Hawai'i linebacker Solomon Elimimian yesterday celebrated his 22nd birthday by joining football teammates at the training-table breakfast.

It was a simple moment for a player who has a casual interest in numbers, even though he is approaching one of the most significant statistical milestones in the program's history.

Against Nevada Saturday at Aloha Stadium, Elimimian needs four tackles to become the Warriors' career leader in that category.

He trails Levi Stanley, who amassed 366 career tackles.

But Elimimian downplayed the quest, saying, "I just want to win, and right now we're losing."

He said the record would be "icing on the cake" only if the Warriors meet their goal of finishing with a winning regular season and earning a berth in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

"Anything on top of that is extra," Elimimian said.

Head coach Greg McMackin praised Elimimian as a "great player. He and Adam (Leonard, an outside linebacker) are two of the best who have ever been here. I compare Solly to Pisa (Tinoisamoa) and Jeff Ulbrich."

McMackin said Elimimian also is comparable, at this stage of his career, to a future All-Pro linebacker he coached at the University of Miami.

"Everybody thinks Solly's small, but he weighs 235 pounds," McMackin said. "Ray Lewis weighed 215 pounds when I coached him."

McMackin said Elimimian has "great instincts for the ball. And he's a tough guy."

Elimimian, in turn, credited the defensive linemen and Leonard for occupying blockers, allowing him to swoop in for tackles.

Elimimian, who never redshirted, has not missed a game during his UH career. His first start was against Idaho, the third game of the 2005 season. That was when he made his first career interception.

"I thank God for keeping me healthy," Elimimian said. "A lot of it is God helping me to play on some of those games I didn't think I would be able to play."

An ankle injury kept him from practicing until three days before the 2008 season opener against Florida.

He did not practice in the week leading to this year's game against San Jose State.

"If we had to play on Friday, I wouldn't be able to play," Elimimian said. "But Saturday, miraculously, I was healed."

Elimimian was an inside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme in 2005 and 2006, and the middle linebacker in the 4-3 defense in 2007. When Blaze Soares suffered an injury in training camp, Elimimian replaced Soares on the perimeter, and Brashton Satele moved into the lineup at middle linebacker.

"It probably cost Solly a bunch of tackles, but he's a team player, and he (made the move) for the team," McMackin said.

Satele has been bothered by a shoulder injury the past couple of games. He will be used in specific situations against Nevada. McMackin said Elimimian will play inside linebacker the rest of the season.

"We're going to let him finish off the year inside," McMackin said.

TAYLOR DROPS OUT

Wideout Jovonte Taylor has withdrawn from school and returned to his home in Los Angeles after suffering serious symptoms from a viral infection, McMackin confirmed.

"It's a shame," McMackin said.

Taylor was taking reps as a first-team receiver in the practices leading to the Sept. 27 game against San Jose State.

But he did not play in that game, and has not practiced since. He was scratched from the travel roster for the Oct. 4 game against Fresno State.

Taylor, who is listed as 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds, reportedly has lost more than 20 pounds because of the illness.

He has withdrawn from all of his classes to remain in good academic standing.

McMackin said he expects Taylor to return to UH in January.

Taylor, who transferred from Los Angeles Southwest College, entered UH with two years to play two seasons.

McMackin said UH will petition the NCAA for a special exemption that will allow Taylor to play through the 2010 season.

Taylor was one of the most heralded members of the 2008 recruiting class, McMackin's first as UH head coach.

Taylor was the California community college 100-meter champion, winning in 10.47 seconds. He claims to have run sub-4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

This season, Taylor has two catches for 38 yards. He is averaging 14.9 yards per kickoff return.

LOFTON RETURNING KICKS

The son of an NFL Hall of Fame receiver will get his chance to return kickoffs and punts this week.

"I am excited," said Daniel Lofton, a third-year sophomore whose father, James Lofton, played for the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.

Lofton attended California as a freshman in 2006, then transferred to UH. In accordance with NCAA rules, Lofton redshirted last year.

Lofton, who is a wideout, missed most of training camp because of a hip problem.

"It's OK now," Lofton said.

During Monday's news conference, McMackin announced he wanted to make changes in the kick-return phase. The coaches sought a player who was seeking them.

"They wanted me to do it, and I wanted to do it, too," Lofton said. "I want a way to help the team."

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