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POSTED: Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Hawaii linebacker Solomon Elimimian shared the Western Athletic Conference's top defensive honor then spread the credit to those playing in front of him.

               

     

 

 

Warriors football         Cincinnati (10-2, 6-1 Big East) at Hawaii (7-5, 5-3 WAC), 6:30 p.m. Saturday. TV: ESPN2; Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM

“;Our defensive line, they're one of the best defensive lines in the league, I feel, and they've done a great job in keeping guys off of me and letting me make a lot of plays,”; Elimimian said after being name the WAC's co-defensive player of the year. “;So I'm definitely blessed.”;

Elimimian was among seven Hawaii players honored by the conference's coaches yesterday, including two of those defensive linemen.

Joining Elimimian on the All-WAC first-team defense were fellow linebacker Adam Leonard and defensive back Ryan Mouton. Center John Estes represented the Warriors on the first-team offense.

Receiver Mike Washington was UH's lone selection on the second-team offense, and linemen David Veikune and Keala Watson made the second-team defense.

Both Elimimian and UH head coach Greg McMackin felt Veikune, who leads the team with 15 tackles for loss, deserved first-team consideration.

“;I felt he could have easily made defensive player of the year,”; Elimimian said. “;I feel like he's definitely first-team All-WAC.”;

Elimimian was the preseason pick as defensive player of the year and split the postseason honor with San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, who leads the nation with 22 tackles for loss.

Elimimian leads the Warriors with 101 tackles, breaking the century mark for the second straight year. He became the third UH player to win the WAC's defensive player of the year award, joining Al Noga (1986) and Travis LaBoy (2003).

He broke the school's all-time tackles record earlier this season and has 414 - 29 short of the WAC record held by UTEP's Robert Rodriguez - with two games left in his UH career.

The Warriors (7-5) close the regular season against No. 13 Cincinnati (10-2) on Saturday at Aloha Stadium and will play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve.

“;Solly deserves it,”; McMackin said. “;He's not only a great player and did so well during his career here, he's a great leader and a spiritual leader and he's a big-time person.”;

Elimimian's older brother, Abraham, was a first-team All-WAC defensive back in 2004.

“;I just thank Abe a lot, because at times where I could have quit and went the other way he's definitely pushed me and made me a better football player as well as a better person,”; Elimimian said. “;He's a big part of my success.”;

Elimimian, Leonard and Estes repeated as first-team picks, and Mouton earned his first selection.

Leonard is second on the team with 75 tackles, including 71/2 for loss. Mouton has a team-high seven pass breakups and started two games on offense as a slotback.

McMackin said Estes “;has been the anchor for our offense ever since he's been here.”;

Veikune, a first-team selection last season, leads the Warriors and is tied for fourth in the WAC in tackles for loss and ranks fourth in sacks with eight. The four fumbles he's forced lead the league.

“;If there's a better defensive end out there, I'd beg to differ,”; McMackin said.

Washington has a team-high 49 receptions for 629 yards and five touchdowns. Watson has six tackles for loss from his defensive tackle spot.

Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick won offensive player of the year honors while Boise State's Chris Petersen was named WAC coach of the year. Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore was named freshman of the year and made the second team.

Injury update

McMackin said running back/slotback Kealoha Pilares is expected to practice tomorrow after sitting out last week's win over Washington State with a foot injury. He said safety Erik Robinson will also return from a hamstring injury. Mouton also missed the game with a sprained ankle.

“;I talked to the trainers and they're working really hard to get Mouton back,”; McMackin said.

               

     

 

 

ALL-WAC Football Teams         Offensive player of the year: Colin Kaepernick, Nevada         Defensive players of the year: Solomon Elimimian, Hawaii, and Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State         Freshman of the year: Kellen Moore, Boise State         Coach of the year: Chris Petersen, Boise State         FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE         WR Jeremy Childs, Boise State, Jr.         WR Marko Mitchell, Nevada, Sr.         WR Chris Williams, New Mexico State, Sr.         TE Eddie Williams, Idaho, Sr.         OL Andrew Woodruff, Boise State, Sr.         OL Bobby Lepori, Fresno State, Sr.         OL John Estes, Hawaii, Jr.         OL Adam Korby, Idaho, Sr.         OL Dominic Green, Nevada, Sr.         QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada, So.         RB Daniel Porter, Louisiana Tech, Jr.         RB Vai Taua, Nevada, So.         FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE         DL Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State, So.         DL D'Anthony Smith, Louisiana Tech, Jr.         DL Kevin Basped, Nevada, So.         DL Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State, Sr.         LB Ellis Powers, Boise State, Sr.         LB Solomon Elimimian, Hawaii, Sr.         LB Adam Leonard, Hawaii, Sr.         LB Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State, So.         DB Kyle Wilson, Boise State, Jr.         DB Ryan Mouton, Hawaii, Sr.         DB Antonio Baker, Louisiana Tech, Jr.         DB Christopher Owens, San Jose State, Sr.         FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS         PK Brent Jaekle, Nevada, Sr.         P T.J. Conley, Idaho, Sr.         ST Phillip Livas, Louisiana Tech, So.         Second-team offense: WR, Austin Pettis, Boise State, So.; WR, Mike Washington, Hawaii, Sr.; WR, David Richmond, San Jose State, Sr.; TE, Bear Pascoe, Fresno State, Sr.; OL, Andrew Jackson, Fresno State, So.; OL, Mike Iupati, Idaho, Jr.; OL, Rob McGill, Louisiana Tech, So.; OL Alonzo Durham, Nevada, Jr.; OL, Mike Gallett, Nevada, So.; OL, Richie Bolin, New Mexico State, Sr.; OL, Brennan McFadden, Utah State, Jr.; QB, Kellen Moore, Boise State, Fr.; RB Ian Johnson, Boise State, Sr.; RB, Yonus Davis, San Jose State, Sr.         Second-team defense: DL, Mike T. Williams, Boise State, Sr.; DL, David Veikune, Hawaii, Sr.; DL, Keala Watson, Hawaii, Sr.; DL, Dontay Moch, Nevada, So.; DL, Carl Ihenacho, San Jose State, Jr.; LB, Chris Carter, Fresno State, So.; LB, Ben Jacobs, Fresno State, So.; LB, Justin Cole, San Jose State, Jr.; LB, Jake Hutton, Utah State, Jr.; LB, Paul Igboeli, Utah State, Jr.; DB Jeron Johnson, Boise State, So.; DB, Moses Harris, Fresno State, Jr.; DB, Derrick Richardson, New Mexico State, Sr.; DB, Coye Francies, San Jose State, Sr.;         Second-team specialists: PK, Tino Amancio, Idaho, Sr.; P, Chris Keagle, Louisiana Tech, Sr.; P, Brad Langley, Nevada, So.; ST, Kyle Wilson, Boise State, Jr.