Safety Alexander
learning fast

The Hawaii true freshman is
making a good impression
so far at the Warriors' fall camp

Kirk Alexander certainly passes the eyeball test. At 6-feet-2 and 200 pounds, he looks like he's ready to play safety for a Division I college football team.

This week, the Hawaii true freshman gets to see how he fits in with the Warriors' first-team defense.

So far, so good. Alexander was far from lost yesterday.

"He's really good, especially for a freshman," junior cornerback Kenny Patton said. "He knows all the calls. He just needs to keep getting reps so he can progress."

UH looks set with starting safeties Leonard Peters and Lono Manners. But both are seniors, and Alexander could see playing time this fall on defense, partly to gain experience for the future.

"He's a good-looking kid. We're going to give him some reps the next four or five days," coach June Jones said. "I would say right now he looks like he would redshirt. But he's among some freshmen we might not redshirt, especially if he grows up fast in the next few days."

Alexander was a receiver and safety in high school. His uncle, Kermit Alexander, played 11 seasons in the NFL as a cornerback and safety. Kermit's career ended before Kirk was born.

"But I've seen tapes of him," Kirk said. "He really inspires me."

Alexander said he is surprised to be getting first-team reps so soon, but that he prepared for the possibility.

"It's really nice they've got me in the rotation and I get to learn the position, especially since Leonard is one of the team's best players. He's really good about teaching me," Alexander said. "I conditioned all summer just in case I'm in this kind of situation I'll be ready."

Alexander said his biggest area of needed improvement is "footwork."

"I'm not as quick as I should be," he said.

Several linebackers might also get to play as true freshmen.

Solomon Elimimian, Adam Leonard, Brashton Satele and R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane "look like the real deal and have a chance not to redshirt," Jones said.

They have all been mixed into various defensive team drills.

On offense, Michael Washington may see first-year action at wide receiver and kick returner.

Quick return: Defensive ends Melila Purcell (strained groin) and Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan (cut lip) returned to practice after sitting out Saturday. While they were out, Ikaika Alama-Francis and Karl Noa made the most of the extra reps. They were praised by both defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville and Jones.

"They've been working really hard," Jones said. "Ikaika and Karl Noa really turned it up. They've really, really shown up. A lot."

Hurtin': Starting slotback candidate Jason Ferguson abbreviated his workout yesterday morning when he aggravated an old back injury while making a play. He said it is mostly precautionary, and he returned for the afternoon walk-through.

"I felt a little pop, but I'm pretty sure it's nothing major," he said.

Slotback has been hit hard by injuries, as Ryan Grice-Mullen is in and out with a shoulder sprain and no one knows when and if Nate Ilaoa will come back from a hamstring strain.

Also yesterday, freshman offensive lineman Raphael Ieru sprained his right knee on the last play of the offensive scouts vs. defense full-speed running plays drill. The official report was day-to-day, but it didn't look promising as Ieru remained on the ground for 15 minutes and had to be taken off the field in a cart.

Piggin' out: The annual Pigskin Pigout fund-raiser is Aug. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 at Murphy's Bar & Grill on Merchant Street.

Tickets for the fully-hosted event are $100 each.

As usual, sports memorabilia items will be up for bid as well as other items, including trips and golf packages. UH coaches will be on hand to meet and greet.

Tickets are available by calling Murphy's at 531-0422, or Don Murphy directly at 754-1502.

Murphy's Bar & Grill is closed for business because of renovations until Monday.

Short yardage: The running back experiment for Laupepa Letuli didn't last long. The 6-foot-4, 276-pound freshman will return to the offensive line when his shoulder sprain heals. ... Walk-on freshman quarterback Anthony Gardner has left camp. It is expected he will transfer. ... Saturday's practice at Aloha Stadium is not open to the public. ... The biggest hit yesterday -- and one of the biggest of camp so far -- occurred when receiver Mikhael Kafentzis collided with his cousin, linebacker Tyson Kafentzis. ... KHNL-KFVE will broadcast the Hawaii at Nevada game Nov. 5 in conjunction with SportsWest, which has a contract with the Western Athletic Conference. "It will not be a pay-per-view game," KHNL-KFVE general manager John Fink said.