After being on the outside looking in, Hawaii offensive lineman Brett Leonard is back in — and at an outside position.

After experiencing dizzy spells last week, Leonard did not play in Saturday’s loss to Utah State. He resumed practicing Tuesday, moving from left guard to left tackle, a position he played in high school, junior college and his redshirt year at UH.

"A few practices, a few reps, and I’ll be back in the groove," said Leonard, a fifth-year senior from Hollister, Calif.

Offensive line coach Gordy Shaw said Leonard, who has started eight games at left guard this season, was the logical choice to replace left tackle Clayton Laurel, who suffered a broken left arm against Utah State. Andrew Faaumu and Matagisila Lefiti will split reps at left guard.

"He’s out there because he’s one of the five best offensive linemen we have," Shaw said of Leonard. "He’s played the position in JC and his first year here. We’re losing Clayton for a significant amount of time. It didn’t make sense to keep (Leonard) inside (at guard) when we didn’t have anyone capable of moving outside."

Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said Leonard has "knowledge of (the left tackle’s) scheme and a history of playing it."

Most significant, Rolovich said, is Leonard’s ability to finish plays.

"He’s always around the last one with the ball," Rolovich said. "He’s a great teammate. I’d say he’s a leader on the offensive line."

Shaw said the night before a game, each lineman must take a test on assignments, techniques and strategies.

"They have to know everybody’s calls and what the whole protection is accomplishing," Shaw said. "He always does an outstanding job on the test. He’ll be a good asset to have back on the field to help other players who are still trying to get it down pat."

When he first moved to guard last year, Leonard convinced Shaw to allow him to go into a three-point stance. In UH’s four-wide offense, all of the linemen were in a two-point stance. Now the guards have a hand down while the tackles remain in a two-point stance.

Playing guard is "more of a fistfight, a straight-up brawl," Leonard said. "At tackle, it’s all feet, all quickness. You have the faster 230-pound guys trying to smoke you on the edge with speed."