A running back from Nevada is joining the University of Hawai'i football team.

Josh Berry will be among more than 100 players who will report for tomorrow's start of training camp. Berry arrived in Honolulu yesterday afternoon.

"This worked out for me," said Berry, who also had been invited to participate in Washington's training camp.

Berry, who is 6 feet and 205 pounds, can run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds. As a Spanish Springs senior, he played linebacker and running back. He was named to the All-High Desert League second team.

Berry was told he could compete at running back with the Warriors. He also has the option to move to defensive back.

Berry was the student speaker at his high school graduation in May.

He also is an accomplished guitarist who has recorded a CD of his original songs. He performs live in Arizona.

NEWCOMERS JOIN BATTLE FOR SECONDARY JOBS

Training camp doesn't open until tomorrow, but the competition for starting jobs in the secondary has brewed all summer.

Six first-year Warriors will compete at cornerback, and Jacob Patek will battle for the top job at strong safety.

C.J. Hawthorne, a junior college transfer from Mississippi, enrolled at UH in January and participated in the 15 practices of spring training. He is listed No. 1 at right cornerback on the current depth chart.

But Chris "Pac-Man" Camacho, Gerard Lewis, Myron Newberry, Greg Salas and Keenan Jones are ready to challenge Hawthorne. Camacho has been in Hawai'i most of the summer. Lewis attended the first summer-school session. Newberry arrived Tuesday.

"I'm getting my groove back," said Newberry, who prefers to play on the right side. "I played there my whole life."

Newberry, who is 5 feet 9 and 176 pounds, said he once ran 40 yards in a hand-timed 4.3 seconds.

Lewis is making the most of his "second life." He was able to receive a release from the letter of intent he signed with Eastern New Mexico last December. "I feel really blessed to be able to play Division I football," he said.

Patek will make a push for playing time as a strong safety or nickelback.

Patek was a 2005 Preseason Junior College All-America linebacker at Blinn College in Texas. He turned down an offer from Kansas to sign with UH.

"I'm glad I ended up coming here," said Patek, who is 6 feet and 206 pounds.

He said he came to Hawai'i three weeks ago to train against UH's slotbacks. "It's great to be with the guys and run some one-on-ones with (slotbacks) Ryan (Grice-Mullins) and Davone (Bess), and get some input from them on how to be better."

NEW RULE WILL FORCE BESS TO SHED HIS SHADES

Bess said he is disappointed in a new rule banning the use of dark-tinted visors. The NCAA said the visors would make it difficult to check the eyes of a player suffering a possible concussion.

"It made me look really good, to be honest," Bess said, laughing. "It kind of helped with my vision, especially when we play at the stadium and the lights are really bright. It dims it. It's like putting shades on. It made things a lot more visible, especially the ball. From certain angles, you get certain glare. It knocked that out of the way."

UH coach June Jones said: "They've played for 100 years without them. I don't think it's a problem. It's more vanity. (A dark-tinted visor) looks good with our uniforms."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.