GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Freshman linebacker Solomon Elimimian, 41, leads the Warriors with 41 solo tackles and is fifth on the team with 19 assisted stops.

INSIDE JOB

Freshmen Leonard and Elimimian give UH a bright future at inside linebacker

ADAM LEONARD concedes to having a few butterflies last Saturday at Reno, Nev., when the Hawaii freshman got his first extensive college action at inside linebacker.

"As soon as Coach (defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville) told me to get ready to go in, I got real nervous, not knowing what to expect," Leonard said. "Then it was, 'Yeah, we're playing football.'"

Leonard was one of the top prospects coming out of Seattle until he tore a knee ligament before his senior season at Rainier Beach High School. The big-time programs like California and Tennessee courting him mysteriously disappeared.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound honor roll student didn't let himself get discouraged. He did his best to rehab the knee, and he accepted a scholarship offer from UH.

Fresno State offered him one after that, but Leonard declined.

One reason for choosing Hawaii was that he would have a chance to play right away. But the UH coaches wanted to wait until Leonard's knee was sound. He spent much of August and September on bicycles to strengthen the joint.

"I can't imagine how hard it was for him," fellow true freshman linebacker Solomon Elimimian said. "He never lost faith. Always kept his mind on the goal. He never looked down. All he said is, 'When I get my opportunity, I'm going to make the most of it.'"

Leonard began to see some action on special teams, but did not play much at linebacker until Saturday's 38-28 loss to Nevada. Leonard was in on three tackles before a shoulder stinger knocked him out of the game. He said it won't preclude him from playing Saturday when the Warriors (3-6, 3-4 WAC) host Utah State (2-6, 1-4).

"I've had that before," he said of the stinger. "It's just part of football. The knee's a little sore, but that will be OK, too."

He said the biggest difference between high school and college football is the power of the offensive linemen.

"You have to take on strong linemen and still protect your gap," Leonard said. "In high school, a lot of the offensive linemen weren't strong. Now there are guys on the other side who are big and know what they're doing. I have to learn how to get off a block now."

Although Leonard is listed on the depth chart behind Elimimian at one of the inside spots, Leonard is actually competing with sophomore Brad Kalilimoku -- who has started all nine games -- for playing time.

"Brad's a good player, too, and competition helps the team get better," Elimimian said.

Coach June Jones said the same, and that there are no plans to experiment with the 5-10, 204-pound Kalilimoku as a safety for next season.

"Brad does a lot of good stuff in there," Jones said. "(Leonard) played good at times. He made some good hits. Like most freshmen, he made some assignment errors. But he has a lot of potential. We're going to have some good linebackers for the next three years."

Jones also said all three are smart players and they'll get better with more weight training.

After a 10-tackle performance Saturday, the 5-11, 224-pound Elimimian leads the Warriors with 60 tackles.

"Somebody brought that to my attention," Elimimian said. "I guess it's kind of big. It's an accomplishment. Kind of hard to perform well as a true freshman.

"But it's hard, having personal success and the team not being successful. You want to be happy, but it's all about wins and if you're not winning it affects the whole team. I would give all my tackles just to win."

So would Leonard, who is happy just to be playing.

"I really had to learn to be patient," he said. "It's exciting to see hard work pay off."