In his first day in paradise, Hawaii football player

Jake Heun

was about to enter a restaurant when a bird dropping landed on his right shoulder.

"I was like, ‘This is a great start,’ " Heun recalled, laughing. "People told me that was good luck. They lied."

"That’s Jake," said offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich, who recruited Heun from City College of San Francisco.

Heun was Greg McMackin‘s first recruit as UH head coach. McMackin was hired in January 2008, less than a month before signing day.

"Rolo (Rolovich) came out here, and he knew I needed some place to get to in the spring," said Heun, who was raised in Anchorage. "My folks weren’t too stoked on me staying in Alaska for a semester. These other schools wanted me to wait until summer. Rolo called me and said: ‘Hey, get on a plane if you want to play running back.’ I was like, ‘Hell, yeah.’ It’s been an interesting ride."

Heun is among 30 UH seniors who will be playing their final regular-season game Saturday, when the Warriors host UNLV.

Heun’s time at running back did not last long. On the second day of training camp in 2008, he suffered a herniated disc while weight training.

"My whole (left) leg went numb for six months," Heun said.

He did not play that season.

In the spring of 2009, Heun said, "Four out of five neurologists said I shouldn’t play anymore. It kind of sucks when you’re never really what you used to be."

But Heun refused to quit. Instead, he moved to defense, where he played linebacker and rush end.

"I love football," Heun said. "I wasn’t going to let some doctors tell me I couldn’t play football."

Heun’s time on defense has diminished this season as the Warriors went to a quicker scheme. But Heun has been a valuable member of special teams, an occasional linebacker, and, the past month, has practiced at running back.

"It was definitely worth it," Heun said. "I got my education taken care of. I got to meet some good guys, and we’ve played some good ball. I’m glad I can go out on top."

Heun will earn a bachelor’s in European Studies in May. He said his post-football plans are to compete in mixed martial arts.

"I want to fight in cages and travel," Heun said. "I want to fight people in every country."

Estes could be back

Although safety Kenny Estes is listed as a senior, the Warriors are confident he will be back next season, possibly as a starter.

Estes is a 2006 Waimea High graduate. He grayshirted in 2006, then joined the Warriors in 2007.

He was supposed to redshirt that year, but because of injuries, he agreed to be activated for the 10th game of the season. By playing in that game, he relinquished a chance to redshirt.

In the 2008 opener against Florida, Estes suffered a shoulder injury. He did not play the rest of the season.

He is seeking a medical redshirt for the 2008 season. Because he has only been in college for four years, and was injured in the first three games of 2008, he is likely to be granted an extra year.