Still, Funaki, who is competing to succeed Tim Chang as the Warriors' starting quarterback, made several accurate deep throws during yesterday's first day of spring practice.

"Athletically, he looks like he has a nice arm," UH coach June Jones said. "He looks like he's a pretty accurate passer."

Funaki helped lead Kahuku High School to state football championships in 2000 and 2001. He signed with the Warriors in February 2002, although he planned to go on a two-year church mission before enrolling at UH.

Funaki worked until he turned 19, the minimum age to begin a Mormon church mission, then accepted an assignment to the Dominican Republic.

"It was a different experience, a different life over there," he said. "I made a lot of friends. I still talk to them."

Mission work usually leaves little free time for recreation. Even with his precious spare time, Funaki had no opportunities to play football.

"Baseball is the sport over there," he said. "No one even knows what football is over there. I didn't even touch a football. But that's cool."

Funaki was about 185 pounds, his Kahuku playing weight, when he returned to Hawai'i in November.

"Since I've been home, I've been eating a lot of food on campus," said 5-foot-11 Funaki, who now weighs more than 200.

Back in the corner

For now, cornerback Brandon Matano is putting his hoop dreams on hold.

"I want to focus on this," Matano said after yesterday's 2-hour football practice.

Matano attended University High for two years before moving to New Jersey as a high school junior. He was a cornerback/kick returner as a Siena College freshman in 2003 before the school dropped the sport at the end of the season.

Matano, who is 5 feet 11 and 155 pounds, was a member of the UH basketball team this year.

"I wanted to start something new," Matano said of his decision to compete in basketball.

In returning to football, he said, "I'm trying to remember everything."

Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive backs, said, Matano "did pretty good. I was impressed. He's quick. He's thin, but he goes to the ball."

Off and running

In a double comeback, fifth-year senior Nate Ilaoa practiced yesterday at running back — a position he last played in high school — and was relatively healthy for the first time in two years.

Knee and shoulder injuries limited Ilaoa to one game in the past two seasons.

At 5 feet 9 and 235 pounds, Ilaoa, who is moving from slotback, said he wants to lose fatty weight but "put on a couple of good pounds of muscle. I don't want to lose all of this weight and be light and have nothing to work with."

In the Warriors' four-wide offense, the running back serves as a sixth blocker. Ilaoa, who was one of the Warriors' best blocking receivers, welcomes the opportunity to knock down pass-rushers.

"It's a chance to put some wood on them," he said.

Seizing his destiny

Ken Taylor, who attended yesterday's practice, said his son Rick Taylor, a receiver from Nease High in Florida, does not regret a decision to accept a delayed scholarship from UH. Rick Taylor, who turned down other football offers, will enroll in January 2006.

Ken Taylor recalled his son saying: " 'Dad, I don't want to see anybody else. This is where I want to go. This is destiny.' "

Ken Taylor said Nease runs a passing offense similar to UH's.

"He already reads defenses and adjusts route (at Nease), which they teach here," Ken Taylor said. "He's got a head start on that."