ADAM LEONARD
position · linebacker
key stat · had 10 or more tackles in seven games last season. Also had five quarterback hurries.

17 Solomon Elimimian	53 Blaze Soares	43 Brad Kalilimoku

COMPARISONS

Some folks say the current crop of linebackers is the best ever for Hawaii. It might be the deepest, but the top trio in many eyes is the 1986 group of M.L. Johnson, Thad Jefferson and Pete Noga. Individually, Mark Odom, David Maeva, Jeff Ulbrich and Pisa Tinoisamoa come to mind.

POSITIVES

The switch to the 4-3 makes an already deep unit deeper. C.J. Allen-Jones, Tyson Kafentzis and Micah Lau started games last year. Allen-Jones and Lau are now backups, and Kafentzis is a safety.

The coaches consider four players starters: Adam Leonard and Blaze Soares outside, Solomon Elimimian in the middle and Brad Kalilimoku, who has experience at both.

The common denominator for this group is speed. They are not big by Division I linebacker standards, but they are built for blitzing and dealing with the variety of offenses they’ll see in the WAC.

Elimimian is a very cerebral player who understands the big picture as well as his own job. Leonard is a playmaker of the Tinoisamoa ilk. Soares is especially proficient at blitzing.

Cal Lee was given responsibility for all the linebackers. He previously coached only the inside backers. Some who marvel at Lee’s high school dynasty at Saint Louis forget what a great hands-on position coach he is.

NEGATIVES

Leonard is coming off arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus in his right knee, the same knee he blew out in high school, costing him his senior season. Elimimian missed two games last year with a sprained knee. Soares played in 12 games, but starting in college is a new experience for him. They’re strong and athletic enough to fight off most big blockers, but the group’s general lack of bulk could be a liability in some situations.

CAL LEE / LINEBACKERS COACH

“I’m happy with the entire group; starters, second, overall. Their enthusiasm is great, as it is for everyone about this team. But when you get players excited and enthused, you’ve really got something to work with.”