SB FILE / AUGUST 2003 Former UH safety Hyrum Peters, a two-time first-team all-WAC recipient, will become a Warriors graduate assistant.

Former safety returning to UH

Hyrum Peters will become a graduate assistant in January

Former Hawaii standout safety Hyrum Peters rejoins the Warriors as a graduate assistant next month.

Peters walked on at UH in 2000. He walked off after the 2003 season with two first-team all-Western Athletic Conference designations and a degree in sociology.

"Hyrum was one of our better kids," UH coach June Jones said of Peters, who was co-captain of the 2003 team that went 9-5. "He wants to get into coaching, and I think he can be a good one. I like to have our former players as GAs."

Peters replaces Keith Bhonapha, another former Warriors defensive back.

"I'm very excited," said Peters, who will enroll in UH's postgraduate social work program. "The best thing about it is I can get back into school."

Peters played for Edmonton of the CFL in 2004 where he was teammates with another former UH safety, Rob Grant. This past season, Peters helped as a volunteer assistant coach at state champion Kahuku High School, his alma mater. He also works as a dancer at the Magic of Polynesia show.

"I'm looking forward to teaching what I learned from (defensive backs) Coach (Rich) Miano, Coach Jones and the others, technique-wise, little things. That's the most important part. Those are the ones you have to get better at. Everything else falls into place because everyone has talent."

Most of Peters' teammates are no longer at UH.

"There's Leonard (Peters), maybe, and Tala (Esera)," Peters said.

Leonard Peters could get another season of eligibility if the NCAA approves his injury appeal. Esera, a senior next season, has started at left tackle for three seasons.

Jones said he expects Jeff Reinebold will continue as the other graduate assistant. Reinebold is a former longtime college and CFL coach, including at Winnipeg, where he was head coach. Reinebold assisted with the defensive ends and special teams in the just completed season.

Graduate assistants receive little more than tuition waivers as compensation.

"I'm hoping he'll stay, but he has to feed his family," Jones said. "He might have to find another job here."

Receiver ready to commit: CJ Hawthorne, a receiver from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, said yesterday he would contact Jones today to orally commit to UH.

Hawthorne visited Hawaii two weeks ago. He is expected to be eligible to enroll next semester and participate in spring practice.

Meanwhile, former Campbell High defensive end David Veikune said he will enroll at UH in the fall with a football scholarship. Veikune expects to complete work on an associate's degree at Fresno City College in the spring. He transferred from Colorado last year.

"I left Colorado because I missed home and went to junior college so I wouldn't have to sit out," the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Veikune said. "So I better get my AA so I don't have to stay here. It's going to be exciting playing in front of family and friends again and getting to eat some good food."

More honors for frosh slots: College Football News named its Freshman All-America teams, and they included UH slotbacks Davone Bess (second team) and Ryan Grice-Mullen (third).

Oregon offensive tackle Max Unger (Hawaii Prep) and Oregon State guard Jeremy Perry (Kahuku) made the first team.