The past four months, Kaniela Tuipulotu lost 30 pounds. Yesterday, he gained a starting job.

Tuipulotu, who transferred from Arizona last year, will start at defensive right tackle in Hawaii’s season opener against Southern California on Thursday at Aloha Stadium.

"He earned it," head coach Greg McMackin said. "He really worked hard."

The Warriors yesterday settled on a starting lineup. Brett Leonard, who was expected to be named the No. 1 center, will undergo arthroscopic surgery this week and miss the Warriors’ first three games. Bronson Tiwanak will start at center against USC. London Sapolu, son of former UH and San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu, will be the top backup.

Scott Enos will handle all of the place-kicker duties. He was challenged by freshman Tyler Hadden in training camp. Hadden will remain on the active roster on a need-to-play basis.

And Tuipulotu, who entered training camp No. 2 on the depth chart behind Haku Correa, emerged as a starter after an impressive preseason.

"He really came into camp focused and determined," defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said of the former All-State lineman from Kahuku High. "He’s had a really good fall camp."

Tuipulotu credited hard work, improved health and a shorter belt.

At Arizona, Tuipulotu suffered from a subluxed right shoulder in which the joint popped out nearly every game. His decision to undergo surgery coincided with his move back to Hawaii. After receiving a release from his Arizona scholarship, he contacted the Warriors.

Tuipulotu said his weight ballooned after surgery. He said he weighed 320 pounds at the start of training camp.

"One of my main focuses was to get back into shape," he said. "I wanted to drop some weight so I could move better."

One of the solutions was found at the start of the training table.

"I started eating fruits — pineapple, watermelon, whatever they had," he said. "I tried to stay away from white rice."

With a new diet and daily workouts, he now weighs 290.

"I’m trying out here every day," Tuipulotu said. "I wanted to show the coaches they didn’t waste a scholarship on me."

McMackin, meanwhile, confirmed that freshman slotback/returner Allen Sampson will play this season.

Sampson, who is considered to be the one of the fastest on the team, said he wanted to make it difficult for the coaches to decide whether to use him this season.

"He didn’t make it hard; he made it easy for us," McMackin said. "We’re not going to redshirt him. He’s a player. He is our quickest player. He’s going to fit into our return game. He’s also learned the (offensive) package. He’s probably a second-unit slot right now."

Receivers coach Mouse Davis said Sampson has "good speed, and he cares. I like him. He wants to be a player. I think he’ll be a very special player by the time he gets out of here."

Sampson said running scores of routes every day helped him as a slotback. Fielding Alex Dunnachie’s towering punts helped him as a returner.

"At first, it was hard catching Alex’s punts, but I got used to it," Sampson said. "He’s the best punter. If I can catch his punts, I can catch anybody’s punts."

McMackin said freshman cornerback John Hardy-Tuliau also will not redshirt.

McMackin said wideout Darius Bright, defensive end Beau Yap and safety Bubba Poueu-Luna will be kept on the active roster, but used only if needed, preserving the possibility of redshirting.

Bright, who is 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds, is behind Rodney Bradley and Joe Avery at left wideout. Bright is a key member of four special teams.

McMackin said Bright will make the first road trip, to Army and Colorado.

"If we need him, we’ll use him," McMackin said. "If we don’t, then we’ll make decisions."

Of redshirting, Bright said: "It’s still undecided. We want to see how the season goes. We’ll see game by game. I’m fine with it. No rush."