AhSoon to miss 6 weeks

An injured left knee will keep Hawaii offensive lineman Keith AhSoon out of action for about six weeks.

Keith AhSoon

The senior suffered the injury in the first quarter of Saturday's game at Oregon State and had an MRI performed on his knee yesterday morning. The results showed a third-degree sprain, considered the most severe, of his medial collateral ligament and he will be in a brace for the next month. At the earliest, he could return for the latter portion of the Western Athletic Conference schedule.

It was initially thought that AhSoon might have injured the anterior cruciate ligament after he was helped from the field following the Warriors' third play from scrimmage against the Beavers.

"I'm glad for him that he doesn't have to have it operated on," UH coach Greg McMackin said.

With AhSoon and Laupepa Letuli (shoulder) out of action, Aaron Kia practiced with the first unit at left tackle yesterday. Offensive line coach Brian Smith is hopeful Letuli will be available for the Warriors' WAC opener against San Jose State next week.

AhSoon had started the last 15 consecutive games, all but one at left tackle. He moved to guard in the offseason and started there in the Warriors' season opener against Florida. He shifted back to tackle when Letuli was injured against the Gators with sophomore Brysen Ginlack moving into the starting five at left guard.

"It's huge," Smith said of AhSoon's loss. "He's a returning starter and a leader for the group. But we have to reload and get better and keep working."

Smith said sophomore Adrian Thomas, currently the backup at right tackle, would get some work on the left side and redshirt freshman Clayton Laurel would get more repetitions as the Warriors look to build depth at the position.