In what has become a post-practice ritual, several University of Hawai'i defensive players formed a circle near the sideline and took a knee.

They prayed for the good health of their current and former teammates.

Defensive tackle Siave Seti specifically prayed for backup quarterback Tyler Graunke, who was absent yesterday.

Graunke suffered a sprained thumb on his right (throwing) hand and a possible chip fracture in the area between the thumb and index finger. He will not be allowed to throw a football for four to six weeks.

He suffered the injury after releasing a pass during team drills Monday. Graunke's right hand struck the raised right hand of Seti, who had sprinted into the backfield.

"It was one of those situations where the motions were all fast," Seti said. "I was playing my drills. I was trying to get through. Unfortunately, my hand was up and it hit Graunke's hand. It was a freak thing. I really felt bad after I saw my picture in The Honolulu Advertiser the next day. Football accidents do happen. Unfortunately, this happened to one of our great players. I'm so sorry. I want to apologize to Graunke."

The incident marred Seti's otherwise impressive spring. Seti has practiced as the No. 1 defensive left tackle, filling in for Michael Lafaele, who is recovering from a hand injury.

Seti is back at the position he played at West Los Angeles College two years ago. Seti, who is 5 feet 11, weighed 320 when he first enrolled at UH. After moving to running back last year, he reduced his weight to 280.

"I did a lot of dieting and running," he said.

Now he weighs 290. "I'm back to eating a lot of vegetables and meat," he said.

Before every practice, Seti puts on a wristband, which has "Shana" marked in black ink.

"That was my best friend," Seti said.

Seti and Shana Leaupepe were West L.A. College teammates. Leaupepe, who went on to play linebacker at New Mexico State, was killed in a drive-by shooting last July in Los Angeles.

"He got shot down the street from my house," Seti said. "We used to live in the same area. He lived with my uncle. He was my best friend. He wasn't involved with any gang. It was just a random shooting. He was a humble guy, a hard worker. I think about him every day."

SEARCHING FOR CENTER

Head coach June Jones said he will not select the successor to center Samson Satele until training camp in August. Satele completed his NCAA eligibility in December, and is projected to be picked in the first three rounds of the National Football League draft this weekend.

Jones said he considers Larry Sauafea, Clarence Tuioti-Mariner and Aaron Kia to be No. 1 centers.

"We'll go into the fall and sort it out," Jones said.

Kia, who will be a third-year sophomore, worked with the first team Monday and yesterday.

"I worked a lot with Sam," said Kia, who also has practiced at guard and center this spring.

In UH's system, offensive linemen usually work out at center before moving to other positions. Kia was one of the few to receive a callback.

"Everything is a lot smoother when you learn the center position," Kia said. "You know what everybody is supposed to do."

Jones said: "He's doing OK, but he has a way to go at center."

SHORT SNAPS

Outside linebacker Josh Rice has received added attention since last week's scrimmage, when he floored quarterback Kiran Kepo'o. It was the biggest hit of spring training. "Everybody has been coming up and saying, 'Good hit,' " Rice said. "But that's in the past." Rice is adjusting to the move from inside linebacker.

Slotback Davone Bess worked out at quarterback yesterday.

Backup quarterback Inoke Funaki has emerged as the team's spirit leader. Funaki was instrumental in stirring the crowd during last Friday's 18-2 women's softball victory over Fresno State. Funaki said he is recreating the fun he had at Kahuku High, when the football players would cheer on the school's other sports teams. Early in the UH softball season, Funaki was one of six football players in the stands. "It was kind of mellow," he said. "We were like, 'Let's hoist this up.' I was trying to teach the guys some of the cheers we used to do back in Kahuku." At last Friday's game, there were an estimated 40 football players in attendance.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.