Kalilimoku works out at inside LB

Brad Kalilimoku is back home again at inside linebacker, but it might not be for long -- especially if Solomon Elimimian's sprained knee is strong enough for him to play Saturday against UNLV at Aloha Stadium.

Kalilimoku had 71 tackles as an inside linebacker next to Elimimian last season. He was happy to be back with the players he broke in with two years ago.

"I came in with Rustin (Saole) and Timo (Paepule). It's like I'm back home and I get to play with my boys again," Kalilimoku said. "Hopefully, I get to whack someone and make plays (Saturday). I'm kind of excited to be back in the middle and playing with the big guys."

If Kalilimoku stays inside, he'll be lined up next to Adam Leonard, who had a game-high 11 tackles in the Sept. 2 loss at Alabama.

"It's sad in a sense that I worked out so much with Sol in the summer and we're close friends," Leonard said. "But when people do go down someone's got to step in, and Brad, he's a heckuva player. He makes big plays, so I'm excited about that. I can't wait to get Sol back in there because we have a bond, but me and Brad can build that. We're good friends also."

Kalilimoku was moved to strong safety last spring, but junior college transfer Jake Patek won the job in preseason, partly because of Kalilimoku's nagging hamstring pull.

Now he's the defense's utility man, a job he looks at with mixed emotions since he could end up at any one of five positions for any given practice or game. He practiced at outside linebacker one day last week.

"You never know. I've got to always study a different position and stuff. When you study a different position you have to have a different mind-set. Now I'm a linebacker, now I'm a safety," he said. "I want a home. But I'll go wherever the team needs me."

Elimimian was expected to test his knee today.

"He's going to try to do some figure eights and stuff (today)," UH coach June Jones said after yesterday's practice. "He can run straight ahead but side-to-side is a little scary right now."

Elimimian did not practice yesterday. Neither did starting free safety Leonard Peters, who suffered broken rib cartilage at Alabama. Dane Porlas took the first-team reps yesterday, but Peters vows to play Saturday.

"I might as well, I can't get a seventh year from the NCAA," said Peters, who was granted a sixth year after missing all of last season except for the season opener because of a knee injury.

Jones said Porlas is capable of filling in.

"He had some playing time last year and knows what we're doing," the coach said. "He just has to make sure he takes the right angles and stuff on throws. But he knows his assignments."

Rotating corners:

Yesterday was Ryan Keomaka Day. It was also Keenan Jones Day. They were the No. 1 cornerbacks, but June Jones said A.J. Martinez and C.J. Hawthorne are still the starters for now.

"We're trying to get Keenan as many reps as possible. He's improved every day. He keeps getting better and better and maybe by midseason he'll be in stride," June Jones said.

Keomaka had an up-and-down day at left corner.

"We rotated him in there. He's certainly one of the guys we're going to look at. We're just rotating guys in," Jones said.

Short yardage:

Outside linebacker Amani Purcell missed yesterday's practice due to an off-field commitment. He was expected back today. ... Another outside linebacker, Jared Lene, was on crutches yesterday after severely spraining an ankle in Friday's "Scout Bowl." Lene, a freshman, is expected to redshirt this season.