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RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Brad Kalilimoku, Hawaii's leading tackler through two games, brought down USC's LenDale White in the third quarter of UH's season opener.

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Stepping
into the light

Linebacker Brad Kalilimoku
emerges from his brother’s shadow
to become a force for Hawaii

Brad Kalilimoku didn't skip any steps on his way to earning a starting job with the Hawaii football team. He just scaled them faster than even he expected.

Kalilimoku ascended from a non-scholarship member of the scout team to a special teams standout to a starting linebacker all in his freshman year.

Now he's the Warriors' leading tackler two games into his sophomore season.

"When I look back I'm surprised with the things I've accomplished," Kalilimoku said as the Warriors prepared for this week's Western Athletic Conference opener at Idaho.

"I'm still surprised with everything I get. It's a blessing."

Kalilimoku succeeded his brother, Chad, as a member of UH's linebacker unit last season and swiftly worked his way up the depth chart, eventually starting five games at outside linebacker and earning a scholarship.

He was moved to inside linebacker this year, and with a year of Division I experience behind him, he's established himself as one of the Warriors' top defenders this season.

Kalilimoku was credited with four tackles, two for losses, against USC on Sept. 3, and posted nine stops at Michigan State a week later.

"He runs and he makes plays and he's not making as many mental errors as he made last year," UH head coach June Jones said. "He's a year older, and a year always makes a difference."

Kalilimoku left the Michigan State game in the second half with a strained hamstring and sat out last week's practices to rest the leg. He said he'll be ready for Saturday's game at Idaho. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Hawaii time at the Kibbie Dome.

Kalilimoku recorded 29 tackles as a freshman and had one of his most productive games in UH's 52-21 win against the Vandals last November when he finished with seven tackles and forced a key fumble.

The UH coaches didn't expect much from Kalilimoku when he arrived on campus last year. Not only was he an undersized freshman linebacker, but he had spent a year away from the game while attending Hawaii Pacific University to earn credits he needed to enroll at UH.

But the Roosevelt High graduate's efforts on the scout team led to a shot with the kick coverage units, where his speed and hitting ability caught the attention of Jones and his staff.

"What Brad was doing on special teams you couldn't hide," UH linebackers coach Cal Lee said. "When someone runs down on kickoffs and makes jarring hits, people recognize that, and they said, 'By golly, who is that?' We said it was Brad and he said, 'shoot, this guy can play.' "

Kalilimoku has continued to impress as a sophomore after sliding over from the edge to an inside linebacker spot.

At 5-foot-11 and 201 pounds, Kalilimoku's quickness and his work in the weight room have helped him survive in the middle of the defense despite not possessing prototypical size for his position.

"We were looking at him as being an outside because of his size," Lee said. "But he has a knack for slipping past blockers and getting to the ballcarrier. It's something you just don't teach. Where does he get it? Probably from his parents. But it's something you've either got or you don't."

Although Kalilimoku is quite a bit slimmer than his older brother, who played at 243 pounds at UH, his style is still reminiscent of a member of his family.

"Brad reminds me of me when I was in high school," said Fredrick Kalilimoku, Brad's father and a defensive back at Roosevelt in the late 1970s. "I was light like that, but I had speed. Brad has that, and a little more than I did."

The brothers' success in sports probably seemed inevitable when they were born to Fredrick and Roxanne Kalilimoku, both standout athletes at Roosevelt in their day.

Roxanne excelled in volleyball, while Frederick starred for the football team and remains an assistant coach with the Rough Riders.

While the boys were focused on football from a young age, Roxanne made sure they got some volleyball training, as well, as youngsters.

"She'd set us in the corner and slam balls at us," Brad said. "I guess we could have played volleyball, too, but football is first."

Brad had hoped to play alongside Chad in college, but the timing didn't work out as Brad's year at HPU coincided with Chad's final season of eligibility at UH.

Although they never shared the field, Chad remains involved with little brother's football career from the stands at Aloha Stadium.

"He helps me out a lot" Brad said. "Sometimes he'll come down or he'll give me a comment before the game just supporting me and telling me good luck and play your hardest."

While Brad said following Chad at both Roosevelt and UH motivates him, his parents encouraged him to establish his own identity. And he appears on his way to making a name for himself with the Warriors.

"We always told him to be himself, do what he can do and not to try to be Chad, although he knows the brother did very well," Roxanne said. "He knew what he had to do and he did it. He was just real focused on what he wanted. He's always been determined in what he wants to accomplish."

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Willingham a winner

SEATTLE » Finally, Tyrone Willingham has his first victory as Washington's new coach, and it was an impressive one against an opponent that was expected to give the Huskies a tough game.

Louis Rankin rushed for 115 yards on 19 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown, as Washington ended an eight-game losing streak with a 34-6 win over Idaho yesterday.

Washington's defense stymied quarterback Steven Wichman, sacking him seven times for 52 yards in losses. It also stymied Idaho's rushing attack, holding the Vandals without a touchdown and to minus 4 yards rushing on 31 carries.

Kansas 34, La Tech 14

LAWRENCE, Kan. » Brian Luke threw three touchdown passes and Kansas scored twice off interceptions in a 66-second span in the fourth quarter to beat Louisiana Tech.

New Mexico 38, New Mexico St. 21

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. » DonTrell Moore ran for 120 yards to become New Mexico's all-time career rushing leader and Kole McKamey threw two touchdown passes in a win over New Mexico State.

Nevada 22, UNLV 14

RENO, Nev. » Jeff Rowe completed 21 of 32 passes for 265 yards and Robert Hubbard scored two touchdowns as Nevada survived a mistake-filled game to snap a five-game losing streak to rival UNLV.

Kamehameha product Caleb Spencer had 12 catches for 144 yards for the Wolf Pack.

Wisconsin 14, North Carolina 5

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. » Brian Calhoun rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns in a gritty victory over penalty-prone North Carolina.

Calhoun has rushed for 471 yards so far in his first season with the Badgers.