For much of the past two seasons, Kennedy Tulimasealii could turn to either side to find a mentor along the Hawaii defensive line.

Now suddenly the unit’s most experienced member, Tulimasealii has cycled into the role of providing guidance for the younger linemen surrounding him.

After joining the Rainbow Warriors as a heralded recruit out of Waianae, Tulimasealii adapted to college ball under the tutelage of veteran linemen, including Siasau Matagiese, Marcus Malepeai, Moses Samia and Beau Yap. Passing along those lessons is among the junior’s objectives for his third fall camp.

“They took me in, helped me, now that’s what I’m trying to do (for) the upcoming freshmen,” Tulimasealii said Wednesday following the opening practice of camp. “Pretty much giving back what was brought to me.”

Tulimasealii returns as one of just two UH linemen with a Division I tackle to his name after making 49 total stops, 111⁄2 for losses, his first two years. Defensive end Luke Shawley (35 tackles last year) is the other and the lone senior in the group.

Tulimasealii appeared in all 13 games last season with eight starts, four at defensive end and four at nose tackle, and led the team with 91⁄2 tackles for losses.

Listed as a starting defensive end coming out of the spring, Tulimasealii anticipates again playing both in the middle and on the edge in UH’s 3-4 front this fall. Sophomore Penitito Faalologo and junior Kory Rasmussen entered camp as the leading nose tackles with Tulimasealii possibly moving inside at times.

Listed at 285 pounds last year, Tulimasealii said he reported to camp at a leaner 275.

“I feel better than the past two years,” he said. “I feel way more conditioned, way more fit.”

While he continues to learn the schemes implemented by first-year defensive coordinator Tom Mason, he’s also in a position to teach in a group that includes five freshmen and three sophomores.

Among the youngsters is redshirt freshman defensive end Ka’aumoana Gifford, a Kamehameha graduate who attended middle school at Ka Waihona o ka Na’auao Charter School in Nanakuli with Tulimasealii.

They reunited at UH last year and heeded the examples of the upperclassmen.

“It was me and him, the little ones, and then our older brothers,” Tulimasealii said.

As one of the Warriors’ older linemen this camp, Tulimasealii is also drawing attention from outside the program. He was named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year preseason watch list last week to go along with mentions in publications. But the summer accolades fade amid the grind of 29 practices leading up to the Sept. 3 opening against Colorado.

“It’s really exciting to hear that I’m one of the nominees, but I really wouldn’t pay attention to that. As of right now this is what I have to pay attention to,” he said, motioning toward the practice field. “(The award) is going to depend on how I perform on the field.”