Solomon Elimimian is on the verge of becoming the most prolific tackler in the history of the Hawaii football program.

But when he looks back on his career in Manoa, the records and accolades that follow aren't what he'll prize most. Instead, he'll recall those Fridays “;when my body was telling me no,”; but he still suited up for another Saturday night.

“;More than the record, that's something I'll remember, the fact that when I couldn't do it, God enabled me to do it,”; Elimimian said. “;That's more important than the record, it's the lessons I've learned throughout my journey.”;

Leaning on his faith while playing through the aches that come with banging with blockers and ballcarriers in 44 games over three-plus seasons, Elimimian enters tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference game against Nevada three tackles short of the Hawaii career record held by Levi Stanley for the past 35 years.

  The Warriors' middle linebacker figures to get plenty of opportunities to add to his total of 363 stops against a Wolf Pack team that relies heavily on the run.

“;It's a big challenge because they're physical,”; Elimimian said of the Wolf Pack (4-3, 2-1 WAC), who rank second in the nation in rushing. “;We have to rise to the occasion and play a physical ballgame.”;

The significance of the milestone isn't lost on Elimimian, though he said helping the Warriors (3-4, 2-2) finish the season in a bowl game is the more pressing concern.

“;That's my No. 1 priority right now,”; Elimimian said, “;get to the bowl game and finishing these last six games hard. That's what I'm fighting for and that's what we're all fighting for.”;

Elimimian's run at Stanley's mark is a by-product of 42 starts—including the last 31 straight games—since 2005, when the Crenshaw (Los Angeles) High grad came to Hawaii almost “;by default.”;

He reluctantly chose to accept Hawaii's scholarship offer over attending San Diego State, following older brother and former All-WAC cornerback Abraham Elimimian, who had just finished his Warrior career.

“;Four years ago it wasn't my decision to come to Hawaii,”; Solomon Elimimian said. “;If you asked me if I wanted to come here I would have told you no, honestly.”;

The transition was rough, but be stuck through the homesickness to start 10 games as a freshman. He went on to post 89 tackles as a sophomore and led the Warriors with 141 last year. He has a team-high 50 so far this year while playing outside linebacker most of the time.

Along the way, he found comfort in his place in Hawaii and on the team. Now a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and leader of a post-practice prayer group, Elimimian also grew in his faith with the help of assistant head coach George Lumpkin, who invited him to church early on, and in his relationship with his older brother.

“;Abe's probably my best friend,”; Elimimian said. “;It's crazy, because before I came to Hawaii, we didn't talk really that much. Five years apart, he's the oldest, I'm the youngest, we didn't talk that much. Now that I'm here, he understands what I go through and we talk almost every day.

“;In those tough times, I talk to God and I talk to my brother.”;

A middle linebacker most of his career, Elimimian agreed to move outside to start this season with Brashton Satele more suited to the middle. With Satele playing through a shoulder injury lately, Elimimian feels back at home in the middle of the linebacker trio.

“;We were in a situation where we wanted to play our three best 'backers when Brashton was healthy, so he was a team guy and went outside,”; Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin said. “;But he's more comfortable inside.”;

Said Elimimian: “;I'm just blessed to have the opportunity to play. A lot of people want to be in my shoes, so for me to be playing outside, it's nothing.”;