Hawaii running back Ryan Tuiasoa’s jumping ability was evident as a Punahou School hurdler and when he scaled a Western Carolina defender in this past weekend’s football game.

But the most surprising was the leap of faith he took in the spring of 2014. That was when Tuiasoa relinquished a full scholarship at Weber State to join the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on.

“At that point,” said Tuiasoa, who had missed the islands after a year at the Ogden, Utah, campus, “it was one of those things that was hard financially, but my family wanted to see me play here. They were willing to make the sacrifices to give me a chance to do what I wanted to do. I’m forever thankful for that.”

Sione and Lori Tuiasoa were similarly supportive when the youngest of their five children was accepted into Punahou for the seventh grade.

“I’m the only one (who went to private school),” Tuiasoa said. “My dad worked two jobs. My mom was constantly working overtime. Everybody made big sacrifices for me to get an opportunity. My parents told me before I went there, it was to set me up for later in life, to prepare me. That’s what I’m most thankful for.”

Tuiasoa admitted Punahou’s academic requirements were rigorous. “You have to (do well) at Punahou or you’re doomed,” he said. “It’s one of those sink-or-swim things. But it taught me how to study, how to work hard. That translated to football, too. I approach football the same way.”

After redshirting in 2014, Tuiasoa played in all 27 games on special teams the next two seasons. It was in the days leading to the 2016 opener in Australia when Tuiasoa was awarded a scholarship. “That was one of the happiest moments of my life,” he said.

But he also knew that it was a one-year deal, and there were no assurances his scholarship would be renewed for this season. Losing the scholarship would mean giving up an off-campus apartment he shared with three teammates and returning to a crowded family house in Kailua.

But once again, a family plan was hatched. His sister Pua created a meal plan that offered different macronutrients. His parents and another sister prepared the meals that Tuiasoa could reheat throughout the week. He also embraced a daily routine of sprinting the hills on the Manoa campus. Entering spring training, Tuiasoa had gained muscle and definition while reducing his body fat. He then claimed the No. 2 running back’s job behind starter Diocemy Saint Juste. At the end of spring practice, Rolovich told Tuiasoa his scholarship would be renewed for his senior year.

“It was the biggest sigh of relief,” Tuiasoa said.

This season, it appears Tuiasoa has filled the short-yardage role vacated when running back Steven Lakalaka graduated. Lakalaka, like Tuiasoa, is a Punahou alumnus. In the first two games, Tuiasoa has seven rushes for first downs and scored a team-leading three touchdowns.

“It’s a little bit different than the regular-down plays,” Tuiasoa said of short-yardage situations. “Everything is crowded, and they’re firing at you. They know you’re running the ball. But I used to play linebacker, and I’ve always been more of a downhill runner. I like to think that I’m a physical running back, so I can do short-yardage downs. But I don’t think I’m limited to that. I’m trying to show I have some speed and athleticism.”