WARRIORS NOTEBOOK
Depth chart at right wideout up in air

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Injuries have forced the University of Hawai'i football team to scramble to reorganize the depth chart at right wideout.

Jeremiah Cockheran, the senior starter, aggravated a sprained right ankle Sunday afternoon.

"I rehurt it when I stumbled down some stairs," said Cockheran, who is optimistic of competing in practice today or tomorrow. "I've got to be the clumsiest person in the world."

Ron Lee, who coaches the receivers, said Mike Akiu could miss up to six weeks with a hairline fracture in his left ankle. Yesterday, Akiu's heavily taped ankle was encased in a protective walking boot.

"He was a clear choice for No. 2 before he got hurt," Lee said.

The backup to Cockheran in spring practice, Kanale George, left the team because of personal reasons during the summer.

"We're going to move people around," Lee said. "The next couple of practices are going to be crucial for the second- and third-(string) guys."

Yesterday, second-year freshman Daniel Inferrera and Michael Miyashiro, a 29-year-old senior who was born in Vietnam, worked at right wideout during contact drills. Inferrera received most of the work, as he did in last Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage. He said he has recovered from an injury to his right hip.

"He's got a long way to go," UH coach June Jones said.

Lee said: "I think he's come a long way. He didn't know where to line up. He's faster on his routes, he's made tremendous improvement. ... He started off poorly. He was worrying about his leg and back, but he's got a lot going for him. We saw a little bit of that."

All in line again: Left tackle Samson Satele, who did not compete in contact drills last week because of a stomach flu and strained left shoulder, practiced with the first team yesterday. With right guard Uriah Moenoa full healed from an ankle injury, UH's starting offensive line is intact.

"I was a little rusty out there," said Satele, a second-year freshman from Kailua High. "I feel good, but (line coach Mike Cavanaugh) says I'm rusty, so I must be rusty."

Satele said there is "some stifness" in his left shoulder, but "it's not a problem. Everything is all good."

Jeremy Inferrera, who had practiced at left tackle in Satele's absence, moved back to his original position at right tackle yesterday. Inferrera appears to be the top backup to right tackle Dane Uperesa.

Good Manners: With free safety David Gilmore suffering from lower-back pain, third-year sophomore Lono Manners of Wai'anae High has joined the first-team defense when five defensive backs are employed. In obvious passing situations, Manners plays one of the safety positions and strong safety Hyrum Peters moves to nickelback.

"It's something different being on the first team," Manners said.

Manners, a walk-on, pays for his tuition and school expenses with student loans, grants and his salary from a part-time construction job.