The newcomer wearing the orange jersey with no number it smiled after leaving the crush of reporters.

"I’m just a walk-on," Darian "Stump" Godfrey said after Hawaii’s football practice Tuesday.

Godfrey, a former Texas 3A all-state quarterback, is the Warriors’ most heralded non-scholarship player since quarterback Colt Brennan in 2005.

"He’s a humble guy," UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

Godfrey played for New Mexico as a freshman in 2010. Last month, he confirmed he was leaving the Lobos. Because New Mexico did not send a release to the Warriors, Godfrey had to apply for admission, register for classes, and make travel and living arrangements without consultation from anyone affiliated with UH.

"I had to do it on my own," he said. "It was a good learning experience."

In accordance with NCAA transfer rules, he must redshirt this season. Because he was not given a release, he cannot receive a football scholarship from UH until January 2012.

"It’s coming out of my pocket this year," he said. "My family is helping me a lot. I have to take out a student loan, and I applied for federal aid. It’s humbling, but I have to work hard and keep praying that I’ll get on scholarship next year."

Godfrey said he preferred this route rather than transferring to a junior college. This way, Godfrey can learn the system this season, then have three years to play three seasons. If he attended a junior college, he would have had two NCAA seasons remaining.

Besides, he said, "I’m in Hawaii. Who wouldn’t want to come here?"

Godfrey arrived on the field 15 minutes before the scheduled start of practice. He participated in pivot and passing drills.

"I was a little nervous," he said, "but this is back to football. After a while, it was relaxing."

Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said he was impressed with Godfrey’s arm strength. But Rolovich cautioned: "He has a lot to learn. We have a lot to learn about each other."

With Godfrey at the controls, Gilmer High went 15-0 in 2009. Gilmer runs a one-back spread passing attack.

"He’s learning our system," McMackin said, "but he has a year to do that. What he did — getting here by himself — that shows a lot of guts to me. He’s pretty mature."

Godfrey said he earned his nickname because he was short when he was young.

Now, he’s 6-foot-1.