Kicker Santos gets the call

The Hawaii football team used the bye week to welcome back kicker Ceejay Santos. 

Santos, a Baldwin High graduate, left Weber State last year because of "family reasons." He was on the Rainbow Warriors’ roster in spring ball, but was not invited to rejoin the team for training camp or when the fall semester started. 

"I told him to be ready at any time for us to give you a call to come back," said Chris Demarest, who coordinates UH’s special teams. 

"I was being a regular student, living the Hawaii life like everybody else," said Santos, who also tried out unsuccessfully with the baseball team. 

The situation changed last week, when Demarest invited Santos to rejoin. 

"I guess an opportunity came up," Santos said. "I was willing to say ‘yes.’"

Santos went through the orientation period last week. He was allowed to practice on Tuesday. 

Demarest said there is a possibility Santos will be used on kickoffs for Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado State. 

"He has a very strong leg," Demarest said. "On kickoffs, he can blast the thing out of the end zone on a consistent basis."

Demarest said he is considering using Santos for kickoffs and Tyler Hadden for place-kicking. 

"That’s still up in the air," Demarest said. "I haven’t made a decision."

Santos said: "I missed these guys. They’re my family. This is a good group of guys."

Honoring grandma

Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood is back too. 

He has returned to good health after missing the Oct. 12 game against UNLV because of concussion-like symptoms. 

He also is back from a brief trip to New Jersey to spend time with his grandmother, Mildred Kirkwood.

"She’s 89 years old," Kirkwood said. "The reason I wear 89 is for her. I remind myself I’m playing for her."

Before he departed the East Coast, Kirkwood said, "she told me to keep going and work on my dream. I’m going to keep doing that for her. Every day I’m going to work hard. I don’t know how many days she has left on this Earth."

Henderson could start.

In his freshman season, Trayvon Henderson has played safety, cornerback, nickelback and dimeback. 

"I go back and forth," he said. 

It appears Henderson has found a place at the top of the rotation as a safety and nickelback. 

Henderson said if he is in the opening lineup on Saturday, as expected, "that would be an accomplishment, from not really playing at all to starting."

Henderson, who has two of UH’s seven interceptions, developed sure hands from playing receiver through high school. 

He also is an aggressive defender who can even be used as a rover. 

Henderson’s diligence dates to elementary school, when he was determined to dunk a basketball. Each day, he worked on strengthening his calves. 

Now his thick calves make it impossible to wear narrow-legged pants. 

"My calf is a thigh to some people," Henderson said.