Despite a season-ending knee injury, former Leilehua High quarterback Andrew Manley may travel home with New Mexico State for Saturday’s game against Hawaii and be an honorary captain.

“I’m going to probably bring him on the trip,” NMSU head coach DeWayne Walker said during Monday’s coaches teleconference. “I’m thinking about making him an honorary captain. He was such a big piece of our football team and our offense.”

Manley, a sophomore, was the Aggies’ starting quarterback for the upset at Minnesota but suffered a season-ending knee injury on the final play of NMSU’s third game, Sept. 17 against Texas-El Paso. He had thrown for 892 yards and six touchdowns in the three games.

Still, Walker said, “He’s out (at practice), he watches tape. He’s a football guy. So, he’s still around the program and he’s still cheering our guys on, so we’re going to try and reward him.”

Manley said, “I try to watch film and see what the defenses are doing and help Matt (Christian) out. I’m just out there for motivation, to be positive.”

But, Manley said, “I figured I wouldn’t be able to make the trip because I’m only a week and a half out of surgery. When I found out (about coming home) it was nice and I called my mom and my family was real happy.”

Walker said he expects Manley to be granted a medical redshirt year.

“It is the right thing to do for him,” Walker said. “We’re happy that he will probably be granted that. We’re looking forward to getting him back healthy (for 2012).”