grice-Mullins	84 Jason Rivers	2 C.J. Hawthorne

COMPARISONS

The current group of UH pass catchers is considered by many the program’s best. But at least four past standouts - wideouts Ashley Lelie and Walter Murray, and slots Chad Owens and Jeff Sydner - would be hard to keep out of this starting lineup. Lelie became Hawaii’s first first-round draft pick after his junior year, Murray caught passes in 40 consecutive games, Owens holds the school record with five TD receptions in one game and Sydner still holds the single-season all-purpose-yardage record.

POSITIVES

This might be the best overall receiver corps in the nation. Jason Rivers, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins have four 1,000-yard receiving seasons among them. They all possess outstanding quickness, good hands, the ability to make great reads and a thorough understanding of the runand-shoot offense. They turn short passes into long gains with quick acceleration after the catch. Plus they are physical and tough, particularly Rivers. He would rather run through a safety or linebacker than around one. Bess might be the best all-around athlete to play at UH in the June Jones era. Catching passes is his forte, but he would be first pick in a punt, pass and kick contest. Jones regrets playing C.J. Hawthorne at cornerback last year instead of receiver. He is the fastest of the four starters and has worked hard in the spring and summer to get up to speed on the pass routes and in tune with the quarterbacks.

NEGATIVES

With the matriculation of Ian Sample, Ross Dickerson and Chad Mock, the Warriors lost a lot of depth. But there’s another wave of pass catchers on the way up, including slots Mike Washington and Aaron Bain, who know the offense well, and speedy wideout Malcolm Lane, who is learning it. UH might be able to afford one injury to the starters, but not two. Bess has great hands, but his drops come in streaks.

RON LEE / RECEIVERS COACH

“We’re an experienced corps with all the returnees we have. Right now we’re working on the second unit. Thus far, Aaron Bain, Malcolm Lane and C.J. Hawthorne are doing an excellent job. Greg Salas is looking good. They’re getting better but we got a lot of experience with Davone, Ryan and Rivers so we’re going to be OK. We are working hard on not being complacent.”