The pain that linebacker Adam Leonard felt in his surgically repaired right knee was not the only hurt he has experienced this season for the University of Hawai'i football team.

Along with the healing meniscus there would be a wounded sense of pride.

As he worked his way back into playing shape from the June arthroscopic surgery he had to contend with public criticism of his performance from a slow start. One local Web site particularly dogged Leonard. Questions about his fitness and effort stung him and riled those who knew what he was going through, though he wouldn't say much about it publicly.

So, you sensed that with each of the interceptions he has returned for touchdowns these past two weeks that Leonard was leaving more than just pursuers in his wake. On the way to the end zone against Charleston Southern with a 36-yard interception return and again Saturday with a 40-yard return at Idaho in a 48-20 victory, he was outdistancing both injury and naysayers.

Maybe that's why his ebullient smile comes easier and more often now.

Not that Leonard should need them for vindication. Not after what he had already accomplished in his first two seasons with the Warriors.

"He's done a great job," defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "You could tell, because of the injury, he wasn't running as fast in that first game, but he's been getting stronger and stronger with each game and it shows."

The 10-tackle performance led the Warriors against Idaho and the interception return by the junior from Seattle allowed UH to pull away from a 7-all tie. It lit a fire under not only the defense but the UH offense en route to a 5-0 start. "That was a huge, huge play," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "It put the game in a different context. It got us all going."

It has also done wonders for Leonard, who continues to assume a large leadership role for a rapidly maturing defense. After no tackles in the season opener he has risen to become the Warriors' second-leading tackler behind fellow linebacker Solomon Elimimian, with whom he shares the team lead in tackles for loss.

Early on, there was the sense that, given his history of knee problems, it was hard for Leonard to cut loose right away and be the All-Western Athletic Conference performer we glimpsed last year. There was a feeling that there was a mental barrier to be crossed as well as a physical one before his comeback could be complete.

"The knee isn't yet 100 percent. I feel it every day," Leonard said. "I continue to push myself to work and get to 100 percent and I'm getting more comfortable with (the knee) every week."

Leonard says even when there is pain, "it isn't while I'm playing football. When I'm out there, I feel good."

And, increasingly, he is looking the part, too, leaving everything else behind.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.