University of Hawai'i nose tackle Michael Lafaele yesterday hobbled back into the lineup, declaring himself somewhat able and definitely willing to play in the Sept. 2 opener against Alabama.

"I came out to see how it was, and it's not bad," Lafaele said of his sore left heel.

Lafaele had not competed in contact drills since Aug. 17, when he injured the left heel.

On Tuesday, he received a cortisone shot, and was told to wear a medical boot on his left foot through Wednesday night.

Lafaele said the shot is "helping. It's still store, but it's better than it was last week."

Although he was on the first-team defense during the 11-on-11 drills, Lafaele said: "I'm not where I want to be. I didn't go at full speed. I didn't want to make it any worse. I got my mental reps in."

Lafaele said he believes he aggravated the injury through "over-using it, pushing (off on) it too much."

He said he has been instructed to now wear the medical boot at all times except when he is practicing.

"I think I'll have to wear it until the day of the game," Lafaele said.

Lawrence Wilson, who has been bothered by an ankle injury, is the immediate backup.

Kahai LaCount and defensive end Keala Watson also have been used at the position.

Lafaele's health is an issue because the Warriors are limited to a travel roster of 60 players.

LINEBACKERS HURTING

The competition at outside linebacker also is complicated because of health problems.

On Monday, Brashton Satele and Amani Purcell emerged as the top outside linebackers. Since then, they have not practiced regularly because of injuries. Satele has a stinger and bruised right quadriceps. Purcell has a painful left in-step.

During yesterday's 11-on-11 contact drills, Tyson Kafentzis was on the left side and C.J. Allen-Jones on the right. They were the No. 1 outside linebackers at the start of training camp Aug. 3.

Kafentzis said he has fully recovered from flu-like symptoms that kept him homebound Tuesday.

"If I get sick, I'm cutting you," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

Reminded that Kafentzis is a walk-on who pays for the right to play football, Glanville said, "I forgot about that. Never mind."

Allen-Jones, who practiced lightly on Wednesday because of a sore right hamstring, said he does not expect to miss any more workouts.

"It should be no problem," he said. The hamstring is "tight, but it's not pulled. It felt loose today. I know my limits. If I start to feel it tighten too much, I'll rehab it more. I feel confident with my leg."

AH SOON CLEARED

Offensive tackle Keith Ah Soon practiced yesterday after receiving medical clearance from a doctor specializing in spinal-cord injuries.

Ah Soon has suffered periodically from stringers — a nerve-pinch injury — on his right side of his neck.

A magnetic resonance imaging did not show any abnormalities. On Wednesday, he visited a specialist. Additional X-rays did not show any problems.

"Everything's normal," Ah Soon said. "The trainers were being more cautious about the situation. Everything is good. I'm cleared to play. Aloha."

UH coach June Jones said: "I'm glad for him it's OK."

Ah Soon is the top backup at both tackle positions.

JACKSON EYES HOOPS

The player to be named later is ... slotback Marquez Jackson.

In recent years, Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan and Ikaika Alama-Francis moved from the UH basketball team to the football team. Now Jackson is seeking to follow his hoop dreams.

Jackson said he has had discussions with Jones and the basketball coaches. He said he would like to finish the football season before moving over, but it depends on "whenever they need me."

Jackson, who is 5 feet 8 1/2, was the point guard on the nationally ranked East Hall High (Snellville, Ga.) basketball team. East Hall won two state basketball titles.

Jackson said UH was the only school to offer him a football scholarship. He said he strongly considered accepting a basketball scholarship from Marshall.

GLANVILLE GETS THE BOOT

The Warriors' team colors are apparently green, white and ostrich black.

At least that's according to the owners of the Wheeler Boot Company in Houston.

Moved by Glanville's decision to return to coaching after visiting with U.S. troops in Iraq, the store owner sent Glanville a present of custom-made boots.

Glanville said the boots are made from black ostrich. There is the Warriors' "H" logo on the side.

"On the back is the football skin shaped as a football with 'WAC' on it," Glanville said. UH is a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

Glanville said all of the boots are "hand-made and hand-sewed."

Glanville said the owner has crafted custom-made boots for President Bush and former All-Pro running back Earl Campbell.

"I have a pair of boots he made out of Wilson pigskin footballs," Glanville said. "I have 'em out of elephant skin. I have 'em out of horned frogs."

For custom orders, there are only three bootmakers, Glanville said.

"It's always the same guy who makes your boot," he said. "No worker would be moved over to your boot."

He said there is a long line to place custom orders. "Every four or five years, President Bush gets an opportunity to get another pair made," said Glanville, who does not tell his wife how many boots he owns. "I have enough to cover all of the feet I've got."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.