University of Hawai'i inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian has been named to the Scout.com Freshman All-America football team.

"I'm happy to be recognized," said Elimimian, who led the Warriors in tackles with 73. He also had six tackles for losses, two sacks and an interception.

Elimimian, who is 6 feet and 225 pounds, broke into the starting lineup in the Warriors' third game.

"He deserves the honor," said Cal Lee, who coaches the inside linebackers. "He worked very hard."

Lee said Elimimian relies on quickness (he can run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds) and strength to play the buck linebacker, a position aligned on the strong side.

"He takes on the big guys," Lee said.

Elimimian said it was a "big step" adjusting to college and Hawai'i's lifestyle.

"I was nervous coming into college," he said. "It was a whole different scene. And Hawai'i is totally different from Los Angeles."

Elimimian said he received advice from his brother, Abraham Elimimian, a former UH defensive back.

"He was always calling me, answering my questions," Solomon Elimimian said. "He really helped me out a lot."

Slotback Davone Bess was named to the Scout.com All-Freshman second team, and slotback Ryan Grice-Mullen received honorable mention.

ELSEWHERE

Colorado: Dan Hawkins was hired as the Buffaloes head coach yesterday, after the university's governing Board of Regents voted unanimously to give him a five-year contract worth $900,000 a year.

Hawkins went 53-10 over the past five years at Boise State, winning the Western Athletic Conference four times — including a tie for first with Nevada this season — and has a reputation as someone who runs a clean-cut program.

Boise State: Offensive coordinator Chris Petersen was promoted to head coach yesterday, hours after Dan Hawkins left to take over at Colorado. Petersen will receive a five-year contract worth $2.5 million.

The Broncos have been one of the top scoring teams in the country in the five years Peterson has directed the offense.

I-AA championship: Jason Hunter returned a fumble for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Appalachian State won its first I-AA national championship by beating Northern Iowa, 21-16, yesterday at Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Mountaineers (12-3) were behind, 16-14, when Marques Murrell sacked quarterback Eric Sanders of Northern Iowa (11-4) and forced a fumble at the 15. Hunter ran it in for a touchdown to give Appalachian State the lead with 9:14 remaining.

Buffalo: Former Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill became the head coach at Buffalo yesterday, taking over a team that has perennially been one of the country's worst. Since jumping to Division I-A in 1999 and joining the Mid-American Conference, the Bulls are 10-69 with no winning seasons.

San Diego State: Former Iowa quarterback Chuck Long is expected to become head coach at San Diego State after spending four seasons as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. His hiring could be announced today, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press yesterday. Long, 42, will replace Tom Craft, who was fired on Dec. 5 after going 19-29 in four seasons.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.