In a busy day for the registrar, a running back yesterday rejoined the University of Hawai'i football team and two former All-State players left.

Four days after announcing his intention to quit the team, Jazen Anderson changed his mind, deciding to remain at UH.

Anderson will attend today's practice, but will not suit up until Monday, the first day of UH's fall semester.

Anderson's return cushioned the departures of cornerback C.J. Tausaga and middle linebacker Stephen Lei.

Tausaga, a second-year freshman, said he is leaving to coach the defensive backs at his alma mater, 'Aiea High School.

Lei, a 2006 graduate of Saint Louis School, is "retiring" from football to focus on academics. Lei, like Anderson and Tausaga, is not receiving a football scholarship.

Last Friday, Anderson said he was leaving because his running style did not fit in the Warriors' four-wide, one-back passing offense. At UH, the running back is used primarily as a backfield blocker.

UH coach June Jones and Anderson had several discussions. Anderson had a standing invitation from Jones to return. Yesterday, Anderson accepted it.

"He's a great kid," Jones said. "I'm glad he chose to fight through it."

Anderson said he reconsidered after realizing "what a great place this is, with great coaches and teammates, and a great atmosphere."

Anderson is set to share a house with running back Nate Ilaoa, defensive end Melila Purcell III and left guard Hercules Satele.

"The team bonded," Anderson said. "I couldn't leave that. There's no better place for me."

Last week, Jones said, Anderson and David Farmer were tied at No. 3 on the depth chart behind Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia. Since then, Khevin Peoples and Jason Laumoli moved to running back.

"I missed a couple of days of practice, and I'll have to start from the bottom, but that's fine by me," Anderson said.

Anderson's older brother, Jamal Anderson, was an All-Pro running back for the Atlanta Falcons when Jones was the head coach there in the early 1990s.

Jazen Anderson is listed as a senior, but is petitioning to also play in 2007. He said his eligibility clock should not have started in September 2001. He enrolled at a junior college, but withdrew before attending classes. "I never was a student that season," he said.

Tausaga said he enjoyed playing for the Warriors, but wanted to focus on coaching, his youth-mentoring activities and work with St. Elizabeth's Church.

"I always believed 24 hours are not enough to do what I want to do in a day," Tausaga said. "I loved playing for UH, but I have a passion for helping people, and that passion is more than the love I have for playing football."

He said he will continue to attend UH, and will remain supportive of the players.

Tausaga was competing for a starting job at cornerback in spring practice. He entered training camp listed No. 2 on the depth chart. This week, he was assigned to the scout team, which portrays the opposing offense and defense in practice.

"My decision had nothing to do with playing time," said Tausaga, who was selected as a Scout of the Year in 2005. "I looked at being a scout as a great learning experience. There are other things I want to do, and helping people is at the top of my list."

Jones said: "He's a great kid, and a hard worker. I've been friends of his family for a long time. We'll miss him."

Cal Lee, who coaches the inside linebackers, said Lei wanted to focus on academics.

"That was big on his priority list," Lee said. "He's thinking about getting a job to pay for school. You've got to give him credit for that. He's a great kid, and he did everything we asked him to do. He said he appreciated the opportunity to be a Warrior."

UH'S UTILITY MAN

When it came to working hard while growing up in Mississippi, C.J. Hawthorne and his brother always went the whole 12 yards.

That's how many yards the Hawthorne brothers would rake and mow each day when they weren't attending school, practicing football or working at the lawn-care center.

"My parents raised us to work hard," Hawthorne said.

With that background, it is little wonder Hawthorne, who transferred from a junior college in January, does not mind taking on additional tasks.

Not only is he the top right cornerback, but he is the Warriors' best kick-blocker, gunner on UH kickoffs and punts, and punt returner. He also is competing as a kick returner.

"They don't have a players' union in college football, so we're all right," said Jeff Reinebold, who helps coach special teams. "He helps our team in so many different ways. He keeps showing and making plays."

Asked what he likes about Hawthorne, defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said: "Everything. To be able to get him from a junior college — the type of person he is — it may never happen again."

Hawthorne said he doesn't mind the workload. "I enjoy returning punts as much as I enjoy blocking kicks," he said. "I have no problem at all. Wherever I can help the team, I'll go there."

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