Running back Jazen Anderson said he has quit the University of Hawai'i football team.

"It just wasn't working out for the best," said Anderson, the younger brother of former All-Pro running back Jamal Anderson. Jamal Anderson played in Atlanta when UH coach June Jones was the Falcons' head coach.

He is the third player to quit since training camp opened Aug. 3. But unlike the other two — safety Geoff Hayth and cornerback Chris Camacho — Anderson was not on scholarship.

Anderson said his decision was based on the amount of expected playing time — he was listed tied for No. 3 on the depth chart, behind seniors Nate Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia — and because "the run-and-shoot (offense) doesn't fit my running style. It's more blocking than running."

In UH's four-wide offense, the running back serves primarily as a backfield blocker.

"He felt there were a lot of bodies back there, and we're a one-back system," UH coach June Jones said. "He came and talked to me. You have to fight through adversity, but I guess he wanted to make this decision."

Mouse Davis, who coaches the running backs, acknowledged "we've got so many guys at running back, it didn't look like he was going to get any reps. If he's not going to get any reps, he wanted to try somewhere else. You can't blame a kid. That's fine."

Anderson said he does not have any immediate football plans.

Anderson, who will return to Los Angeles on Tuesday, has only one season of NCAA Division I eligibility remaining.

"I still love the team," Anderson said. "That's the worst part of it. Those are my boys. I forged a bond with those guys in the spring. And I still think coach Jones is a great coach. I wish the Warriors the best."

Anderson said he had planned to share an apartment with Ilaoa, defensive end Melila Purcell III and left guard Hercules Satele this season.

"He's a good guy, with a good sense of humor," Ilaoa said. "He's making decisions that are best for him. I support him, no matter what. That's what friends are for. I wish he'd stick around, but you have to do what's best for you, especially in football. We'll miss him. We're going to keep in touch."

PEOPLES MAKES SWITCH

The Warriors already have found Anderson's replacement, moving third-year sophomore Khevin Peoples from outside linebacker to running back.

"Before long, he'll be right in the mix," Jones said.

Peoples' father, George, was a running back in the NFL for three seasons. Khevin Peoples played fullback at Blake High School in Tampa, Fla.

Jones proposed the position change before Wednesday's practice.

"He told me to come over (to running back) and just listen and learn slow and take in as much I can," Peoples said. "After practice, I told him, 'It's cool. I'm playing running back.' "

Peoples, who is 6 feet and 205 pounds, can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds — the fastest among the running backs.

"We're trying to get him on the field," Jones said. "He's got great speed, and he's got the right genes."

PATTON MOVES UP

For the second consecutive day, Kenny Patton practiced in place of injured A.J. Martinez (groin) as the No. 1 left cornerback.

Patton started 21 games at cornerback in the past two seasons before moving to wideout during spring practice.

During the summer, he opted to move back to cornerback. But Martinez was listed No. 1 at left cornerback, and Patton practiced with the second- and third-string units in the first four days of training camp.

Martinez's injury opened the way for Patton.

"You can't make the club in the tub," Jones said. "It's good Kenny got some reps out there. We're counting on him to be a player."

Patton, a fifth-year senior, has overcome several injuries during his UH career. He started last season's opener against top-ranked Southern California 12 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

Jayson Goo, the UH soccer trainer, has instructed Patton on rope-stretching exercises designed to strengthen hamstrings and quadriceps.

Patton said he does not regret the wideout experiment.

"Never, because I learned so much," he said. "There's always something good you can take from every situation. When I played receiver, I learned so much about the defense. Now that I'm back on defense, I know what the receivers are trying to exploit. I see (pass) routes, and I recognize what they're trying to do. It helps out a lot."

IT'S SENIORS' MOMENT

Patton is among three players auditioning to return kickoffs.

"He's big and he's fast," Jones said.

Wideouts Chad Mock and Ross Dickerson also returned kickoffs yesterday afternoon.

"Seniors return kicks," Jones said. "I let them loose."

Cornerback C.J. Hawthorne, and slotbacks Mitch Farney, Michael Washington and Marquez Jackson are the candidates to return punts.

Jackson was the front-runner, but because of a miscommunication, he did not field punts yesterday morning. He worked out on special teams during the afternoon practice.

Yesterday was the first day of double practices.

UH will practice in full pads starting Monday.

PATEK RECOVERING

Jacob Patek, who is the top nickelback, said he has recovered from recent food poisoning. He was hospitalized Tuesday because of dehydration.

"I had an IV hooked up, and I had two liters of fluid, and some medicine for my nausea," said Patek, a transfer from Blinn Junior College in Texas.

He missed two practices, and his weight dropped from 205 to 197. Patek, who is 6 feet, said he weighed 200 yesterday.

HE'S STUCK ON MARLEY

These days, UH quarterback Colt Brennan is sporting a Bob Marley sticker on the back of his white practice helmet.

The sticker was a present from left tackle Tala Esera.

When Brennan was a freshman at the University of Colorado three years ago, he signed up for a writing class.

"The only one that was open was with the music students," Brennan said. "They were doing papers on the G note. I mean, I had no idea. The professor was like, 'Why don't you find a controversial artist and do a final report on him?' "

Brennan chose Marley.

"I learned a lot about his life," Brennan said. "I became a huge fan, not only of his music, but what he did as far as helping his country, and the type of person he was, and what he represented. I have a lot of respect for him. I've been a fan ever since."

UH RICH IN HISTORY

History is the new tradition for UH's defensive linemen.

After overhearing Texas defensive coordinator Duane Akina talk about former Longhorn players, UH's first-year defensive line coach, Jeff Reinebold, decided to turn his meeting room into a hall of honor for past Warrior defensive linemen.

He turned to Kara Nishimura, a UH graphic designer, who helped remodel the meeting room.

She created a 6-foot-by-10-foot mural featuring Harry Kahuanui, John Woodcock, Tom Tuinei, Al Noga, Falaniko Noga and Cliff Laboy.

There are framed action pictures of UH's five senior defensive linemen.

With the help of friends, Nishimura produced the $2,000 job for $300. Reinebold paid for the project. "I want people to know there is a great history here," Reinebold said.

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