If there is a ceiling to Miah Ostrowski’s athletic ability, he probably could touch it.

"Miah can jump," Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz marveled about his 5-foot-8 football teammate. "He can make plays over defenders. He can dunk. He can touch the ceiling in the weight room, which is about 12 feet (high)."

The ceiling is, in fact, 11 1/2 feet from the ground. But Ostrowski’s potential?

"Unlimited," Moniz said.

Vacancy signs will be posted on the two starting slotback positions when seniors Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares complete their UH eligibility next month.

Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich has said Ostrowski, a fourth-year sophomore, is the leading contender for one of the slots.

"First of all, he’s a bright kid," receivers coach Mouse Davis said, "and he has good athletic mobility, as we call it. He has quickness and he can catch the ball. If he works on things, he’ll be a good player."

Davis also said that freshman slotback Allen Sampson and wideouts Darius Bright and Terence Bell will be considered for a slotback’s job.

The past three weeks, Ostrowski has received extended play at slotback during practices.

"He likes to take reps," Pilares said. "He has really good hands. I remember him from high school, and he’s always had good hands. He’ll have a good season next year."

Ostrowski has learned as much about patience as he has about the four-wide offense. At Punahou, he was an all-state player in football and basketball. He grayshirted in 2007, when he was a part-time student and did not practice with the Warriors, redshirted in 2008, and was used mostly on scout teams in 2009.

Although there were fast-break moments when he considered trying out for the Rainbow Warriors basketball team, Ostrowski said, "It was too early to give up. I needed to give (football) a shot. A lot of guys don’t get opportunities until their junior or senior years. I knew I had time."

Ostrowski, who weighed 165 pounds at Punahou, figured he needed to gain weight to compete in NCAA football. He added 15 pounds, but compounded by a lingering hamstring injury, he was slower. He now weighs 173.

"I’m picking it up," he said.

He said he receives tutoring from Salas and Pilares, but does not try to emulate them.

"I try to watch and learn, but create my own feel for the offense," Ostrowski said. "We’re all different players. Nobody can be another Salas or Kealoha or me. Everyone is different."

Ostrowski has been told he will be given an opportunity to contribute to the offense next year.

"It’s all in my hands," he said. "If I lose it, I lose it. It’s all on me."

Sampson, who has been used at slotback near the end of one-sided games, is determined to gain about 15 pounds in the offense. He weighs 150, a gain of 10 pounds since joining the Warriors in June.

"I want to gain strength in my legs," Sampson said. "I want to get stronger."

Bright, who transferred from City College of San Francisco in January, is redshirting this season. He was on the active roster for the first three games as insurance if Rodney Bradley did not fully recover from leg surgery. Bright did not play in those games.

"I wanted to go in there and block or hit someone on special teams," Bright said. "But it was for the better to redshirt. It’s going to work out in the long run."

Bright was used as a scout-team slotback during yesterday’s practice. He made a spectacular play when he wrested away the football from nickel back John Hardy-Tuliau.

"Just made a play on the ball," Bright said. "That was all."

Bell was impressive in last week’s Scout Bowl games, scoring three touchdowns and making a one-handed grab. He has been lobbying to move from wideout to slotback.

"That’s where I want to go," said Bell, who has received a few practice reps with the first team. "That was nice. I like working with Moniz. I’m waiting for my chance."