Yesterday was Daniel "Deedle" Smith's 17th birthday.

He celebrated by accepting a scholarship offer from the University of Hawai'i football team.

"It made a good birthday present," said Smith, a cornerback from Providence Senior High School in Charlotte, N.C.

Smith, who is finishing his junior year, will not be allowed to sign a national letter of intent until February 2008.

By then, he might be able to deliver the letter in person. Smith is on track to graduate in December, which, if he wishes, would enable him to enroll at UH in January 2008. He has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 and already has earned an NCAA-qualifying SAT score.

"Coming in early is an option," said Smith, who is 6 feet 3 and 195 pounds. During a combine in North Carolina two weeks ago, Smith ran 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.

Smith received a scholarship offer from Portland State, and drew interest from Syracuse, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois, Cornell and Holy Cross.

In anticipation that Smith would receive a UH offer, his friends told him: "Do what feels right."

When that offer came yesterday afternoon, Smith said: "Hawai'i feels right."

Smith and his mother took an unofficial visit to UH two weeks ago.

"It felt like I was back home," Smith said. "The coaches were very nice. There was great chemistry among the players. The guys seemed like they were really close. It felt like a family."

Smith is a multi-sport athlete who lived in Canada until his family moved to North Carolina six years ago. He also played hockey and baseball.

As a freshman and sophomore, he attended Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville, N.C. He transferred to Providence when his family moved to Charlotte last summer.

"I love it here," Smith said. "I'm going to love it in Hawai'i, too."

Smith said he has relinquished hockey and baseball to focus on football.

PILARES TOP RB FOR NOW

UH coach June Jones acknowledged that Kealoha Pilares is the No. 1 running back at the moment, although the depth chart shifts each day.

"Just being in there with Colt (Brennan) and Davone (Bess) and Jason (Rivers) feels great," said Pilares, a 2006 Damien Memorial School graduate. "I watched them last year."

After leaving the Air Force Prep Academy last July, Pilares decided to transfer to UH. He was a part-time student during the fall semester. He received a UH football scholarship in January.

This spring, Pilares has impressed the coaches with his quickness and elusiveness.

The thing is, he only has been used as a rusher.

"Whenever I go in there, the defense knows I'm running the ball," Pilares said. "I want to work on my blocking."

In UH's four-wide offense, the running back often serves as a backfield blocker. At 5 feet 10 and 190 pounds, Pilares is considerably lighter than last year's running backs, Nate Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia.

"It's coming along," Pilares said of his blocking. "I'm watching film. Every day coach (Wes Suan) is telling me certain things to help me. I won't be a Reagan, who can knock down people. I have to get in the way of people, basically."

Pilares said he is working on the inside-out technique, in which he blocks one side of a defender, cutting off a direct route to the quarterback. Against taller and stronger defenders, he plans to cut block.

"I'm going to work on a lot of things this summer," he said.

RIVERS RELISHES 5TH YEAR

Unlike his celebrated teammate, wideout Jason Rivers never seriously considered leaving the Warriors after last season to apply for this weekend's National Football League draft.

Rivers will be a fifth-year senior in the fall. He did not play in 2005 because of an injury and academic issue. He rebounded in 2006 to catch 72 passes for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, he had 14 receptions for a record 308 yards and two touchdowns.

"After being out so long and coming back and having something special with the guys, it's something you can't pass up another opportunity for," Rivers said of his decision to delay his NFL plans. "I gave it a thought, a brief thought. I didn't think long about it. More people were telling me they heard I was going out. But I knew I was coming back before the (2006) season ended."

Yesterday was the first time Rivers participated in team drills during spring training. Jones wanted the less experienced players to receive more work.

"I'm OK with it," Rivers said. "The younger guys need to learn."

Rivers said he has worked on improving his speed through sprinting, distance running and resistance training. Some mornings Rivers will run sprints with a parachute attached to his back.

"I want to be a leader," Rivers said. "I hope my teammates think of me as one."

HAKA AT 'OHANA FESTIVAL