Injuries on defense build
UH’s depth

A day after Hawaii starting defensive tackle Lui Fuga sprained his right knee during team drills, starting outside linebacker Paul Lutu-Carroll had the same happen to his.

Like Fuga on Saturday, Lutu-Carroll was able to walk off the field under his own power yesterday. It was not known last night how many practices the senior will miss.

"I've never had a knee problem before, so I don't know how to judge it," Lutu-Carroll said after day seven of UH's fall camp. "It feels a little loose. We're going to check on it."

The injury will likely mean more practice reps for freshman Khevin Peoples and senior Lincoln Manutai, among others.

"It looks like it's mild, like Lui's," UH coach June Jones said.

Fuga walked with barely a trace of a limp yesterday, but he won't be rushed back to practice.

"If we miss him the entire two or three weeks (before the Sept. 4 season-opener against Florida Atlantic), that's OK. We have to give him the NFL treatment," defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said. "We won't get angry at him, we'll let him take all the time he needs.

Converted offensive linemen Kahai LaCount and Larry Sauafea have filled the void. At this point, LaCount is good against the run, and Sauafea pass rushes well, Singletary said.

"(LaCount's) reactions are a little slow, but as far as assignments, he's executing them, and he's gotten a little vocal out there. We can put him in and he won't hurt us," Singletary said. "Larry's doing real well. Not quite that stout against the run, getting knocked around. But he's very coachable. We get together at night and look at tape and I've been showing him our old tackles. His eyes are getting big. I like him in pass situations, he's batted down two or three balls in team and he gets to the quarterback."

Said Jones: "Both those moves look like they'll help our team."

Other hurts: Slotback/kick returner Chad Owens' tender quad muscle was much better, and he practiced.

Nolan Miranda did the field-goal kicking, as Justin Ayat nursed a groin pull.

Strong safety Lamar Broadway returned to action after dealing with a hip-pointer.

Starting right guard Uriah Moenoa (knee), slotback Nate Ilaoa (shoulder) and receiver Andrew Pearman (hamstring) remained sidelined.

Rugby guy: Freshman Chris Cole never played running back before last week, but he had been tackled before -- and without the protection of a helmet and pads.

"I played rugby when I was little, so I have a little experience running the ball," said Cole, who was born in New Zealand and moved to California when he was 11.

Despite being 5-feet-9 and under 200 pounds, Cole was one of the best high school defensive linemen in the California Intersholastic Federation two years ago. UH originally planned to make Cole into a linebacker, but he was switched to running back before fall camp began.

Cole graduated from high school in 2002, but needed time to get up to speed academically before he could enroll at UH.

"I knew what I had to do and if I worked hard there'd be a great reward. I didn't get discouraged," he said.

It's unlikely Cole will play much in the UH backfield this fall, since seniors Michael Bass, Michael Brewster and West Keli'ikipi all started games last year. The depth chart also includes sophomores Kala Latuselu and Ryan Stickler, a converted quarterback.

"I know I've got a lot to learn and the veterans are helpful," he said. "Hopefully it will be a good position for me."

Cole might get on the field as a special teams player. He's on the punt return and kickoff crews.

"He's going to be a good special teams player. He can run and he's tough," Jones said.

Numerology: Former UH receiver Jeremiah Cockheran, the old No. 19, said to watch out for the new No. 19, freshman receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen.

Grice-Mullen went to Rialto High School in Southern California, the "next school over" from Fontana, which is Cockheran's alma mater.

He's happy to wear Cockheran's old number, but there's another reason he chose it.

"I didn't want an 80s number. I had 17 in high school and 19's the closest that was available," Grice-Mullen said.

Defensive back Landon Kafentzis is wearing No. 8, which was worn by his father, Mark Kafentzis, at UH more than 20 years ago. His uncles, Kyle, Kent, Kurt and Sean all also played for Hawaii, and his brother, linebacker Tyson, is a current Warriors teammate.

Short yardage: Acting UH president David McClain addressed the team before practice. "I thanked them for representing the university and the state, and reminded them about the other goal line, using (former UH defensive lineman) Houston Ala, who graduated (yesterday), as an example," McClain said. ... The Warriors move out of the dance studios they are camped out in to off-campus apartments and on-campus dorms today and tomorrow.