If the season began today, the Hawaii coaches would not know who to start at right tackle. Santos, Kajioka
in close raceBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comRyan Santos came into spring practice in the lead, but Shayne Kajioka has turned it into a very close competition that probably won't be over when camp closes after Sunday's scrimmage.
Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh and head coach June Jones said either player could be No. 1 by the time UH opens its season against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 31. Uriah Moenoa -- who started every game at the position last fall but is experimenting at center this spring -- could end up there, too.
Santos is a little disappointed in some of his own efforts, but he hasn't given up on himself.
"I came in here supposed to be starting. I had a couple of rough practices," said Santos, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound sophomore from Mililani High School. "Kaj is stepping it up pretty nicely. That just means I've got to pull it up more. I personally think I had my best practice of the spring (yesterday). I just need to come back (today) and Friday and finish it up good, do the same thing I did today. I'll be ready Sunday.
"Me and Kaj are going at it. It helps me to tell myself I have to push myself hard. I'm going to give it my all."
Kajioka, a 6-3, 323-pound senior from St. Louis School, has lost 50 pounds and managed to keep it off for several months. He's also learning to play tackle after spending most of his career as a backup guard.
"I just want to find a place where I can start. Ryan's a good competitor. Whoever's best at the end will be the guy," Kajioka said. "At guard, everything happens a lot quicker. It happens within a second. At tackle I have to learn to be a little more patient. It's a deeper angle and you're by yourself out there. If you screw up, hey, that's going to be a sack."
Good hands: Shiatsu therapist Rodney Sunada has now helped three Warriors in injury rehab efforts: quarterback Tim Chang, cornerback Josiah Cravalho and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
Chang said he finds out next week if his right wrist is in good enough shape for him to start throwing again.
"It will probably be the first week of May, at the earliest," he said.
Chang underwent surgery in early January after falling on his wrist during a game last year.
Short yardage: Senior linebacker Chris Brown was one of 64 players named to the Nagurski Award watch list. The award goes to the best defensive player in the nation. ... Junior slotback Gerald Welch sat out yesterday after spraining his right knee making a cut during practice Monday. "I hope to be back for Sunday, but it's up to the trainers," he said.