Three University of Hawai'i football players from diverse backgrounds — slotback Davone Bess, offensive guard Samson Satele and strong safety Lono Manners — yesterday were named to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team.

Bess also was selected as the WAC's Freshman of the Year.

In addition, UH offensive linemen Brandon Eaton and Tala Esera, defensive ends Ikaika Alama-Francis and Melila Purcell III, and outside linebacker Kila Kamakawiwo'ole were named to the All-WAC second team.

Nevada wide receiver Caleb Spencer, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, was named to the first team.

The UH coaches were surprised that Colt Brennan, who leads the nation in passing yards (4,301) and touchdown passes (35), and slotback Ryan Grice-Mullen, a second-year freshman who actually amassed more receiving yards than Bess, did not qualify for the first or second team. Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville also insisted Kamakawiwo'ole, who led the Warriors with eight sacks and 13.5 backfield tackles, should have been on the first team.

"I'm shocked they're not on there," Glanville said of Kamakawiwo'ole, Grice-Mullen and Brennan. "Evidently, (the coaches who voted) missed some of the games. That's a crime."

UH coach June Jones, whose team finished 5-7, said: "Had we won more games, we would have had more first-team guys. But that comes with winning."

Bess overcame injuries (hamstring, upper glute) and a difficult background (he was incarcerated in a juvenile detention center for a year for possessing stolen property) to produce a remarkable debut season.

Bess, who is 5 feet 9 1/2 and 187 pounds, averaged a WAC-best 7.42 catches per game. He also averaged 93.67 receiving yards per game.

"I'm happy, excited and thankful," Bess said of the WAC honors. "It's going to make me work harder. I look forward to next season."

Bess said he will rest this week, allowing his injuries to heal, then resume training.

"I'm going to get right back on it," he said. "I'm going to work on my speed a little bit. Training is a year-round thing. They said the season just ended, but my season just started. I don't want to 'get ready,' I want to 'stay ready.' I don't want to regret anything when the season comes."

Satele, who is 6 feet 2 1/2 and 305 pounds, is skilled as a pass-protector and a pulling blocker on stretch running plays.

Still, he said, "I can't believe I made first team. I'm really honored."

The 2002 Kailua High School graduate can play guard and center.

He said he might forgo his senior season to apply for the 2006 National Football League draft. His decision will be based largely on the feedback he receives from the NFL, which has an evaluation program for underclassmen.

"If he's a top draft pick, he needs to go," Jones said. "He can't afford an injury."

Satele said: "I'll let you guys know my decision at the end of the month."

Manners, a 2001 Wai'anae High School graduate, joined the Warriors as a 175-pound, non-scholarship player. Inspired by his brother-in-law, Mike Ioane, Manners began an intensive weight-training and conditioning program. Manners, who now is 5 feet 10 and 204 pounds, can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and bench press a team-high 500 pounds.

Overshadowed in the preseason by free safety Leonard Peters, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game, Manners emerged as defensive leader. In Sunday's team banquet, Manners won the Captain's Award for defense.

Manners, who averaged 5.9 tackles per game, did not believe he would be named to the first team, saying, "I thought my stats were OK, but there were people with better stats throughout the WAC."

Rich Miano, who coordinates the defensive secondary, acknowledged Manners did not "have the preseason hype, which shows how good he is to be named to the first team. Sometimes those kind of guys get overlooked. But you can't overlook the film. You can't overlook his performance. You can't overlook his character. He's the best strong safety I've ever coached."

Told of Manners' selection, Glanville said, "I'm happier than Lono. He's very special. I happen to know that people designed their game plan on where he is. He's the main guy to watch when they snap the football. That's probably a bigger tribute, really, than making All-WAC."

KEOMAKA HONORED

UH cornerback Ryan Keomaka yesterday was named the WAC's Defensive Player of the Week.

Keomaka, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound sophomore from Roosevelt High School, made nine solo tackles, recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass in front of the end zone and broke up a potential touchdown pass in the final minutes of UH's 49-38 victory over San Diego State last Saturday.

"That hit he made at the end really saved the game from being a lot closer," Miano said.

Patton on offense?

Jones said cornerback Kenny Patton will practice at wide receiver during spring practice. But Jones said Patton probably will not abandon defense entirely, and there is a possibility he could be a two-way player.

"That would be awesome," Patton said. "I played receiver all through high school. That would be a lot of fun. It will take a lot of hard work to learn the offense, but I think I can do it."

Still, he said, "I love playing DB. I'd like to play defense, too."

Asked to name Patton's replacements, Jones said, "They're on the Mainland right now and they're in the high schools and the junior colleges."

HONORED WARRIORS

FIRST TEAM

WR—Davone Bess, freshman

OL—Samson Satele, junior

DB—Lono Manners, senior

SECOND TEAM

OL—Brandon Eaton, senior

OL—Tala Esera, junior

DL—Ikaika Alama-Francis, junior

DL—Melila Purcell, senior

LB—Kila Kamakawiwo'ole, senior

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.