Full-speed sticks, and tackles as hard as stones, may break Hawai'i football receiver Nate Ilaoa's bones, but names ...?

"They don't bother me," said Ilaoa, a fifth-year senior. "They're another motivation."

Ilaoa has rebounded from a Gray's Anatomy of injuries and UH coach June Jones' very public criticism to ascend to No. 1 right slotback during this week's practices. He has moved ahead of Ryan Grice-Mullen, who is recovering from a strained right shoulder, and Patrick Olchovy, who will be unavailable to play for up to eight weeks because of two broken back ribs.

"It feels good to be back out here," said Ilaoa, who has played in one game in the past two seasons because of shoulder and knee injuries.

During the Aug. 6 practice, the second of training camp, he suffered a strained hamstring — an injury, Jones asserted, was linked to the 5-foot-9 Ilaoa weighing 249 pounds.

Later that day, Jones said to The Advertiser: "I told him in front of the team that we were counting on him when we play SC, and he reported out of shape. That says it all right there. We gave him every opportunity. ... Obviously, he didn't work out at all. You either have intestinal fortitude or you don't. He's proven to me he doesn't."

Ilaoa said he did not read Jones' comments "but I heard about them from my teammates. That's enough. When your teammates ask you questions, it motivates you in a way to work harder and get back to where people are used to seeing me and the way people still think of me."

Slotback Jason Ferguson said he met with Ilaoa that night.

"I think (Jones' comments) opened Nate's eyes," Ferguson said. "I told him we needed him. He's probably the overall best football player on this team."

Ferguson added: "He could have quit, especially after what coach said about him in the paper. Nobody wants to hear their coach talk about them like that. But at the same time, if it's the truth, it's the truth, and you have to acknowledge that. He acknowledged that, and he took it the best way anybody can take it."

Conditioning coach Mel deLaura implemented a more specific workout program for Ilaoa, which included jogging and flexibility routines. Ilaoa now weighs 235 pounds — and, for the record, he doesn't mind responding to inquiring minds.

"That's part of the job we're doing," he said. "It does get ugly, but you have to understand that's part of the package you get. Everybody wants to know everything. Just like me. (For example) I want to know everything about the NFL and what they're doing. People want to know stuff. That's what they want to hear. It doesn't bother me. It's another motivation to (lose weight) so when they ask I can confidently tell them what I'm weighing."

Jones yesterday said Ilaoa is "not in the shape he needs to be, that's for sure," but acknowledged, "he knows what to do. He runs the right routes. He catches the ball. He can be effective."

In Ilaoa's favor is his productive history. Although he has been limited to 13 games since joining UH in 2001, Ilaoa averages 11.8 yards per touch. In football parlance, Ilaoa is a "gamer."

"That's one of the most beautiful parts of the game — to get out there and showcase what we've been working on for months," he said. "Hopefully, it'll be the same when they turn the lights back on."

Ferguson said: "It doesn't surprise me that he's back. It doesn't matter if he's hurting. He sucks it up. He's a soldier."

Ilaoa, appropriately, was wearing a wristband that read: "Support our troops."

EXPANSION TEAM

Yesterday was the start of UH's fall semester, a time when Division I rosters are allowed to expand.

Jones said "12 to 15" players will join this week, pending academic and medical clearance.

Quarterback Kainoa Akina attended practice yesterday, although he will not be allowed to compete in contact drills until tomorrow.

Running back Jazen Anderson, the younger brother of former All-Pro Jamal Anderson, said he will report tomorrow. His junior-college transcripts have been approved.

"I'll be there for sure," he said. "Everything is set and ready to go. I'm glad. I noticed I have a single gray hair."

Slotback Brandon Matano, who competed in training camp, was not in uniform yesterday. Jones said Matano is on the roster, but "I can't comment on his situation."

Linebacker/safety Chris Assily, a 2004 Kaiser High graduate, apparently will not play for the Warriors this season.

Jones said Laupepa Letuli, who moved from the offensive line two weeks ago, will remain at running back when he recovers from a strained right shoulder.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.