The University of Hawai‘i football team returned to the practice field Monday for the final week of fall camp, with junior center Ethan Spencer taking command in the trenches.
The Saint Louis School graduate and Kailua native is expected to anchor the Rainbow Warriors’ offensive line in 2025 after gaining valuable experience last season, appearing in 11 games with four starts.
“It’s a big responsibility,” Spencer said. “Snapping the ball might seem simple, but it’s one of the most important things. Without a clean snap, the play doesn’t go, we get penalties, we get pushed back. For me, as a center, the snap is number one.”
Spencer, listed at 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds, has also drawn strength and motivation from family. In May 2024, he welcomed the birth of his daughter, a moment that he says shifted his mindset both on and off the field.
“That was a really big mindset shift for me,” Spencer said. “I had to ask myself, ‘What am I playing for?’ My whole goal is when we play, she’s up in the stands, and after the game she runs up to me. Moments like that are what I look forward to.”
With just over two weeks remaining until the season opener against Stanford on Aug. 23 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Spencer is focused on setting the tone for the offense and leading by example.
“Right now, I’m just trying to be the best I can for this team,” he said.
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