Quotes from Kealoha Pilares

About how he and LWJ are the top candidates at RB this season, Pilares said:
"(The coaches) just tell me to work hard. Everyone's talking about Leon. I just hope for the best. I just try to do what I can do, try to work out and make it count because it's going to be beneficial when fall comes around." (HSB)


About how he has been taking care of his body to maximize his chance at playing time, Pilares said:
"I never go out at night. I try to sleep before 10:30, because I have something in front of me. I have the opportunity to play, so I want to make the best out of it." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Most mornings, Pilares leaves his Wahiawa home by 5, arriving at the UH weight room about an hour later after dropping his mother off at work. There he'll endure a workout designed to pack muscle on his 5-foot-10 frame. Then there are drills with his teammates and running in the afternoons before heading home."


About the extended time he's been putting in at UH during the offseason, Pilares said:
"It's a tough day." (HSB)

About the importance on putting on muscle now, Pilares said:
"In high school I never took weights seriously, and I knew I had to come over here and get in the weight room every day. I was horrible coming in, I would say I was the weakest guy by far. Right now I think I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. I can see results. I think that's what's pushing me, too." (HSB)


Praising Pilares' work ethic, Kiran Kepo'o said:
"He's been working hard starting from last summer. He's getting bigger, but he's still got the speed. I can tell he's been in the weight room." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Though he didn't play offense until his senior season, Pilares powered Damien in 2005, rushing for 1,900 yards and 23 touchdowns. He closed his high school career by carrying the ball 48 times in a spectacular 300-yard, five-touchdown performance against Iolani."


About playing against Pilares in high school, Kepo'o said:
"I remember there were 3 seconds before the end of the first half and we had just scored. We thought we'd just kick it to someone else, kick it away from him. But somehow he got the ball ... broke four or five tackles and went right into the end zone. I know this kid is going to do a lot of good stuff for us (at UH)." (HSB)


About how the image of playing in Aloha Stadium has been motivating him, Pilares said:
"That's the first thing that goes through my head. Just playing in the stadium and representing your home and your team." (HSB)


About how he didn't enjoy the attention he got in high school (Hawaii All-State Offensive Player of the Year in 2005), Pilares said:
"When you get to college football, everyone has those high school stories, so it doesn't really matter. Coming from a school where everybody knew me, just coming over here, it doesn't matter where you came from you still have to prove yourself. That was pretty good for me and that's what I wanted. I never liked being on top and getting all the attention." (HSB)


About how he transferred from Air Force after their summer orientation and came back to UH, and UH somehow still had a scholarship to give him, Pilares said:
"Recruiting was done and (the UH coaches) said they had all their scholarships filled. I didn't want my parents to pay for school, so I was really happy when they had one for me. It's kind of a miracle, if you ask me." (HSB)


About the tattoo on the right side of his neck, a tribute to his grandmother Violet, Pilares said:
"Every time I look in the mirror it reminds me of her." (HSB)