The University of Hawai'i football team yesterday ended spring training with a spirited 43-play scrimmage that served as a final audition for several backup players.

Now comes the hard part.

"What the (players) do from now until training camp (in August) will determine how good we will be," UH coach June Jones said. "The offseason, to me, is the most important time."

Jones and his staff will spend the next few weeks evaluating the 15 days of spring training. By the end of May, Jones will cut at least 30 players to make room for 35 to 40 newcomers.

NCAA rules limit Division I-A teams to 105 players for training camp. The roster may expand on the first day of the fall semester. Because UH has 115 football lockers, only a handful of the players cut next month will be asked back, Jones said.

That leaves non-scholarship players like safety Louis "Lou- Dog" Santos, who had not played football since Pop Warner before joining the Warriors this spring, wondering if the dream will end.

"I have to wait, and pray to God, and hopefully I'll get another chance," Santos said. "I'll be back on Monday, working in the weight room with the other guys."

Yesterday, the members of the sportshawaii.com Web site presented Santos with an award as the most inspirational player of spring practice. Ken Taylor, father of UH slotback Rick Taylor, held up a sign praising Santos.

Meanwhile, Jones said he is confident running back Nate Ilaoa, safety Leonard Peters and wideout Ian Sample will receive medical hardships that will allow them to play as sixth-year seniors in the fall.

Here's a spring-exit report:

QUARTERBACK

Colt Brennan, who led the nation in passing as a first-year Warrior last season, and Tyler Graunke have locked up the top two spots. Graunke did not practice yesterday because of a pulled hamstring.

Inoke Funaki solidified the No. 3 job, completing 12 of 21 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown during yesterday's controlled scrimmage.

"I'm exhausted," he said. "I didn't know I was going to get that much work."

Funaki displayed his arm strength, connecting with slotback Michael Washington on a 75-yard scoring play. He also scrambled three times for 17 yards, but was sacked three times.

"I don't want to scramble," Funaki said. "It's a bad habit. I'm used to running from back in the day. I want to get the reads down, and throw to the receivers."

Funaki vowed to work out each weekday on campus this summer. Funaki, Peters and left tackle Tala Esera carpool from the North Shore.

"We save money on gas, especially with the prices going up," Funaki said.

RUNNING BACK

Ilaoa and 298-pound Reagan Mauia, who has successfully converted from nose tackle, will receive most of the work. Mauia, who has lost more than 60 pounds since December, said he hopes to lose another 30 before training camp. In the unlikely event Ilaoa's appeal is denied, Mauia can develop into an every-down back, Jones said.

Jazen Anderson, the younger brother of former All-Pro running back Jamal Anderson, was impressive with yesterday's longest rush, covering 32 yards.

"That play was '33 belly,' " Anderson said. "That means, 'go straight forward.' "

Anderson, who was bothered by hip and shoulder problems this spring, will train with his brother in Atlanta this summer.

SLOTBACK

Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins each amassed more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2005 to secure starting jobs. Grice-Mullins missed the final week of spring training because of a pulled left hamstring. It might be another five weeks before he can resume running.

Washington, a converted wideout, has emerged as the top backup. Washington, who claims to run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds — he was not timed in last month's team testing — is UH's fastest slotback. He proved that when he sprinted past the secondary to catch a pass from Funaki that traveled 55 yards in the air.

"He's so fast, all you have to do is get it out there," Funaki said.

Washington, who trains on the Cooke Field track during his spare time, said: "I've got to use my speed. It's everything to me."

WIDEOUT

Jones said Sample, Chad Mock and Jason Rivers, who has recovered from an ankle injury and academic issues, are deserving of starting jobs. The thing is, they all play left wideout. "We'll probably move one of them over" to right wideout, Jones said. Mock is the most likely candidate.

Ross Dickerson, who caught 51 passes last year, will enter the fall as the No. 1 right wideout despite missing most of spring training while recovering from ankle surgery. Kenny Patton, who moved from cornerback, will stay at wideout. He sat out the past week because of an injured right quadriceps.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Warriors are set at both tackles (Tala Esera on the left, Dane Uperesa on the right) and in the middle (center Samson Satele). Although Satele, who moved from left guard, missed most of spring training while finishing class assignments, "No question, he's our center," Jones said. "He's a leader, and he's pretty dang good."

Based on experience, Hercules Satele and Keith Ah Soon are the leading candidates to fill the two vacancies at guard. But Jones said freshmen John Estes, Aaron Kia (recovering from a broken foot) and Laupepa Leituli remain in contention. "We can go in a lot of directions," Jones said. "I'll wait for the fall to decide."

DEFENSIVE LINE

The projected starters — left end Melila Purcell III, nose tackle Michael Lafaele and Ikaika Alama-Francis — were used on a limited basis in the spring. Converted nose tackles Keala Watson, Fale Laeli and Rocky Savaiigaea have made the successful transition to defensive end. Lawrence Wilson, who can bench press a team-high 505 pounds, "had a really good spring," Jones said. "We're pretty solid on the line."

LINEBACKER

Solomon Elimimian, who had 83 tackles as a freshman last season, and Adam Leonard, fully recovered from knee surgery in high school, "are going to be tough to beat out" at the two inside positions.

Jones said inside linebacker Brashton Satele, who redshirted last season, "needs to get on the field because he's a great kid and a great athlete."

Satele made the loudest hit of the scrimmage when he knocked down quarterback Will Brogan.

"You know you're doing the job when you can hear the hit," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "Today, I only heard (number) 13 (Satele)."

While outside linebackers Tyson Kanfentzis and John Fonoti have worked with the first-team defense all spring, they haven't been awarded starting jobs.

Blaze Soares, a three-time All-State linebacker, is set to join the Warriors in August. He focused on academics this past year.

SECONDARY

Peters, a free safety who was injured in the 2005 season opener, and strong safety Brad Kalilimoku, who moved from inside linebacker, have secured starting jobs.

The competition remains open at cornerback. A.J. Martinez has played well this spring, and C.J. Hawthorne, a junior college transfer who was a wideout for the first eight practices of spring training, will likely stay at cornerback.

"I feel I can play both ways, but my mind is more on defense right now," Hawthorne said.

UH recruited eight players who could compete at cornerback.

Two cornerbacks from the 2005 recruiting class — Ulysses Dalton and KayBrin Stevenson — are expected to enroll in junior colleges this fall.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.