Running back Jake Heun today will learn the severity of a lower-back injury that has kept him from participating in the past three practices of the Hawai'i football team's training camp.

It is believed he might be suffering from a herniated disc. He is scheduled to undergo medical tests today.

"Hopefully, it's sooner than later," Heun said of his return. "They think it's a disc thing going on, but they're not really sure what the deal is."

Alex Gerke, who coaches the running backs, said: "Anytime you deal with a back, it's hard. You've got to be cautious. Football is where he is now. But he's got a full life to live. We want to make sure that things get treated correctly."

Heun, who was a defensive end at City College of San Francisco last season, was recruited to UH as a power back for short-yardage situations. He was impressive during spring training and the Warrior Bowl.

Heun said he "tweaked" his back while training this summer. "I didn't really take care of it right away," he admitted.

He aggravated the injury during a drill Monday, the first day of training camp.

"I was trying to make a cut, and I just dropped," he said. "I don't really have strength on my right side. (The injury) caused everything to cramp up."

Heun said the condition has improved every day. "They've got me doing all kinds of rehab," he said. "I'm trying to get back in place."

The other power back, David Farmer, yesterday was held out of contact drills because of a strained abdomen.

Farmer said he suffered the injury while training.

"It was one of those things," Farmer said. "I hope it gets better."

Although he did not participate in contact drills, Farmer still had to wear full gear. Yesterday's practice was the first in shoulder pads.

"All of his appendages are still on him," Gerke said. "He can suit up."

Head coach Greg McMackin said: "Gerke is a tough mother. He demands a lot. Just like Dave was injured today, but he had him out there in full pads. He's going to have the running backs tougher than heck. And they're running well."

In addition to Heun and Farmer, there are five other running backs in training camp. Daniel Libre and Leon Wright-Jackson are listed as co-No. 1 in the one-back offense. Jayson Rego, a former state high school Player of the Year, wore an ice pack on his sore right shoulder at the end of yesterday's practice. Khevin Peoples moved from safety at the start of camp, and Joey Cadiz is a scout player who must redshirt this season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.

In 11-on-11 drills yesterday, the running backs displayed grit. UH's four-wide offense does not employ a tight end, necessitating the running back to often serve as the sixth blocker.

Wright-Jackson made a crunching block, enabling quarterback Greg Alexander to have enough time to complete a pass over the middle.

Libre also had two big blocks, including one in which he held off defensive end Victor Clore for nearly five seconds.

"Being a long-time line coach, you have one mentality to coach with," said Gerke, who joined the Warriors in February. "The bottom line is you've got to be a tough nut. You've got to be physical, and nothing can affect you mentally."

Under Gerke's direction, Wright-Jackson has made a noticeable improvement in his blocking.

"It's one of those deals where you have no choice," Gerke said. "He's got to do that."

The running backs, it seems, have been motivated by the linebackers' lessons in physical education.

"They hit us, they knock us back, and we hear it from them," Wright-Jackson said of facing the Warrior linebackers in contact drills. "When meetings come around, we're getting yelled at by the coach. We're tired of it. We've got to hit back as much as (the linebackers) hit us. We've got the best linebackers, in my opinion, in the nation. If we stick them, we're going to be able to stick other guys. ... That's how I see it."

Gerke has acknowledged that the running backs have made progress.

"This is only Day 4," he said after yesterday's practice. "The guys have a long, long way to go. The only problem we'll have is if they think they've arrived. As long as they keep their nose on the grindstone, we should be OK."

The message is not lost on Libre, who appears to be the most physically fit of the running backs. Libre said he felt compelled to work on improving his strength and punch — the open-handed blocking technique — during summer workouts. In addition to weight training, Libre worked on one-on-one blocking drills against teammates, and hitting the heavy punching bag.

"We haven't peaked yet (except for) Libre (who is) in the best shape," Wright-Jackson said. "We have a lot of things we have to get acclimated with — who's going to be our quarterback and with our line. We've got to become one. Once we become one, everything is going to fall into place."

SOARES BLAZES ON FIELD

Once again, leftside linebacker Blaze Soares came up with the defensive play of yesterday's practice.

In the 7-on-7 drill, slotback Aaron Bain caught a pass from Jake Santos. Soares hit Bain, knocking free Bain's helmet.

"It wasn't intentional," Soares said. "He just came across the middle. I was there. I gave him a nice whack, and apparently his helmet came off."

QB JANTZ EMBRACES ROLE

Freshman quarterback Steele Jantz is making the best of his role as a scout-team quarterback. The job enables Jantz to make a lot of throws every practice.

"This is why I'm here," Jantz said.

Jantz probably would have been at a Pac-10 school if he had not suffered a broken fibia during Nevada Union High's second game last year. He already had received offers from Nevada and San Jose State, and Oregon State and California had expressed strong interest.

He underwent surgery in which a rod was inserted into his left leg.

By then, all of the offers were pulled.

Jantz graduated in December, then enrolled at UH in January. He attended spring training as a spectator. He worked out this summer during unsupervised drills.

His first name is unique except in his family. His father is Foxx Jantz and his uncle is Wolfe Jantz.

TAYLOR IN SLOTBACK MIX

Slotback Rick Taylor is the answer to this trivia question: Who is the only receiver to have caught passes from former UH quarterback Colt Brennan and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow?

It is why Taylor said he is "working and I'm praying" to be included on the Warriors' travel roster to Florida.

Taylor and Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, were teammates at Nease High School in Florida.

As a grayshirt, Taylor delayed enrolling at UH until January 2006. He spent the 2005 fall semester as an assistant at Nease, grading videos of the offense, and tutoring the receivers. Tebow was a senior on that team.

"He's a good quarterback, a good human being, a good Christian and a good teammate," Taylor said of Tebow.

Because the Warriors will be using commercial flights, the travel roster will be limited. Taylor is competing at right slotback. Bain and Kealoha Pilares are the top players at that position.

"Right now the depth chart is in pencil," Taylor said. "Along with a pencil, you've got an eraser. People are moving up and down. That makes the competition good. When Davone (Bess) and Ryan (Grice-Mullins) were here, they were pretty much set. It was a little tougher to compete. It's good now that the competition is open."

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