Well-traveled Brad Kalilimoku could end up as the University of Hawai'i football team's starting left outside linebacker for Saturday's road game against Fresno State.

He practiced with the first-team defense yesterday.

The initial plan was for outside linebacker Tyson Kafentzis to regain his starting job on the left side this week. Kafentzis has not played since Sept. 23, when he left the Boise State game during the opening series after suffering a hairline fracture in his right ankle.

But Kafentzis, who resumed participating in conditioning drills Tuesday, had difficulty making cuts while running yesterday.

"I looked at (No.) 8, and 8 can't run," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said of Kafentzis. "That's when I decided to move Brad."

Kalilimoku, a conditional senior, was an outside linebacker as a first-year sophomore in 2004. He started at inside linebacker last season, Glanville's first at UH.

From spring practice through the Sept. 2 season-opening game against Alabama, Kalilimoku was a strong safety. He moved to outside linebacker after the Alabama game, and three days later, moved to inside linebacker when Solomon Elimimian was diagnosed with a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

"What I like about Brad is he can run," Glanville said. "He has no stiffness in his hips at all."

Karl Noa and Amani Purcell have filled in at left outside linebacker. Brashton Satele is not available because of a pulled hamstring. The competition reopened because of the Warriors' difficulty in playing "containment" — bracketing the perimeters, a strategy designed to keep the quarterback in the area between the offensive tackles.

"I have to play contain," Kalilimoku said. "I can't really just go. I have to be disciplined."

The Warriors' inability to keep quarterback Jeff Rowe from scrambling led to Nevada's first touchdown pass in last week's game.

George Lumpkin, who coaches the outside linebackers, said, "Brad's a good ball player. If he can help us out there, if he can grasp what we're doing, I think that would be great. We have to see if he can grasp what we're doing, and then we'll make a decision."

Micah Lau, a junior from Kamehameha Schools, practiced as No. 1 right outside linebacker yesterday.

But C.J. Allen-Jones, who is recovering from a sprained left wrist and hyper-extended left elbow, is expected to make his fifth start in six games this season. Still, Glanville said, Lau has been efficient in his assignments and will earn extended playing time.

"I try not to make mistakes," said Lau, who is 5 feet 9 and 215 pounds. "I'm undersized, but I try to give it all I've got. It's all about leverage and quickness. I have to use what I've got. I've always played linebacker, and I've always had to go against bigger linemen. I have to stay low, use quickness on them."

Lau can bench press a maximum 405 pounds, and bench 225 pounds 27 times. He can run 40 yards in 4.55 seconds.

BLOCKING OUT INJURIES

Starting guards Hercules Satele and John Estes resumed practicing with the first-team offense yesterday.

In the 41-34 victory over Nevada, Satele said he suffered a bruised left knee and Estes said he suffered a "slight sprain or tweak" to his right knee. They did not participate in Monday's conditioning drills nor Tuesday's pad-free practice.

"I'm ready to go," Satele said.

He said he suffered the injury when "I was blocking somebody, and somebody ran into my leg."

Satele is the key blocker in "Tampa Right," the Warriors' pet running play. Satele pulls to the right, clearing a path for running back Nate Ilaoa.

"Anybody would love to pull for Nate," Satele said. "He just needs that one block, and he's gone. He can go through the hole, around it, or just in a little crease."

Estes, who suffered his injury when he was hit from behind by a Nevada defender, said: "Hopefully, I'm back to normal. For some reason, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking about it."

Both Satele and Estes wear braces in games and practices.

"If I wasn't wearing a brace, I'd probably be a lot more hurt than I am now," Estes said.

GRICE-MULLINS HOPEFUL

Right slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, who has not played since suffering a sprained left ankle against Boise State, was unsuccessful in trying to practice yesterday.

Grice-Mullins said he still hopes to be included on the 60-player travel roster. His last chance is this morning's practice. The Warriors depart on a charter this afternoon.

He was not on a tentative travel roster.

"We'll see how it goes," Grice-Mullins said.

Forty of his friends and family members will be attending the game.

Ross Dickerson, who has played right slotback the past two games, resumed practicing yesterday. Dickerson is suffering from a sprained left hip.

Right wideout Ian Sample, who has a strained left hamstring, also practiced.

Inside linebacker Blaze Soares (pulled right hamstring), cornerback Ryan Keomaka (sprained left ankle), running back Reagan Mauia (sprained shoulders, hyper-extended right elbow) are on the tentative travel roster.

Offensive lineman Aaron Kia and defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea are tentatively scheduled to make their first UH road trip.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.