Cockheran's availability to be game-time decision

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran, who missed the last two football games because of a sprained right ankle, traveled with the team to the Mainland last night.

In preparation for Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., the Warriors will practice twice in Houston. They will spend tomorrow night in Monroe, La., a one-hour drive from Ruston.

"I'm happy to make it," said Cockheran, who competed in passing drills yesterday morning. Cockheran placed his health at 85 percent. UH coach June Jones will determine Cockheran's availability during warmups Saturday.

"Whatever J.J. wants, I'll do," said Cockheran, a co-captain and team's best deep receiver.

Cockheran said he does not feel any discomfort on straight-ahead runs. "I was cutting out there," he said. "It wasn't full-speed cutting, but I was cutting."

He added: "When I'm out there and juiced up, I really don't feel that much pain."

Defensive tackles Isaac Sopoaga and Lui Fuga are expected to play Saturday. Sopoaga missed the last two games because of a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

But after competing in contact drills yesterday, Sopoaga declared, "I feel good. I'll be fine for this week. I can run laterally and forward. It was frustrating, but I'm happy to be able to play again."

In the fourth quarter of a 55-28 victory over Fresno State last Saturday, Fuga suffered a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. A damaged PCL, unlike an injury to the other two major knee ligaments, does not necessarily keep an athlete from competing. At least two UH basketball players have played most of a season with PCL injuries.

"It hurts a lot," said Fuga, who missed all but one game during the previous two seasons because of shoulder and ankle injuries. "It clicks, like my shoulders and ankle. There's nothing new with the clicking thing."

Fuga said he suffered the injury when he was "blind-sided by a fullback. It was a legal hit. That's why I'm not (angry). It's football. You can't do anything about it."

Starting right tackle Brandon Eaton did not practice yesterday, and his availability is in question for Saturday's game. Freshman Jeremy Inferrera is expected to start at right tackle, leading to UH's sixth offensive line in seven games.

Reach Stephen Tsai at 525-8051 or stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.