Inferrera runs
with rare chanceThe UH wide receiver steps in
for Cockheran and moves a step
closer to playing in opener
Last week Hawaii football true freshman Jeremy Inferrera ran with the first team when left tackle Samson Satele missed practice due to a strained shoulder and the flu.
Yesterday, Satele returned to the fray (see Notebook), and it was Inferrera's big brother's turn to replace an injured starter.
Wide receiver Daniel Inferrera filled in for the injured Jeremiah Cockheran, and he filled his arms with footballs all morning at the Warriors' grass practice field.
Inferrera's summer workouts and early fall camp effectiveness were limited by a strained right hip. The former state sprint champ from Saint Louis School hurt his hip when he ran in the Hawaii's Fastest Human race.
He finally practiced Friday, but yesterday was the first time he looked like he might be able to play when UH opens against Appalachian State a week from Saturday.
With talented true freshman Jason Rivers nursing a sore hamstring and Britton Komine separating from him at left wideout, the Warriors' starting receiver group seems fairly set, with Komine, Cockheran, Nate Ilaoa and Chad Owens.
But that doesn't mean Inferrera can't earn a few plays ... or even more if Cockheran doesn't return to practice soon.
"You never know," coach June Jones said. "He's got a long way to go, but he's improved a lot from last year. He just needs to take advantage of when he gets days like today when he gets reps."
Cockheran, the starter at the right, or Z, receiver spot, hurt an ankle when he stumbled on a stairway yesterday. He is expected back by the end of the week.
While he's out, Inferrera hopes to earn some playing time.
"Right now, Jeremiah's hurt so I just filled in for him today," said Inferrera, a 6-foot, 195-pound second-year freshman. "I just wanted to show the coaches today I could play."
He felt he needed to atone for some mistakes in Saturday's scrimmage. While Inferrera caught three passes for 25 yards, he also made some mental errors.
"I messed up on a couple of plays, and Coach Jones got on my butt about it," he said. "But as of now things seem all right. Coach Lee (receivers coach Ron) says I'll probably get in the game. I guess they want me for the up-routes."
Inferrera has the strength to separate at the line of scrimmage and the speed to get open deep. And Lee said Inferrera -- a chatterbox at times -- is starting to show the discipline to keep his mouth shut when it should be.
"He hasn't been talking so much lately, which is good. I like that. He's trying to concentrate and be better," Lee said. "His brother's real mature as a (college) freshman. And I think Daniel's working harder at it, and I think he'll get better. I feel a lot better about him today than I did after Saturday's practice. I want him to keep getting better.
"He's not consistent yet. His hip hurts, his back hurts, his thigh hurts. He's a little tired. But that's when you really want to show you understand what you're doing," Lee added. "I'm not totally happy yet. But he's getting better and he's getting reps. He caught the ball, he ran hard, and he worked hard. That's the important thing."
