Offensive tackle Keith Ah Soon is restricted from practicing with the University of Hawai'i football team until it can be determined that his injury is nothing more serious than a stinger.

Ah Soon, who is the top backup at both tackle positions, has complained of stingers — a sports-related injury to the nerves about the neck or shoulder — for a year.

A recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any significant injury. But he was told he needed to consult with a specialist.

Ah Soon said he is "OK,'' and he is suffering only "minor stingers."

Ah Soon said he should have been allowed to practice yesterday, and that he expects to resume working out today.

"The training-room people are ... I don't know what they're trying to do to me," he said. "I practiced last week. I was good."

UH coach June Jones said: "I can't really comment on it. I was told (the doctors) want to do some looking."

Asked about the seriousness of the injury, Jones said, "I have no idea. It never bothered him for 2 1/2 years."

Dennis McKnight, who coaches the offensive line, said: "I'm more worried for him than for us, but it's a big thing for us. With something like that, obviously you want to go through the right channels. For my own peace of mind, if this is for me or my son ... I'd want to find out what's going on, what it is."

Ah Soon, who is from American Samoa, played in 11 games as a second-year freshman in 2005.

PURCELL, SATELE SIT OUT

On Monday, outside linebackers Amani Purcell and Brashton Satele were on the first team.

Yesterday, they were receiving first aid. Neither completed practice.

Purcell is suffering from a strained left in-step. Satele skipped the final drills because of a stinger.

C.J. Allen-Jones and Micah Lau finished as the first-string outside linebackers.

"It's a little sore," Purcell said. "I don't know how I got it."

Purcell, who transferred from Penn State last year, was cleared to play for UH last Friday. He was the No. 1 right outside linebacker Saturday and Monday. Yesterday, he practiced on the left side.

"When you haven't been doing true football stuff for a while, little nagging things act up," Jones said. "It's not major. He'll be OK."

Satele also was confident about a speedy recovery. "I can play through it," he said.

Allen-Jones, who has been bothered by a sore left hamstring, said he experienced little discomfort yesterday.

"No tear, no pull, no problem," Allen-Jones said.

Jones said Purcell, Satele and Allen-Jones are "a little bit ahead of everybody else."

Jones said Satele, "when he turns it up, is at a different level. On some days, like players do, they start saying 'this is sore' and 'that's sore' and they don't quite go 100 percent. When he goes 100 percent, he's different from the rest of the guys."

Jones said those three will play significantly in the Sept. 2 opener against Alabama. By defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville's calculations, Tyson Kafentzis also should be in the mix.

"The biggest shock, as a coach since I've been here, Kafentzis did not practice (yesterday)," Glanville said. "He was sick. I didn't think Kafentzis would miss practice if he was on his death bed. They'd have to be giving him his last rites."

PETERS BACK IN ACTION

Starting free safety Leonard Peters yesterday competed in contact drills for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Jones said Peters is suffering from tendinitis in his right ankle.

"He's going to have it for the whole year," Jones said. "He has to play through it. ... Tendinitis is pain. You've got to play with it. At some point, if he can't be at full speed, he has to make that call."

Peters said his ankle feels "good every time," and that it is not his decision to sit out drills. Asked why he is being pulled, Peters said, "I don't know. I'm the Indian. I listen to the chiefs."

Peters said he expects to be ready for Alabama.

"I always feel I can go," he said. "Even if my ankle was broken, I would tape it up with duct tape and play."

Strong safety Brad Kalilimoku skipped contact drills for the fourth consecutive practice because of a tight hamstring. Kalilimoku, who was No. 1 until suffering the injury, has ceded the top spot to Jacob Patek, a junior-college transfer.

Glanville said he has "no idea" when Kalilimoku will resume practicing.

"On my door it says 'coach,' " Glanville said. "Nothing says 'doctor,' 'trainer' or 'magician.' "

Nose tackle Michael Lafaele also was not able to compete because of a sprained left ankle.

He was wearing a medical boot yesterday, and after practice, he rode the exercise bicycle.

He said he injured the ankle last Thursday. He expects to resume practicing tomorrow or Friday.

Kahai LaCount received most of the work at nose tackle.

During his UH career, LaCount has played on the offensive line and served as the deep blocker on kick returns.

Although he has battled frustration over his lack of playing time, LaCount said, "I'm in it for school and to play for my family and to have fun. I realized one day it would be better for me to have fun. I'm having fun, and I'm enjoying it more."

HAWTHORNE IS NO. 1

Jones said C.J. Hawthorne has emerged as the No. 1 punt returner.

Jones is impressed with Hawthorne's calmness in fielding punts, and his ability to elude would-be tacklers.

"C.J. Hawthorne is our guy," Jones said.

Hawthorne, who enrolled at UH in January after transferring from a junior college, said he thrives on challenges.

"Everything is pressure, and I love pressure," Hawthorne said.

Hawthorne is the Warriors' top right cornerback and kick-blocker. He also will be used as the gunner on kickoffs.

Jones said cornerback Kenny Patton and wideouts Ross Dickerson and Chad Mock will return kickoffs.

"It's great," Patton said. "I really like to get the ball. It's going to be fun returning kicks. We have a really good wedge (of blockers). I'm happy with the guys we have out there."

McKnight, who is in charge of the blocking schemes on kick returns, said Larry Sauafea has been named "wedge captain." Marques Kaonohi and David Veikune also will set up blocks for the returners.

RIVERS ADJUST TO STYLE

Left wideout Jason Rivers, who missed last season to focus on academics, said the offensive schemes have not changed.

Rivers also has adjusted to the different styles between UH quarterback Colt Brennan and his predecessor, Tim Chang. Rivers and Chang were teammates at UH and Saint Louis School.

"Colt is a different type of quarterback," Rivers said. "He brings a different style and different swagger to the table. They both throw tight spirals. It's just that Colt has a side-arm (motion) and Timmy doesn't."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.