SEATTLE — His production may have masked it, but there were times when Hau’oli Jamora certainly felt like the true freshman that he was last season.
There were even times when he felt a bit like a rag doll.
“Guys would just, once we locked up … I was too light to hold my ground
sometimes,” the University of Washington’s defensive end, now a sophomore, said this week.
Rather than simply bank on natural maturity to take him to the next level, Jamora hit the weights, and the carbs, to bulk himself up from a 240-pound freshman to a chiseled, 255-pound sophomore. And he’s already noticed a difference on the practice field.
“I feel like I can hold my ground a lot better now,” the 6-foot-3 product of Laie, Hawaii, said Monday night. “I’m not getting thrown out of the stadium every play.”
One of the most promising true freshmen in a class filled with first-year contributors last fall, Jamora is taking aim at being an even bigger nuisance for opposing offenses this time around. He started the final seven games of the 2010 season and played in all 13, amassing 49 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and three sacks. He saved his best for last, with a sack and two other tackles-for-loss in the Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.
Yet when Jamora talks about his freshman season, he falls well short of satisfaction.
“It was a little bit of a boost of confidence,” he said of proving he could play at the Division I level. “Not too much, just a little bit.”
Defensive coordinator Nick Holt was impressed with Jamora’s smooth transition to college football last fall, but he’s been even more impressed with how the second-year player has rounded out his game in recent months.
“He’s becoming an all-around, great football player,” Holt said this week. “He just has great technique, great leverage, (and) he has fantastic natural strength. He’s a good football player.”
As a freshman, Jamora learned that his natural strength could only take him so far. So he put in extra time with strength coach Ivan Lewis during the offseason, adding muscle while improving both his bench press and squat numbers since the spring.
“The offseason was tough,” said Jamora, who is visibly bigger and has grown out his mop of black hair. “I worked really hard to put on weight. I got a little bit stronger and a little bit faster.”
Part of the process was a diet designed to add weight. While many college students are concerned about every precious pound that may distort their figures, Jamora may have been the envy of others in that he was basically required to ask for seconds at meal time.
“It’s actually a little bit harder than people think it is,” Jamora said with a smile. “But it’s not the worst chore. I enjoy it.”
The sophomore defensive lineman was still careful about his intake, cutting back on foods high in cholesterol while eating more of the healthy foods that were already a part of his diet. He relied on lean meat and carbohydrates like potatoes and rice to put on the extra weight.
“Anything I could get my hands on,” he said, “as long as it’s not bad for you.”
The extra time, both in the weight room and the cafeteria, seem to have served Jamora well. While he admits that he may not be quite as light on his feet as he was, he said the quickness is still there. And, more important, his body is ready for the rigors of Division I combat.
“He’s just maturing, growing,” Holt said of Jamora’s new frame. “Another year in the strength program. He’s 18, 19 years old instead of 17, 18; he’s a year older. And he’s having a fantastic fall camp.”
One thing Jamora is doing less these days is playing the stand-up elephant position _ a hybrid between defensive end and linebacker _ that he worked on in the spring. Jamora said it’s still a part of his repertoire but added that he’s more concerned with being a complete player.
“I want to be a better all around player and just help the defense,” he said. “If I’m not making plays, hopefully the guy right behind me comes up and makes them.”
Of note
The Huskies held their first simulated scrimmage of the fall on Tuesday, at which time several starters saw action on only a series or two. Among the backups who stood out were freshman defensive tackle Danny Shelton, junior college transfer Thomas Tutogi at middle linebacker and freshman wideout Kasen Williams. The defense held its own for most of the day, but a pass-interference call in the end zone opened the door for Jesse Callier’s 1-yard touchdown plunge off right tackle near the end of the session. … Among the participants in Tuesday’s scrimmage was defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu, who wore a club-like cast to protect his broken right hand. … Cornerback Quinton Richardson was still wearing a boot Tuesday but was no longer using crutches. He has a high ankle sprain and seems likely to miss the season opener, but head coach Steve Sarkisian did not have a set timetable for his return. … UW’s Thursday practice, which was originally scheduled for 3:15 p.m., has been moved to 4:30 p.m. It is open to the public.
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