This could have been the weekend that Adam Leonard sat anxiously by the telephone waiting to find out what his football future held. The time he nervously followed the crawl on the bottom of his television screen.

Instead, the University of Hawai'i linebacker will spend Saturday night hitting people. Hard.

A widening smile suggests that, upon reflection, the Warriors' all-Western Athletic Conference linebacker is fine with this even if some of the people he figures to be leveling will not.

While a couple of his former fellow UH underclassmen await their fate in this weekend's NFL Draft, Leonard, who had wavered on whether to declare candidacy for the draft or return, will play in the Warriors' spring game at Aloha Stadium.

It is the gateway to a senior year that he had, until a few short months ago, considered walking away from. The papers were ready and the word from the NFL advisory opinion was said to be promising. But Leonard, who has always played the game at a full-speed-ahead pace, couldn't find enough reason to tear himself away, just yet.

Not when he thought about what the Warriors might be capable with a fully-loaded defense. Not when he considered what he might finally be able to do on two healthy knees and a rebuilt right thumb. And not when it appeared last year's defensive coordinator, Greg McMackin, could wind up as the head coach.

That last element, especially, would be something of a leap of faith. Leonard had to make his decision a week before the Warriors named a replacement for June Jones and he said "Coach Jones had advised me to leave if coach Mac didn't get the job."

So Leonard relied on the instinct that has made him a big-play performer. Then, he told defensive coordinator Cal Lee to hang onto jersey No. 44 for him. "I had some sleepless nights (before the decision)," Lee said. "But when I heard he was coming back, oh, boy, I'll tell you I slept like a baby."

Small wonder. Leonard's 105 tackles — 11 for losses — four interceptions and two for touchdowns were among the best stats in the WAC for a linebacker.

But as good as his body of work was — and Leonard had been a contender for the WAC Defensive Player of the Year — he knows he can do better. Leonard understands that with his health and one more season of experience, he can have not only a memorable senior year but an enhanced draft status.

"I know that as good as last year was, this could be so much better," Leonard said. "This could be the best year of my career yet."

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