It took the Charleston Southern football team nearly 16 hours to travel from its South Carolina campus to the Honolulu International Airport Thursday.

No wonder the Buccaneers want to make up for lost time.

They practiced Thursday afternoon at Aloha Stadium, returned yesterday morning for another practice, and then spent the rest of the time sightseeing and preparing for tonight's non-conference game.

They aren't expected to slow down against 18th-ranked Hawai'i. The Buccaneers run a no-huddle, hurry-up offense designed to keep opposing defenses from making substitutions.

Here's a look:

CSU OFFENSE

POS.—PLAYER HT. WT. CL.

WR—27 Tim Jones 6-4 205 So.

WR-26 Dee Brown 5-11 180 So.

LT—66 Donald Fondren 6-3 305 Jr.

LG—64 Alex Bragg 6-5 280 Jr.

C—60 Rick Howell 6-2 306 Sr.

RG—70 Matt Holsington 6-4 290 Sr.

RT—69 Jordan Lancaster 6-4 295 So.

Hy—82 Clayton Coffman 6-2 241 So.

Hy—49 Ryan Ard 6-0 235 Jr.

WR—5 Markus Murry 5-10 185 Jr.

QB—Eli Byrd 6-1 200 So.

RB—3 Kenny Harper 5-9 210 Sr.

Outlook: One must be physically fit to perform the Jay Mills Workout, a three-hour exercise in animated play-calling. From the sideline, the CSU head coach signals the plays for the no-huddle spread offense. For Mills, the key is quickness; any delay would allow an opposing defense to adjust or substitute. "It's a waggle deal," offensive coordinator Chuck Kelly said of the signals. "Coach Mills works hard on Saturdays."

The no-huddle spread is rooted in the two-minute offense. "You're in the hurry-up mode," Kelly said. "You're trying to get to the ball. You don't huddle. You signal all of that in. It puts so much pressure on the defense."

The Buccaneers spread their offense with three or four receivers. The hybrid-back — Coffman or Ard — can align as a tight end, receiver or running back. If the strongside linebacker is in the game, the hybrid-back can run a pass route. Against nickel coverages, the hybrid-backs are available for handoffs. Coffman and Ard can each bench press 400 pounds.

Byrd, a first-year starter, is quick and has a strong arm. He also has a photographic memory, which is displayed in his portrait drawings. "I like to pay attention to detail," Byrd said.

Byrd also can rely on Collin Drafts, last year's starting quarterback who led the Buccaneers to a 9-2 record in 2006. Drafts is an undergraduate assistant coach.

"He helps me out, and gives me confidence," Byrd said.

Byrd will need that help. Two offensive linemen who started last year, Zach Mitchell and J.W. Myers, won't play because of injuries. Right tackle Lancaster, and receivers Jones and Murry are "questionable" for the game.

CSU DEFENSE

POS.—PLAYER HT. WT. CL.

DE—48 Stonewall Randolph 6-2 240 Sr.

NT—97 Justin Witzmann 5-11 280 Jr.

DE-4 Dennis Justiniani 6-2 240 Sr.

Spur—40 Josh Warrior 5-11 201 Jr.

LB—54 Jada Ross 5-10 230 Sr.

LB—52 Travis Jefferson 5-11 220 So.

Ban—9 Okeba Rollinson 5-11 201 Jr.

LCB—1 Philip Ashley 5-10 185 So.

FS—22 C.J. Hirschman 5-11 95 Sr.

RCB—20 David Misher 5-10 180 Sr.

Outlook: Defensive coordinator Darrell Perkins was a running back at Wyoming, but all of his coaching experience is on defense, which shows his ability to adapt. Realizing it is easier to recruit strong-safety types than defensive linemen, Perkins crafted this version of the stack defense — a 3-2 scheme in which perimeter defenders Warrior and Rollinson can be used as outside linebackers or safeties.

"Those guys can run, they can tackle and they can cover, as well," Perkins said.

Warrior and Rollinson are best at defending the flats. But if the Buccaneers have difficulty getting a push from the defensive line, one of the perimeter defenders might be summoned as a blitzer. "We might have to mix it up and get a fourth man rushing the passer," Perkins said.

The Buccaneers will be without two linebackers who were projected to start — Jonna Lee, who was second with 80 tackles last season, and Josh Mitchell, who was fourth in tackles. Both are out with injuries.

CSU SPECIALISTS

POS.—PLAYER HT. WT. CL.

K/P—13 Nick Ellis 5-9 188 Sr.

KO—83 John Paglia 6-2 175 Fr.

KR—25 Michael Jefferson 5-8 190 So.

PR—22 C.J. Hirschman 5-11 195 Sr.

Outlook: Jefferson, a backup running back, is expected to be busy. He leads the team with 104 rushing yards, and is averaging 24.2 yards on kick returns.

UH OFFENSE

POS.—PLAYER HT. WT. CL.

LWO—89 Malcolm Lane 6-1 181 So.

LWO—84 Jason Rivers 6-2 189 Sr.

LSB—7 Davone Bess 5-10 195 Jr.

LT—62 Keith AhSoon 6-1 315 Jr.

LG—65 Hercules Satele 6-2 293 Sr.

C—55 John Estes 6-2 292 So.

RG—73 Larry Sauafea 6-2 294 Sr.

RT—78 Keoni Steinhoff 6-3 282 Jr.

RSB—1 Ryan Grice-Mullins 5-11 180 Jr.

RWO—2 C.J. Hawthorne 5-11 168 Sr.

QB—15 Colt Brennan 6-3 201 Sr.

QB—6 Tyler Graunke 6-0 185 Jr.

RB—4 Leon Wright-Jackson 6-1 211 So.

RB—21 Kealoha Pilares 5-11 190 Fr.

RB—48 David Farmer 6-1 224 Jr.

Outlook: If Brennan can't go, Graunke is prepared to make his first start since the second game of the 2005 season.

"He's a very competitive kid," quarterback coach Dan Morrison said of Graunke. "He does know the system. He has a very quick arm, and good grasp of the offense. We're all looking, if he has the opportunity, to seeing how well he does."

All signs point to Lane starting in place of Rivers, who has not practiced this week because of tightness in his lower back.

It would be a significant lineup change. Not only does Rivers lead the team with 24 receptions, but he was a favorite target of Brennan (32 intended passes).

Lane has been itching for a chance, even agreeing to move from the right side, where he has played exclusively during his 17-game UH career. Of his three touches this season, two have resulted in touchdowns — a 94-yard kickoff return and an 81-yard catch-and-sprint. While Lane has been successful on inside screens from the right side, which allows him to scan the defense, he said the left side permits him to carry the ball with his right hand.

Hawthorne, who made the move from cornerback, is becoming a dependable possession receiver. He is the only starting UH receiver without a drop.

UH DEFENSE

POS.—PLAYER HT. WT. CL.

LE—54 Amani Purcell 6-4 277 Sr.

LE—94 David Veikune 6-3 252 Jr.

LT—96 Fale Laeli 6-1 292 Jr.

RT—67 Michael Lafaele 6-1 302 Sr.

RE—12 Karl Noa 6-4 251 Sr.

LLB—43 Brad Kalilimoku 5-10 221 Sr.

MLB—17 Solomon Elimimian 6-0 218 Jr.

RLB—44 Adam Leonard 6-0 236 Jr.

LCB—23 Gerard Lewis 5-9 175 Sr.

LS—35 Keao Monteilh 5-11 193 Jr.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.