UH receiver Dakota Torres takes opportunity all the way to the end

Inside receiver Dakota Torres’ path to becoming a University of Hawaii football player began with a downward spiral.

During a UH-Oregon State game in 2006, a Heelys-wearing Torres was gliding on the spiral ramp connecting the upper level and concourse at Aloha Stadium.

“I rode it down all the way, and I tried to stop,” Torres recalled. “I flew like a good 10 yards. I laid on the ground. I was crying. Nobody helped me.”

The capacity crowd was fixated on what would result in Oregon State’s 35-32 victory.

“I remember that game,” Torres said. “It was live. It was jumping. We didn’t win, but it was exciting. That’s what I wanted to bring back. I wanted to see what it was like to be one of those guys on the field.

“Being in the crowd is a whole different thing. Being on the field while everybody is cheering, that’s a whole different story.”

That memory was a factor when Torres opted to sign with the Rainbow Warriors on Feb. 5, 2014.

“My plan was to change the culture,” Torres said. “When I got here, Hawaii wasn’t doing so hot.”

Four years and five seasons later, his UH career is concluding. Torres will participate in today’s commencement ceremony in the Stan Sheriff Center. Next week, he will play his final game as a Warrior in the SoFi Hawaii Bowl.

“It’s the end of the road,” Torres said. “It feels like it’s been a long journey. I’ve been through a lot of struggles to just make it to this point. Graduating is pretty big.”

He recalled nearly being tardy for his first team meeting in 2014.

“They didn’t really tell me where it was,” Torres said. “They told me to be there at a specific time. I was like, ‘OK, if I go 15 minutes — boom — I could make it.’ I cut it too close.”

There were the losses — 35 in four years through 2017.

“It was hard to go out in public,” Torres said. “When we were losing, it was hard to hear people talking bad about us.”

And there were the changes — five tight end coaches in four years.

At the end of the 2017 season, he learned of the most significant change. Head coach Nick Rolovich said the Warriors were going to implement more run-and-shoot concepts, a transformation that would result in the elimination of a true tight end.

“I was like, ‘dang,’” Torres said. “I started thinking maybe I could play linebacker or maybe I could gain weight and play O-line. Rolo said, ‘Nah, I’m going to try to use you at slot.”

Torres has developed into football’s version of a power forward playing wing. He also serves on special teams, most notably on the three-man shield protecting the punter.

With slotback Tristin Kamaka’s season-ending injury, Torres will have an expanded role on offense in the bowl game. At the team banquet, Torres won the Most Unselfish Warrior Award.

Before he signed with UH, Torres recalled, “my mom always wanted me to see the world. I told my mom, ‘I get to see the world from UH.’ And I have. I’ve been to the Big House (Michigan). I’ve been to the Shoe (Ohio State). I’ve been to Australia and New York, places I never thought I’d go. … Despite all the ups and downs, I really grew at UH. It helped shape me to where I am today.”