Hawai'i running back Leon Wright-Jackson managed to make it before the last-call deadline.

Wright-Jackson yesterday practiced for the first time this week. He had been bothered by sore arches.

"I'm flat-footed as it is," he said, smiling.

The general team policy is that a player needs to practice on Wednesday or Thursday — the most grueling workouts of the week — to start on Saturday. The rule probably was flexible for Wright-Jackson, who is the Warriors' leading rusher with 67 yards in two games.

Head coach Greg McMackin was confident that Wright-Jackson would be available to play in tomorrow's road game against Oregon State. The Warriors departed yesterday afternoon.

Despite apparently modest statistics, Wright-Jackson has been impressive in what counts most: tough running. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior leads the Warriors with a post-catch average of 11.2 yards. He averages 0.75 broken tackles per rush.

"I'm just doing what the team is asking," Wright-Jackson said. "I'm just trying to get penetration in the defense."

Wright-Jackson appeared to have sustained the injury when he was hit two steps after crossing the sideline in last week's game against Weber State. No penalty was assessed.

Asked if he thought he was hit late, Wright-Jackson said, "Yeah, but it's football. Whatever. It was late. I was clearly out of bounds."

Wright-Jackson was a top prospect as a high school senior at Pasco High in Washington. He said he received a scholarship offer from Oregon State. Instead, he signed with Nebraska. He played a season for Nebraska before leaving school. He transferred to UH in August 2007.

"It's just another game for me," he said of the matchup against Oregon State.

LETULI SLOW TO HEAL

Laupepa Letuli, the No. 1 left tackle, has not recovered sufficiently from a small tear in his left shoulder to play this weekend. He was removed from the 66-player travel roster.

"It didn't heal as fast as I wanted it to," said Letuli, a fourth-year junior. "It's going to be very frustrating to watch my team (on television) and not be playing. I have to be patient."

Letuli and Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao are high school teammates.

Offensive line coach Brian Smith had kept open the possibility of using Letuli. But during yesterday's practice, Smith decided, "He's in no position to play right now."

Smith was faced with two backup plans: Keith AhSoon at left tackle and Brysen Ginlack at left guard, or Aaron Kia at left tackle and AhSoon at left guard.

The coaches decided to go with last week's starting left-side blockers — AhSoon and Ginlack.

"Keith has experience at tackle," Smith said, referring to AhSoon's 13 starts at that position last season. Oregon State's defensive "ends are really good, really fast. We wanted to get somebody up there with a little more experience."

AhSoon said: "I'll do what I have to do."

SPECIAL TEAMS BOOST

Wideouts Jett Jasper and Dylan Linkner, and defensive end Antwan "Tua" Mahaley are on the 66-player travel roster.

Jasper was added as Letuli's replacement. Jasper is a backup on several special-teams units.

Linkner also made it as a special-teams player. Linkner, a senior, can play both wideout positions. He also is a backup on the kickoff, punt and punt-return teams.

"When I found out I was going, I was definitely happy," Linkner said.

Linkner went to the season-opening game against Florida — as a spectator. He replaced his father, who was recovering from an illness.

After that game, he was dropped to the service (scout) team.

"I busted my butt off the service team," Linkner said. "I didn't give up. I used it as motivation."

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Mahaley also has found a role. He is the safety on field-goal and extra-point plays. Mahaley's job is to block kicks.

He said he does not know his best vertical jump, adding, "If I take Red Bull ..."

Mahaley and Oregon State's Moevao also are friends. Their parents were business partners.

NASCA MAKES TRIP

When it comes to the travel roster, Nate Nasca made the cut.

When it comes to style, it is his mother who makes the cuts.

"My hair stylist?" said Nasca, who sports a mohawk, "it's my mom. She cuts me up."

Nasca is back at slotback after competing at both wideout positions.

"It's cool," he said. "I made a trip around the receiving positions."

REGO IN RUNNING

On the football field, running back Jayson Rego draws praise for his toughness. In the classroom, he draws praise for his drawings.

Rego is majoring in civil and environmental engineering.

"There's a lot of math," he said.

Rego, a walk-on from Kamehameha Schools, missed part of last season because of an illness.

"I'm OK now," he said. "It was a little scary. Thank goodness that's over with."

Rego impressed the new coaching staff the past spring training. He received an invitation to training camp, and now is earning playing time as a power back.

At Kamehameha, where he was the state's Offensive Player of the Year, he relied on quickness as a 185-pound back. Now he weighs about 220. But he also has increased his strength, improving his bench press from a maximum of 295 pounds to 400 pounds.

He said he pays for his school expenses by working during the offseason and "applying for as much financial aid as I can. I do what I have to do."

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.