A highly regarded recruit from two years ago is prepared to finally join the Hawai'i football team for the 2008 season.

Lucious Henderson, a sophomore slotback at Navarro Junior College in Texas, must earn an associate degree by July. He promised that will not be a problem.

"I'm coming back to Hawai'i," Henderson said. "I'm coming back home."

Henderson, who is 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, took a two-year detour. He signed with UH in February 2006 after amassing more than 6,000 yards in total offense as a McCallum High (Texas) quarterback during his senior season.

As a junior, he was a cornerback, intercepting four passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

But Henderson did not meet the NCAA eligibility requirements to play for UH as a freshman in 2006.

He opted to enroll at Navarro, where he played slotback in a spread-option offense. He also returned kickoffs and punts. He expects to compete at slotback at UH.

Henderson said he has gained about 10 pounds the past two years.

"I'm beefing up to play at the next level," he said.

He added: "I think I got a little better, a little stronger, a little faster."

As a McCallum senior, he ran 40 yards in 4.46 seconds. During training camp in the summer, he sprinted the distance in 4.44 seconds.

Henderson said he was told the UH coaches would call after his sophomore season.

Thursday night, he received the long-awaited call.

"This is real big for me," Henderson said. "I'm happy to go back there again."

Henderson will be reunited with UH safety Erik Robinson, who was a sophomore at Navarro during Henderson's freshman season. Slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins were Henderson's hosts during his UH recruiting visit.

"It'll be great to see those guys again," Henderson said.

LAFAELE LOVING IT ALL

It was just like the old days for UH defensive tackle Michael Lafaele.

The players yesterday ran on the muddy field, ran some more, and when they were tired, they ran even more.

But Lafaele, whose UH career ends against Georgia in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl, was enjoying even these moments.

"It's my last days here," Lafaele said. "I'm going to miss this place. Most of my time here has been good. There have been a lot of good memories. This is like my second family. I'm going to miss not coming back here, working out with these guys. I can't believe the Washington game was the last time I would play with these guys in the stadium."

Lafaele, a tri-captain, assumed a leadership role vacated when defensive ends Melila Purcell III and Ikaika Alama-Francis completed their UH eligibility last December.

"People were looking up to me," he said. "I had to step up and take charge. I couldn't be the guy slacking off and cruising."

The thing was, Lafaele had precious little free time. He and his wife have three young children.

He was particularly busy during the summer. He led the team during weight training and conditioning drills in the morning. In the afternoon, he helped coordinate the on-field workouts. He also was taking four summer-school classes.

"I was gone the whole day," he said. "It was hard for me, and it was hard on my family. It was a sacrifice. But it paid off. Look at what we did during the season."

Lafaele said he is counting down the days of his UH career.

"It's just like high school," said Lafaele, a Farrington High graduate. "When I came here, I missed high school a lot. I got over it. I don't know if I'm going to get over this."

Lafaele was enrolled in six classes during the fall semester in hopes of being allowed to participate in tomorrow's graduation ceremony. "It was too much," said Lafaele, who has reset his graduation date to May.

Lafaele is preparing to train on the Mainland in the hope of landing a shot with a National Football League team. He said he plans to take online classes.

"I'm going to take a laptop (computer) with me, if I go up there," Lafaele said.

He said his wife is understanding.

"My wife is committed to whatever we do," Lafaele said. "She supports me. If I have to go away for a little bit, she knows it'll help our family in the long run."

OFF AND RUNNING

UH coach June Jones said he wanted his players to "run around" Thursday and yesterday as preparation for the more structured practices that will begin Monday.

The Warriors had nearly a two-week break following the regular-season finale against Washington Dec. 1. They do not practice today or tomorrow.

"We wanted to run around, get back into moving quick, so we don't get any (muscle) pulls on Monday," Jones said.

Jones said the two weeks of practices leading to Sugar Bowl "are good."

"It's always nice when you have extra time, and you can take as much time as you need to get it done," he added.

Quarterback Colt Brennan, who spent part of his break completing a final thesis and attending the Heisman Trophy show in New York, was admittedly "rusty" during passing drills.

"But I'm sure next week it'll feel great," Brennan said. "That's why I'm excited for full practice to start. That will be a lot more fun than doing these running drills."

THOMAS ON MEND

Safety Desmond Thomas, who missed all but the opening series of the Washington game, said he has recovered from a hip flexor.

He said the painful injury made it difficult to turn or run.

"It restricts you," he said. "It keeps you from going full speed."

Thomas said his rehabilitation consisted of "treatment, rest, and prayer."

Jacob Patek, the other starting safety, suffered a high-ankle sprain against Washington. Patek appears to have made a full recovery.

GIBSON'S HOMECOMING

Safety Le'Marcus Gibson said he looks forward to returning to the Southeast, even though he will not play in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Gibson, who was raised in Mississippi, was displaced after his home was struck by Hurricane Katrina. He is recovering from knee surgery.

"It's going to be good to go back home," Gibson said. "I'm happy for my team, and happy to be part of this. It's a great experience, a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We're trying to get back next year, too."

He said he expects to be ready to compete in spring training in April.

Visit Tsai's blog at www.HawaiiWarriorBeat.com.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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