Reality of injury sinking in for Gener

Linebacker Julian Gener made his last pitch but not a parting shot.

On Friday, Gener is scheduled to have surgery to replace torn ligaments in his right elbow. The operation, widely known as "Tommy John surgery," is mostly performed on baseball pitchers.

"My MLB career will never take off," Gener said.

Gener suffered the injury when he landed awkwardly during a second-quarter play in Saturday’s loss to Nevada.

"My elbow popped out of place and popped back into place," Gener said. "I guess it’s a freak accident. It’s part of the game."

The aftershock lingered.

"It all happened so fast," Gener said. "I’m in shock. I’m thinking I’ll need therapy and be back on Saturday. But I know, deep down inside, it’s slowly creeping in. It’s not going to happen."

Gener was presented two options: surgery or non-surgical rehabilitation.

"Both were in the same time table," Gener said. "Surgery was just a guarantee I would be fully recovered. It seemed like it was the better option."

Gener has been told he will be healed for the start of spring training in April.

He also is eligible to apply for a medical redshirt that would extend his UH career through 2015.

"I talked to my mom and other people," Gener said. "They said God has a plan for everybody. I have to stay strong in my faith. God gives his biggest struggles to the strongest warriors."

Saint Juste to start

With running back Joey Iosefa’s availability in question because of a sore left foot, freshman Diocemy Saint Juste is expected to make his first start this weekend.

Saint Juste rushed for 82 yards on 12 carries against Nevada before departing with a tight left hamstring. He has recovered, and practiced as the No. 1 back on Tuesday.

Saint Juste needed just three games to display the promise he showed while being recruited out of Florida.

UH assistant coach Chris Demarest, the point recruiter, said he received a digital file of Saint Juste’s highlights from a contact. It was love at first byte.

"I was the first one to get it," Demarest said. "Everybody else got it after me. We were smart enough to offer (a scholarship) right after we saw it."

Saint Juste: "Coach Demo is a very good recruiter. He kept on me."

Head coach Norm Chow praised Saint Juste’s running, but reiterated he needed to work on his blocking and route-running.

"It’s a big jump," Saint Juste said. "I didn’t really learn much in high school. I was told where to go, what ball to catch, and who to block. I wasn’t taught the fundamental stuff."

Demarest said: "Once he understands what it takes to be a college football player, it’s going to be lights out. Period. There’s no one faster than him. There’s no one who has a better gear than he does."