LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State football coach Hal Mumme was on a press conference roll, talking about the University of Hawai'i defense, when he abruptly halted, looked at a reporter from Honolulu and asked, "How do you say No. 94's name?"

Not for the first or — undoubtedly— last time this year has an opposing coach had to seek pronunciation assistance when it came to Warrior defensive end David Veikune.

But none of them has trouble with his number.

Veikune has imprinted that in coaches' minds — not to mention on the body parts of opposition quarterbacks and running backs.

In a season where the 4-5 Warriors have struggled for consistency, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior has been the opposite. He has defined it.

From one game to the next his performance has wavered only slightly from outstanding. "He plays outstanding — every week," said head coach Greg McMackin, who seeks another one as the Warriors play the pass-happy Aggies here Saturday.

Curiously, Veikune is returning to Las Cruces, where he lived from junior high until his sophomore year of high school as an Aggie fan, before moving back to his birthplace and graduating from Campbell High.

Rarely has Veikune disappointed because rarely is he in the wrong place. It happens so infrequently that coaches are loathe to bring it up as if either they don't quite believe it themselves or the preponderance of his outstanding plays so outweighs the questionable ones. Usually, Veikune is in the middle of the play, which is why he leads the Warriors in tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (4.5) and is second only to linebacker Solomon Elimimian in tackles (55).

It is a black-and-blue phenomenon that developed last year and one paid testament to when Veikune made the All-Western Athletic Conference first team despite starting just one game in 2007.

But it is a reflection of Veikune's approach to the game that he did not rest of his growing laurels but sought to make a bigger impact. Mindful that some of the cast he competed with for playing time last year was not returning, Veikune put in considerable off-season effort into building endurance, strength and speed for more playing time this year.

"I love to do weights, but I hate to run," Veikune said. "I don't think anybody but marathoners like to run, but that's what I had to do more of, so I got together with Mel (deLaura, assistant strength coach) and the trainers and did it."

Such dedication is hardly surprising. "He is an outstanding guy who plays the game with passion and heart and goes about it the right way," gushes defensive coordinator Cal Lee. "You'd love to have 11 David Veikunes."

To be sure they'd love to have this one back in Las Cruces.

Whatever they'd call him.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.