The Hawai'i football team will be able to fill three needs if Ryan Mouton is deemed healthy enough to play in Saturday's game against New Mexico State.

Mouton missed the past two games because of a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Mouton is one of three players to rotate at cornerback. He also is the No. 1 nickelback and kick returner.

Head coach June Jones said Mouton's availability depends on whether he can practice by tomorrow.

"I told him if he can go by Wednesday, he'll play," Jones said. "If he can't, he won't."

Two weeks ago, Mouton was fitted for a knee brace. Although he said the pain has subsided in the back of his right knee, the brace is "really for security purposes, to get my confidence, to let me know I can run," Mouton said. "It helps."

Although the brace restricts his movements, Mouton said, "it's feeling more and more like normal."

Before suffering the injury, Mouton took turns rotating with Gerard Lewis and Myron Newberry at the two corner positions. In schemes involving five defensive backs, Mouton usually covers the speedy inside receiver.

"He's a real good cover guy," defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "He would definitely help us. But we're not going to put him out there until he's ready."

Mouton is averaging 31.3 yards per kickoff return, sixth best in Division I-A. Although his 10 returns meet the NCAA minimum of 1.2 returns per game, he is not listed among the national leaders because he has not played in at least 75 percent of the Warriors' games. His participation is 71.4 percent (five of seven games).

Even if he is cleared to play this weekend, Mouton is unlikely to be used on kickoff returns.

"I'd love to see him return kicks, but cornerback is his first position," said right wideout Malcolm Lane, who also returns kickoffs. "We need him to be healthy. He's a great player."

Lane and Mouton are competing for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns. Lane has two; Mouton has one.

"I'll be all right," Mouton said. "I'm giving him a head start."

LIKES WHAT HE SEES

Do not adjust the roster. That indeed was Daniel Libre practicing as a first-team running back during team drills yesterday.

Libre won't be joining the top rotation anytime soon — Kealoha Pilares, David Farmer and Leon Wright-Jackson form the running back committee — but his presence with the top unit showed the respect he has earned from coaches and teammates.

"I like the fact that he's a great athlete," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "You can see that early on. All he really needs is experience and confidence to start to excel and get better."

Libre took the scenic route to Manoa, from Konawaena High to Menlo College to limbo.

"I needed to figure out what I wanted to do," Libre said after leaving Menlo. "I was moving too fast, and I didn't know where I was going."

After sitting out a semester, he enrolled at Kapi'olani Community College. He then transferred to UH, joining the Warriors as a cornerback.

Libre then moved to running back and, last spring, to slotback. But he was never an easy fit as an inside receiver. He pleaded for a chance to play running back. The only opening was as a member of the scout-team offense, which practices against the starting defense every day.

"He did a good job against us," McMackin said. "Everybody likes him. He has good field vision. He can see the holes open up."

Libre, in fact, had problems with his vision during the summer. His eyesight went from 20/20 to 20/blurry.

"I was struggling really bad to catch the ball," he recalled. "I had no depth perception. It was bad."

He could not wear contacts because they irritated his eyes. He said his goggles would steam up. At the urging of head trainer Eric Okasaki, Libre decided to undergo LASIK surgery. Libre's grandparents founded Aloha Laser Vision (previously known as Faulkner Eye Care).

The procedure was quick and painfree, although it took about a week for the blurriness to disappear.

"I feel great," Libre said. "My vision is super."

Wes Suan, who coaches the running backs, said Libre will have to make a decision.

"I think he can be a pretty good receiver," Suan said. "He works hard, and he has the intangibles we like to see. I think the line is longer as a running back than as a slotback. But players have to make that decision. They have to do their own evaluation."

Libre, who is listed as a junior but is seeking to petition the NCAA for an extra year, said his preference is to play running back.

"I'm more comfortable there," he said. "I feel I can do more there than as a slotback."

HEALTH REPORT