Former Hawaii linebacker Blaze Soares and offensive tackle Aaron Kia have critical weekends looming after being invited to NFL mini-camps for tryouts.

Soares will get a look with the Chicago Bears and Kia will try out with the San Francisco 49ers.

“;I've got to shine and show this team what I can do,”; said Soares, who departs tomorrow.

Soares led the Warriors with 107 total tackles last season and hopes to make a Bears roster that includes former UH linebacker and NFL veteran Pisa Tinoisamoa.

“;Growing up he was one of the guys who I tried to mimic,”; Soares said. “;Since high school I tried to play like him, and getting to meet him, it's going to be awesome.”;

Kia started 24 games over the past two seasons at left tackle for the Warriors, but said the 49ers are looking at him as a guard or center. He described the tryout as “;a do-or-die situation.”;

“;I'm happy to get an opportunity,”; said Kia, who worked at center in practices at UH but never in a game. “;It's going to be challenging, but I'm just going to give it my best shot.”;

Over the weekend, former UH center John Estes agreed to terms on a free-agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, guard Ray Hisatake signed with the Carolina Panthers and linebacker Brashton Satele got a shot with the Oakland Raiders.

LaBoy signs with 49ers

San Francisco has signed former UH defensive end Travis LaBoy to a one-year contract.

LaBoy can play defensive end or outside linebacker. He was a second-round selection (42nd overall) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2004 draft.

In 67 games, with 32 starts, he has 136 tackles, 23 1/2 sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one interception. LaBoy had his best season in 2005 with 41 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks.

The 28-year-old LaBoy played four seasons with Tennessee before signing with Arizona in 2008. He was released in March 2009 and missed the entire season recovering from a foot injury.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.