Dakota Torres is man on the move for Hawaii football

For Tuesday’s football practice, Hawaii’s Dakota Torres wore a green jersey without a name or number.

It was fitting attire for a player who is a blank slate.

“Wherever the coaches need me to help the team, that’s where I’ll play” Torres said.

The fifth-year senior was recruited to UH as a tight end, moved to slotback this past spring when the Rainbow Warriors resurrected the run-and-shoot offense after a six-year hiatus, and, last week, shifted to strong-side linebacker.

“I’m just excited about playing defense again,” said Torres, who played linebacker as a Punahou freshman and sophomore. He moved to tight end as a Buffanblu junior. “It’s kind of my career going full circle.”

In preparing for last weekend’s game against Army, defensive coordinator Corey Batoon was seeking reinforcements at linebacker to counter the Black Knights’ aggressive triple-option attack. “Dakota is a guy we always had our eyes on,” Batoon said. “We brought him over to have a look at him.”

The coaches knew Torres had a high football IQ, nimble feet and strong hands to fend off grasping blockers. Torres had demonstrated those skills as a tight end and H-back. He further enhanced those abilities as a rare plus-sized slotback (6 feet 2, 247 pounds). UH’s two starting slotbacks are not taller than 5-10, nor weigh more than 175.

“He really picks things up well,” Batoon said. “I was pretty surprised how natural that transition (to linebacker) was for him. … We’re going to give him a chance to continue to see what he can do to help the team.”

Torres said he is willing to play any position.

“I like playing football in general,” Torres said. “I could play wherever. Except I can’t kick to save my life.”

When it was pointed out he was punting after Tuesday’s practice, Torres smiled and said, “I tried. That’s emergency. I’m like the 10th-string kicker.”

Torres was born and reared in Waianae, where football is the West side’s pastime. “It’s something I grew up playing,” Torres said.”I just fell in love with football as the years went on. It’s one of those things I’ve never fallen out of love with it.”

At Punahou, he was an emerging force at linebacker. But during a warmup to a practice, a coach noticed Torres’ pass-catching ability. The following year, Torres’ junior season, it was suggested he would be more helpful as a tight end. Torres initially resisted, but accepted after his parents insisted the move would be better for the team.

“I played tight end, did pretty good, and got a scholarship (to UH),” Torres said.

Torres said he welcomed the return to defense. Asked what he missed, he said, “the hitting, the contact.”

Depending where he was aligned on offense, he was restricted to blocking in an area 2 to 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. As a defender, his strike zone has expanded to nearly every part of the field. He said he enjoys “playing with a little sense of reckless abandon but still being under control.”

Torres played on special teams against Army but was not used on any defensive snaps. “Whenever my name is called,” Torres said, “I’ll have to be ready.”