In what is considered a long-term investment, the Hawaii football team secured a commitment from quarterback Ikaika Woolsey.

Woolsey, a 2011 graduate of Salesian Pride High in Richmond, Calif., will join the Warriors on scholarship in January.

He will have five years to play four seasons.

Woolsey, who is 6 feet 1 and 207 pounds, is attending City College of San Francisco as a part-time student this semester. Because of his academic status, he is allowed to practice with the Rams (but not play in games) without triggering his NCAA eligibility clock.

“It would be the same as if I were redshirting at Hawaii,” Woolsey said.

The Rams had wanted Woolsey to compete for a starting job this season.

“I didn’t want to waste a year of eligibility,” Woolsey said. “I wanted to go to Hawaii to be a (five-to-play-four) guy. I wanted to make the most of that opportunity in Hawaii.”

UH quarterbacks Bryant Moniz and Shane Austin are seniors this year. The UH plan is to build a quarterback structure with the classes spaced. For the 2012 season, at quarterback, the Warriors will have two fourth-year juniors (David Graves and Cayman Shutter), three third-year sophomores (Kevin Spain, Stump Godfrey and Jeremy Higgins), and a true freshman (Woolsey).

Justin Alo, who signed as a grayshirt in February, does not meet the eligibility requirements to join the Warriors in January. Instead of enrolling in a junior college, Alo plans to continue being a part-time college student with the hope of joining UH in 2013.

Woolsey appears to fit into the Warriors’ long-range plans.

Woolsey was a standout youth baseball player whose parents did not allow him to play football until his freshman year of high school. He was a safety as a freshman, before moving to quarterback — and a starting role — as a sophomore. He has retired from baseball.

“I’m focusing on football,” Woolsey said. “That’s my dream. That’s my love.”

Woolsey said he is part Hawaiian, and has several relatives on Oahu.

“It’s great to know I’ll be playing in front of family,” he said.

Although he is committed to UH, Woolsey’s official visit is scheduled for the weekend of the New Mexico State game. Fittingly, that is UH’s homecoming game.