Offensive lineman Daniel Otineru can breathe easier now.

But while he recovers from surgery for sleep apnea, he will miss the University of Hawai'i' football team's 2008 season.

He said he has received a medical hardship that will allow him to return as a "super senior" in 2009.

"I'll keep working out and see what happens," Otineru said.

As a Kapolei High senior in 2004, he was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a disorder in which external breathing is suspended for brief periods.

For the next few years, he slept with a specially designed mask that increased air flow.

"It constantly pushed air through me, keeping my airway open," he said.

As his condition worsened, it was decided he needed jaw surgery.

First, he was fitted for braces.

In May, he underwent a two-part surgery. The roof of his mouth was repositioned, and his jaw was broken, then reset forward a quarter inch.

Then came the difficult part: his mouth was wired shut for six weeks. During that time, he consumed protein shakes.

"That was hard — not being able to talk and eat," Otineru said. "It was pretty depressing every time I opened up the fridge."

He lost 30 pounds, going from 295 to 265.

Since the wiring was removed, allowing him to resume eating solid food, he is up to 275 pounds.

"Everything is much better," he said. "But my jaw doesn't seem the same. I don't feel I have as much room in my mouth anymore."

It has been a difficult past year for Otineru. Last October, he suffered a tear to his right biceps. He was required to wear a metal brace; some jokingly referred to him as "Edward Scissorhands."

"It's cool now," said Otineru, who was expected to compete at right guard. "I'm going to play again. I'll use this season to work out and get my strength and conditioning back."

UH HAS FOOTHOLD OF TOP KICKERS FROM TEMECULA

Apparently the Warriors have a foothold on the kicking talent in Temecula, Calif.

Brett Symonds, a graduate of Chaparral High School, is set to report to training camp Aug. 4, making him the third kicker from the southwest California town to play for the Warriors. Eric Hannum and Dan "The Iceman" Kelly were raised in Temecula.

Symonds turned down scholarship offers from Weber State and Idaho State to enroll at UH as a walk-on. He said he welcomes the opportunity to serve as an apprentice during Kelly's senior season.

"It's really nice to have a guy like Dan Kelly around," Symonds said. "I grew up with him in Temecula. He'll help show me the ropes, get acclimated."

Symonds, like Kelly, is a standout soccer player. As a sophomore, the football coach asked for volunteers to serve as placekickers. Symonds was limited to six games as a junior because of a groin injury. He played every game as a senior.

Symonds, who is 5 feet 11 and 150 pounds, converted a 43-yarder in game last year. During warmups, he converted from 55 yards off a 1-inch block and 57 yards off the ground.

"I've never seen a guy that small in stature kick a ball as far and hard as he does," Kelly said. "He's already light years ahead of where I was coming into my freshman year."

Last summer, Kelly said, Symonds worked in a grocery store in Temecula.

"During his hour lunch break, he would go to my old (high) school, change in the car, kick with me for 45 minutes, then go back to work," Kelly said. "He used his lunch break to work out."

Kelly and Symonds are the only placekickers on the training-camp roster. Tim Grasso, who spent the spring semester in Utah, is the only punter.