Kealoha Pilares, who was The Advertiser's Offensive Player of the Year as a Damien Memorial School senior last year, has opted to start his University of Hawai'i football career in January 2007.

After deciding to withdraw from the Air Force Academy, Pilares asked Eddie Klaneski, a Damien assistant coach and former UH defensive back, to check if there was an opening with the Warriors. The UH coaches said they could offer Pilares a scholarship in January.

Pilares was presented two options: A) Report to UH's training camp Thursday, although he would have to pay his own tuition this semester, or B) Delay enrolling at UH until January. Pilares decided to pick Plan B.

"Overall, that would be the best decision for me," Pilares said. "I'd have all of that time to learn (the offense), and my (eligibility) clock wouldn't start until next year."

The NCAA allows a football player five years to play four seasons, with the clock triggering once the player enrolls as a full-time student at a school that fields a football team.

Pilares said he likely will take a couple of classes at UH in the fall. He is not allowed to practice with the team this season.

Last year, Pilares, who is 5 feet 11 and 178 pounds, led the state with 1,741 rushing yards and 146 points. The UH coaches gave him the choice of playing running back or wideout. Again, he chose Plan B.

"I would rather go to wideout," Pilares said. "I'll play wherever they want me to play. But when you think about UH, you think about the passing game."

Pilares is "in the best shape of my life. I went running yesterday. I ran three miles, and I didn't get tired at all."

He also does not regret sitting out this season.

"When I decided to come to UH, I didn't think I would play this year," he said. "I knew I would have to redshirt. This will be good for me. I can use the time to bulk up."

ATTENDANCE REWARDED

Forty UH players will be rewarded for perfect attendance during the six-week summer conditioning program. They will be required to run six sprints of 220 yards, not the usual 10, during Friday's first practice of training camp.

"They should be proud of themselves," UH coach June Jones said. "It takes a real commitment to train every day."

The 220s are an annual rite of Warriorhood, with the maximum lap times and rest breaks set according to a player's position. Last year, 52 of the more than 100 Warriors completed the discipline.

This year, Jones and Mel deLaura, who oversees the conditioning program, decided to reward the players who had perfect summer attendance. Among the 40 were quarterback Colt Brennan, running back Nate Ilaoa, and 10 offensive linemen.

Although Boise State reported 100 percent participation for summer workouts, UH's situation is different, Jones said.

"There are places to live (in Boise during the summer)," Jones said. "We don't have places that are cheap for our kids to stay. We don't have really anything. It's hard to find affordable housing for kids (from the Mainland)."

Brennan, who is from California, said he and quarterback Tyler Graunke scrambled to find a resting place last summer.

"We bounced around everywhere," he said. "We slept on floors. A couple of nights we slept in locker rooms. The (housing) market is so extreme. Guys from the Mainland really struggle."

When he attended Colorado as a freshman, Brennan said, players could drive or take a short flight home for the weekends. "We're out in the middle of the Pacific," Brennan said. "With the cost of tickets, you're not going to fly home for a weekend. Tyler went home (this month). He's been home only two weeks in the last two years."

Of the reward, Brennan said, "We made a commitment to be here. This is a nice incentive."

FAST LANE TO WIDEOUT

Malcolm Lane traveled 7,320 miles from Germany to play for the Warriors. What's a few more yards to move from cornerback to wideout?

"I feel I can be more helpful on the offensive side of the ball," said Lane, who will compete at wideout during training camp.

Jones told Lane that playing cornerback would offer the best chance of playing as a freshman this season. But Lane said to play "cornerback, you have to love it. It takes about two years to learn."

Lane appears to fill the Warriors' need for a wideout with size (6 feet 1 1/2 and 181 pounds) and speed (10.4 seconds over 100 meters). He has practiced at right wideout this summer.

"I'm working hard and trying to learn as much as I can," Lane said. "You can be Randy Moss, but if you don't know the offense, it's not going to help."

Lane is a 2006 graduate of Hanau High School in Germany. He competed in a league for military dependents.

"I'm happy to be here," he said. "Never in a million years I thought the people and my teammates would be so cool. You always hear how star players don't talk to freshmen. But they're the nicest people. They're the coolest people. Cool people make up for the facilities here. We don't have the facilities like Miami, but we have better people."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.