Spring Day 9 Wrap-Ups

Jason Kaneshiro profiles offensive lineman Raphael Ieru.

A knee injury sidetracked him early in his Hawaii career and managing his weight became an issue at times over his four years with the Warriors. Now the senior is locked in a tight battle for a starting job on the offensive line, strengthened by the experience.

Although Shaw is in his first season at UH, he can see a difference between the player he studied on tape and the performance Ieru has delivered this spring.

"He's much quicker, he's got more staying power," Shaw said. "His conditioning has allowed him to go 10, 15 plays if we need to and he's not getting tired and he's really running hard downfield."

Stephen Tsai writes about Rocky Savaiigaea participating in team drills for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn tricep.

"For the first day, it feels good," said Savaiigaea, who will be a fifth-year senior in the fall.

In the first week of the 2008 training camp, Savaiigaea suffered a tear to his left triceps. He tried to heal through aggressive rehabilitation. But he aggravated the injury, and then underwent surgery.

The surgeon drilled two holes into a bone. The tendons were attached, then looped through the bone for added support.

"That gave it stability," Savaiigaea said.

Tsai also highlights the continued improvement of defensive back Richard Torres.

And Kaneshiro has some news and notes about Rocky Savaiigaea and the defensive backs.