Keli‘ikipi to sit out
UH spring practice
Hawaii senior running back West Keli'ikipi will miss spring football practice. He underwent follow-up surgery on his left knee on Feb. 5 that requires three months of rest and rehabilitation, Keli'ikipi said yesterday.
"I'm off my feet for two months, then a month of rehab," Keli'ikipi said. "Coach (June) Jones wants me to get healthy and be ready in August."
Spring practice is from April 6 to May 1. Jones said he doesn't want Keli'ikipi to take any chances.
"I told him I don't want him doing anything this spring," Jones said. "With a knee injury, you never know how the player will come back. But he has a lot of time to recover."
Keli'ikipi originally injured the knee in a loss at Nevada on Nov. 15. He missed the Warriors' last four games after arthroscopic surgery the following week to repair a torn meniscus.
At first, Keli'ikipi recovered quickly and coaches and trainers said he might be able to play in the Dec. 25 Hawaii Bowl, or even the Dec. 6 regular-season finale against Boise State. But when he returned to practice, Keli'ikipi experienced swelling and pain in the knee.
"They took another MRI (magnetic resonance imaging test). They missed something the first time," Keli'ikipi said. "There was loose bone and swelling. This surgery was more drastic. They had to graft a piece of bone this time. It wasn't just the meniscus."
Keli'ikipi said he's working out as much as he can without being able to run.
"The knee feels much better. I'm taking a lot of vitamins. I've actually dropped weight," said Keli'ikipi, who said yesterday he weighs 257 pounds. "Some of the offensive linemen ask me if I'm getting fatter, but I'm still working out. I still have my upper half, so I'm lifting and working on my stomach.
"I'm still in school this semester," Keli'ikipi added. "But I'm doing most of my work at home."
Keli'ikipi was listed at 6-foot-1 and 266 pounds last season. He provided a bruising physical presence in the Warriors' otherwise-finesse run-and-shoot offense.
The former Waianae standout started at running back in six of the 10 games he played in and quickly became a fan favorite. He rushed for a team-high six touchdowns on 37 carries for 247 yards while sharing time with three other players in a one-back offense. He also caught 20 passes for 154 yards and a score.
Last season was the first for Keli'ikipi with the Warriors after sitting out of football for three years. He is expected to compete with fellow seniors Michael Bass and Michael Brewster for the starting running back position this fall. Incoming freshman RB Andrew Pearman will likely move to wide receiver for his first season at UH.
