Keith AhSoon has been diagnosed with a third-degree sprain in his left knee, leaving the Hawai'i football team without one of its top offensive linemen for about six weeks.

That is relatively good news considering it was feared AhSoon would be lost for the rest of the season.

"I'm glad he'll be able to come back (this season)," UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

AhSoon, a fifth-year senior from American Samoa, yesterday was diagnosed with a partial tear in the medial collateral ligament.

He will not require surgery.

His anterior cruciate ligament was not damaged.

Because the Warriors have a bye this weekend, AhSoon might miss only five games. The timetable would allow him to return for the final five regular-season games, beginning with the Nov. 1 road game against Utah State.

AhSoon suffered the injury when he was struck by an Oregon State linebacker in the Warriors' 45-7 loss Saturday. The linebacker, according to AhSoon, missed a tackle and inadvertently fell against AhSoon's left leg.

AhSoon underwent an MRI Monday night. He learned of the results yesterday afternoon.

"He's such a great guy," McMackin said. "It just killed me that he got hurt."

AhSoon was playing left tackle at the time, filling in for Laupepa Letuli, who is recovering from a slight tear in his left shoulder. AhSoon, who started 13 games at left tackle last season, was the No. 1 left guard this year.

Despite the diagnosis, AhSoon remained upbeat yesterday.

"You can't worry about things you can't control," he said.

AhSoon was on crutches. His left knee was heavily wrapped. He promised to make a speedy recovery.

"I'm hoping for the best," AhSoon said.

Aaron Kia was the No. 1 left tackle during yesterday's practice. Brysen Ginlack was the No. 1 left guard.

GRAUNKE STILL NO. 1 QB

If Tyler Graunke is available to play, he will be the No. 1 quarterback, McMackin said yesterday.

"He moved the football team," McMackin said of Graunke's performance in the second half against Weber State and first half against Oregon State. "He's going to be my No. 1 quarterback, as long as he's healthy, the rest of the season."

To be sure, there are concerns about Graunke's well being.

In the third quarter against Oregon State, Graunke left the game with an injury to the base of his right (throwing) hand. The area connects the thumb and the wrist.

While X-rays did not show a fracture, Graunke still is experiencing discomfort.

He could not grip a football yesterday.

"I can't grip anything yet," he said. "It's more black and blue, but (the bruised area is) smaller."

Graunke added: "It's still throbbing. I can't walk with my (right) arm straight down. When the blood rushes to it, it starts throbbing."

He said he copes by "keeping it elevated (and) iced." He also undergoes several treatments every day.

Graunke remains confident he will practice Monday, and compete in the Warriors' next game — the Sept. 27 Western Athletic Conference opener against San Jose State.

SPECIAL TEAMS GO 'LIVE'

The Warriors yesterday took the first step toward improving their play on kickoff and punt coverages.

Twenty players were drafted to compete for five open positions on the kickoff team.

For the first time this season, the Warriors had "live" kickoff drills — full-contact plays that did not involve kick returners.

"One guy who really surprised me on kickoff coverage was Richard Torres," said Ikaika Malloe, who coordinates the special teams. "He's the guy who's willing to knock himself out to hit the (blocking) wedge. Those are the type of mentality guys that I want on kickoff. I asked for the five craziest guys. Right off the bat, he's one of them."

Torres, a cornerback/nickelback from Kahuku High, is aligned as the gunner on the left side. "You just run straight for the ball," he said.

Torres, who is 5 feet 7 and 165 pounds, said he was inspired by last year's top kickoff defenders — 5-foot-9 Ryan Keomaka and 5-7 Guyton Galdeira.

"They'd go hard and try to knock people down." Torres said. "Hopefully, I'll be like that one day."

Torres' father is Reggie Torres, head coach of Kahuku's football team. Torres turned down a scholarship offer from Western Oregon to join UH as a walk-on.

"Oregon is beautiful, but there's nothing like home," Torres said.

Safety Kenny Estes also worked out as kicker yesterday. The move was intended to create competition for Dan Kelly, who has missed three consecutive field-goal attempts.

"I was kind of surprised when Coach Mack said my name," said Estes, who has kicked a 50-yarder while "just playing around" during training camp.

Estes was an All-State soccer player at Waimea High School.

VEIKUNE SHOWS MOTOR

UH's version of Ironman, it appears, has a strong heart.

Defensive left end David Veikune played in 81 of UH's 86 defensive snaps against Oregon State.

"He's a special guy, and a big-time football player," McMackin said. "I've coached guys with motors — Ray Lewis, (Jeff) Ulbrich, Warren Sapp; I can go through it — but he's got as big a motor as anybody I've ever coached."

Last season, Veikune rotated at defensive end, playing about half the snaps. Back then, he said, "I couldn't go three plays (in a row) without gasping and having to come out."

Veikune traced his improved stamina to this year's conditioning drills. In past seasons, the Warriors did most of their running during the offseason.

"All of this running got us in shape," Veikune said.

Veikune is regarded as the Warriors' best pass rusher. This year, with the help of defensive line coach Dave Aranda, Veikune worked on his rush defense.

The keys are technique — turning his hips more — and strengthening his legs. Veikune did a lot of squat-lifts this summer.

"I give credit to Dave Aranda," McMackin said. "He's a technique wizard. He really taught these guys their pass rushing better. They're doing a great job against the run.

"(Veikune) has become a complete player," McMackin added. "And he's a smart football player. I think Dave Aranda has helped him with his technique. He's very coachable. He doesn't make mistakes. And technically, he's getting real sound."