The all-too-fragile nature of football crystallized when Brashton Satele stepped into a huddle with his now-former teammates.

Satele's college career officially ended on Friday when the NCAA denied his appeal for a sixth year of eligibility, and he addressed the team one more time after yesterday's practice at Ching Field.

“;He told the whole team to take it a play at a time because you never know when it'll be your last,”; freshman George Daily-Lyles said of the emotional scene.

“;He just summed it up right there. His whole career gone in a flash. You've got to enjoy it while you can, just make plays, do your job and win games.”;

The Warriors opened spring practice unsure whether Satele, who missed the entire 2009 season due to a shoulder injury, would be in the middle of the defense come fall. Now that it's been determined that he won't, the race to fill the spot accelerates.

Daily-Lyles, coming off a redshirt season, has moved into a three-way competition with Mana Lolotai and Jake Heun for the middle spot in the Warriors' base 4-3 alignment.

“;Everyone's had their days and their positives, but we need a guy that can be consistent day in and day out,”; said Dave Aranda, the Warriors' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “;They all have their strengths. That's such a crucial part of the defense—that's the quarterback of the defense, so we're still looking for that guy.”;

While the Warriors run a 4-3 base system, they've devoted much of the spring to their packages with five defensive backs. In those cases, Corey Paredes, a starting outside linebacker, has shifted into the middle—he made two stops for losses during yesterday's scrimmage period.

If the pursuit for the starting job wasn't enough to keep the linebacker candidates motivated, there's also the daily grades that measure hustle to keep the motors revving in practice.

“;They put up a board they update after practice. If you were loafing you get called out,”; said Heun, an already-fiery senior. “;Nobody wants to be on that.”;

Experience favors the returnees, as Lolotai opened last season as the starting MAC backer against Central Arkansas and Heun finished there against Wisconsin. Daily-Lyles, meanwhile, is eagerly awaiting his Division I debut this fall.

It appeared he might work his way onto the field on special teams as a true freshman, but it was ultimately decided that he'd redshirt during the fall.

“;I wanted to play with all my heart, but I guess it wasn't in the cards and redshirting was probably the best thing that could happen to me,”; Daily-Lyles said.

When he last played, Daily-Lyles was the hub of the defense for Southern California prep power Long Beach Poly, where he helped the Jackrabbits reach the CIF state championship game as a senior and earned league MVP honors with 159 tackles, including 42 for losses.

“;I'm very impressed with George,”; Aranda said. “;He has all the natural instincts, probably the most instinctive guy (of the group). He's very smart, picks up things very easily, good quickness and burst to the ball.”;

Facing a group of veterans in the huddle is nothing new for Daily-Lyles, having dealt with that very scenario when he was called up to the varsity as a high school freshman.

“;All these guys are staring at me, all these D-I prospects, and you've got to find your own or they'll eat you alive. Step up and make plays and they'll respect you.”;

Along with his prep accolades, Daily-Lyles brought some California bragging rights with him. His sophomore year, Long Beach Poly knocked off Mater Dei—when UH center Sila Lefiti was a senior—in the CIF playoffs. He also trades good-natured jabs with receiver Justin Clapp, a product of Northern California power De La Salle.

“;(Clapp's) locker is right across from mine and we jaw all the time,”; Daily-Lyles said. “;Fun and games.”;

Scrimmage notes

With many of the approximately 150 high school prospects who attended “;junior day”; sticking around to watch practice, some of the starters who sat out the Warriors' first scrimmage of the spring—such as receiver Greg Salas and running back Alex Green—saw full-speed action yesterday as the Warriors went full speed in third-down, red-zone and 2-minute drill periods.

“;I'm very happy (with the progress). We held some of the ones out on Kauai, but they got 30 to 40 reps today,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “;And I'm always pleased when no one gets hurt.

“;We still have some guys on the bubble. That's why we scrimmaged the 3s and 4s, too. We want to see some more of some guys; some are possible special teamers.”;

The quarterback rotation remained unchanged, with Shane Austin and David Graves taking turns leading the first unit.

As with the Kauai scrimmage, the top two defensive units made several highlight plays. Cornerback Lewis Walker had interceptions in the 7-on-7 and red-zone drills. Safety Mana Silva ended Austin's first drive in the 2-minute drill with a leaping pick.

Brent Rausch, the third quarterback in the rotation, again connected with receiver Darius Bright on a score, a 34-yard lob down the left side.