Anderson changes his mind

Hawaii got one walk-on football player back yesterday as two others left the team.

Junior running back Jazen Anderson rejoins the Warriors next Monday, coach June Jones said.

"He'll be back the first day of school," Jones said.

Anderson, a junior-college transfer from Moorpark College (Calif.) quit the team last week, but left with the option of returning to the squad.

The 5-foot-10, 221-pound brother of former NFL star Jamal Anderson had enrolled at UH last spring and participated in spring practice. He emerged as No. 4 on the depth chart, behind Nate Ilaoa, Reagan Mauia and David Farmer.

Since Anderson left, outside linebacker Khevin Peoples and defensive lineman Jason Laumoli have been moved to running back.

Meanwhile, freshman cornerback C.J. Tausaga left the team.

He will continue to attend UH and be an assistant coach at his alma mater, Aiea High School.

"I actually made the decision a while ago," Tausaga said. "But I wanted to make sure I told all the coaches. I didn't want to walk out without going to them face-to-face."

Tausaga worked out with the Warriors last fall and still managed to find time to be a part-time assistant coach at Aiea. Now he will be able to spend more time working with the Aiea defensive backs.

"He just called me and talked to me about what happened," Na Alii coach Wendell Say said. "He said he tried, but it didn't work out. He's going to be a great coach and teacher."

The 5-foot-7, 187-pound Tausaga was No. 2 at cornerback on the depth chart after spring practice. But he was unable to hold that spot or move up in fall camp and was assigned to the scout team.

"I wanted to make the team and help out wherever I can, but right now I have a real passion to help people," said Tausaga, who is also active in his church and looks forward to attending several retreats in the coming weeks.

Tausaga, a Star-Bulletin first-team all-stater in 2004, said he might try to rejoin the Warriors in the future.

"Who knows? But I hope I'll be taller then," he said.

Inside linebacker Stephen Lei, a 6-foot, 214-pound freshman walk-on from Saint Louis School, also left the team yesterday.

Injury list lengthens: The number of sidelined Warriors got longer yesterday, but all the injuries are minor, Jones said.

"If all had to play tomorrow they would," Jones said.

Junior strong safety Brad Kalilimoku -- embroiled in one of the camp's most spirited battles for a starting spot -- had a hamstring tighten up and went to the sidelines. That gave the other contender, junior Jacob Patek, more reps.

Kalilimoku, who started at inside linebacker last season, sat out mostly as a precaution, Jones said.

"He missed a lot of spring practice (because of the hamstring) and you can tell that," Glanville said.

Backup nose tackles Lawrence Wilson (ankle) and Fale Laeli (concussion) remained out, but Wilson said "tomorrow," when asked when he would return.

Starting defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis was out with the flu, starting inside linebacker Adam Leonard went down with a tight quad, and No. 2 outside linebacker Brashton Satele missed some reps when he was hit in the thigh by a helmet again -- a similar mishap knocked him out of the action earlier in camp.

Fresh face: Spencer Smith, a true freshman safety from Georgia, didn't take long to catch the attention of the UH coaches.

"Right off the bat I noticed tremendous conditioning in the 220 test," UH defensive backs coach Rich Miano said. "He's smart and he picks things up quickly."

Smith has worked extensively at free safety with the top units in camp. With an experienced starter in senior Leonard Peters entrenched at the position, the coaches gave Smith a shot to play with the first team less than a week into his first college camp, and again this week.

"I am a little surprised actually," he said. "Leonard gave me a couple of his reps since he's the expert on it and he's just been taking me under his wing and helping me out and telling me what to do. He's been a great mentor since I've been here."

Smith signed with UH out of Kell High in Marietta, Ga., where he earned all-county honors and covering the Warriors' talented group of receivers has been an eye-opening introduction to college ball.

"It's a different speed from high school," Smith said. "In high school, there's those guys that are good, and all right, and aren't any good. Here, everyone's in the upper echelon of athleticism."

As he gets acclimated to a new level of play, Smith's early goals include making the travel roster for the season opener at Alabama.

"If I make that trip going to Alabama, man, I know so many people that didn't think I could play D-I ball, just to prove to them that I've come this far would just mean a lot to me," he said.

"He'll have an opportunity to help us," Miano said. "We're still evaluating, and if we think he can help us against Alabama he'll make the trip."

Sophomore Dane Porlas played in 11 games last year and is also a strong contender to be Peters' backup, Miano said.

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