FOCUS • WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Injured Peters has starting spot reserved

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Although he will not be ready to play football for another two weeks, injured University of Hawai'i safety Leonard Peters already has secured a starting job.

UH coach June Jones and assistant coach Rich Miano confirmed that Peters, who is recovering from injuries to his spleen and a kidney, will open at free safety as soon as he is declared physically fit.

Peters, a second-year freshman from Kahuku, suffered the injury during the first week of training camp. He had hoped to return for UH's next game, Sept. 21 at Texas-El Paso. But Peters is not scheduled to undergo a CAT scan until Sept. 25, meaning the earliest he would be able to return is for the Sept. 28 game against Southern Methodist.

Peters played strong safety before the injury. Hyrum Peters (no relation) moved from cornerback to strong safety, and now Leonard Peters will shift to free safety. Miano, in his fourth season coaching the defensive backs, predicted that "Leonard, Hyrum, Kelvin (Millhouse) and Abraham (Elimimian) will be the best secondary since I've been here."

Leonard Peters began participating in non-contact drills during yesterday's first UH practice since a 35-32 loss to Brigham Young last Friday. "I'm going day to day," Peters said. "I'm happy just to be out on the field again."

Although he had hoped to return for the UTEP game, Peters said, "there's nothing I can do. There's no medicine to take or anything like that. I have to wait for my body to heal. The doctors want to be cautious."

A change in the secondary is expected for the UTEP game. Free safety David Gilmore, a walk-on from California, worked with the first team yesterday in place of fifth-year senior Sean Butts, who started the Warriors' first two games. "David is going to play a lot more," Miano said. "He's tough, smart and he comes up tough against the run. I think he's worked hard enough to fight for a job."

Gilmore said he experiences some stiffness from his back surgery two years ago. "It's a minor thing in comparison to what I get to do out here (on the field)," Gilmore said.

Gilmore has quickly ascended the depth chart. Last week, he was used as the sixth defensive back when the Warriors were in their "dime" alignment. He also filled in for two series when Hyrum Peters was treated for a minor concussion. Gilmore credits his development to training with teammates in Hawai'i during the summer.

"I love Hawai'i," he said. "Being out here is a lot of fun."

True freshman Kenny Patton also worked with the first team in place of Millhouse, who did not practice yesterday. Patton, who was scheduled to redshirt, now is listed as the No. 2 cornerback on the left side.

"The seniors have helped me out a lot," said Patton, who attended Punahou School through his junior year before transferring to a school in California.