Player Updates, Pro Day, SWA

Stephen Tsai has some updates on Leon Wright-Jackson, Paipai Falemalu and Alema Tachibana. Here's an excerpt on Tachibana, who's been trying to gain weight.

"I eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, proteins," Tachibana said. "It's not working."
Tachibana, who is 6 feet 2, said he weighs 200 pounds — his playing weight as a Kahuku senior.
"I want to get up to 220," said Tachibana, who will compete at defensive end although he might be a better fit physically as an outside linebacker.
But the coaches note that Melila Purcell III and Ikaika Alama-Francis both weighed about 205 when they first joined the UH football team. Both filled out, and both are now in the NFL.
"There's hope," Tachibana said.

Jason Kaneshiro talks to Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard, who are both preparing for Pro Day.

Both are focused on improving their times in the 40-yard dash and various agility drills in advance of Hawaii's pro day April 2 in Carson, Calif.

"I wish it was sooner," Leonard said. "I'm just taking every day to prepare my self and go out there and give my best effort."

And former UH QB Shawn Withy-Allen has come out of retirement once again to play for the Fayetteville Guard of the AIFA.

Charles Gunnings is blessed with the power of persuasion.

Not once, but twice over the past year Gunnings has coaxed Shawn Withy-Allen out of retirement to quarterback the Fayetteville Guard.

Gunnings believes bringing Withy-Allen back for a full season in 2009 will be a key element in the Guard rebounding from a 5-9 finish last year that kept them out of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

“I thought it was probably time to hang it up after last year,’’ said the 29-year-old Withy-Allen. “I had a couple of tryouts with some NFL teams, the (Carolina) Panthers and (Philadelphia) Eagles, but nothing seemed to be working out there. Plus, I had my job and my wife was pregnant with our first child. So, it kind of seemed like the time to retire for good this time.’’