WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Warriors welcome Cox back for spring
Mario Cox has been reinstated to the Hawaii football team, coach Greg McMackin said yesterday.
"Yes, he's going to come out for spring ball," McMackin said. "He'll be competing with everybody else at running back. He's competing for a position (on the team)."
Cox was suspended for the 2006 season for not meeting team academic expectations, and then was dismissed from the team last season by former head coach June Jones.
Cox played as a true freshman in 2005 and sparingly in 2007.
He played in five games last fall, rushing four times for nine yards. He caught two passes for 15 yards.
In 2005, Cox was in eight games, carrying 16 times for 71 yards. He also caught five passes for 48 yards.
Cox was listed at 5-feet-11 and 250 pounds headed into last season.
Cox will be a junior. He rejoins a long list of contenders for playing time in the one-running back offense, including the top four from last year: sophomore Kealoha Pilares, junior Leon Wright-Jackson, and seniors Daniel Libre and David Farmer. Junior college transfer Jake Heun will also be in the mix.
Pilares and Libre will likely experiment at slotback in spring practice.
Short yardage
UH's Pro Day, where pro scouts time and measure Warriors of recent vintage, will be April 1 at the Home Depot facility in Carson, Calif. ... Former UH safety Leonard Peters, now with the Chicago Bears, will be among the instructors a the Hawaii Speed & Quickness clinics this weekend on campus. The sessions are 8:30 to 10 both mornings with registration at 8. Call 739-5444 for more information.