Running back Joey Iosefa has completed his three-game suspension and is set to rejoin the University of Hawaii football team.
The Warriors do not practice today, but Iosefa is expected to participate in conditioning drills, team meetings and video-review sessions. He also will be part of the running back rotation at Tuesday’s practice. Initial plans call for Iosefa to be part of the 64-player travel squad for Saturday’s road game against Colorado State.
Iosefa was arrested early Oct. 11 on a drunken-driving accusation. He was released after posting a $500 bond.
Two days later, coach Norm Chow suspended Iosefa for three games. It was a punishment consistent with sanctions for similar violations of team rules.
Iosefa, who had missed four games because of a fractured right ankle, was set to receive medical clearance to play in the Oct. 18 road game against San Diego State. Instead, that was the first of the three games he was required to miss because of the suspension.
Iosefa, a fifth-year senior from American Samoa, entered this season as one of eight co-captains.
After the arrest, Iosefa was stripped of his captaincy. The "C" patch was removed from his jerseys.
In Iosefa’s absence, Steven Lakalaka and Diocemy Saint Juste have emerged as the Warriors’ top backs. Lakalaka, a third-year sophomore, has rushed for 616 yards and two touchdowns. Saint Juste, a true sophomore, has 252 rushing yards.
The Warriors are expected to have a three-player rotation at running back. In recent games, the Warriors have employed some two-back sets, with a fullback or tight end as a backfield blocker.
The past couple of weeks, Iosefa has participated in conditioning drills during practices, but not taken any handoffs.
The Warriors depart Thursday afternoon for the fourth road trip of the season. They will have a modified practice on Friday in Fort Collins, Colo.
In the meantime, the Warriors are trying to fix self-inflicted problems. In the 35-14 loss to Utah State, the Warriors committed 13 penalties, including a roughing-the-punter infraction that nullified Scott Harding’s apparent punt return for a touchdown. There were 16 plays in which the Warriors had to go between 11 and 25 yards for a first down.
