It was fortunate that tight end Ryan Hall fulfilled dual goals of gaining admission into the University of Hawaii’s graduate school and joining the Warrior football team.

He did not have a backup plan.

"They talk about Warriors showing up and burning the canoe," said Hall, who attended Duke the past three years. "I bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii."

Hall earned a bachelor’s degree — a requirement to transferring between FBS schools without having to redshirt for a season — in three years. He will be reunited with quarterback Sean Schroeder, who also transferred from Duke after earning a bachelor’s degree.

Hall and Schroeder were both accepted into the human resource management program. Both will have two years to play two UH seasons.

Hall had graduated a semester early from high school and enrolled at Duke in January 2009. When it was apparent he faced a future of limited playing time, Hall focused on earning a degree in three years.

After learning that UH head coach Norm Chow would be implementing a pro-set offense, Hall decided to buy a ticket to paradise. Hall’s girlfriend is a graduate of Duke and Punahou.

After moving to Hawaii, Hall approached Chow.

Hall recalled: "My thing was I basically showed up and told him: ‘I know it’s last minute. I’m not asking for any (scholarship) money. I’m not asking for any help. I just want a chance to play.’ And it looks like I’m going to get that opportunity."

The Warriors have not employed a tight end in a game since 1998, the year before June Jones installed the four-wide offense.

Hall, who is 6 feet 3 and 240 pounds, said he has spent the past couple of weeks catching passes from Schroeder and learning the routes from UH tight end Craig Cofer.

"This is an opportunity to get what I didn’t get at Duke, which was a chance to play," Hall said. "I got the education and college experience at Duke. I’m just concerned with football right now."

Hall said he does not believe he is related to the late Ron Hall, a UH tight end who went on to play in the NFL.

TE Evans won’t participate

Tight end Clark Evans, who transferred from Cerritos College in January, will not participate in training camp because of personal reasons.

Evans attended Colorado as a freshman in 2009.

He was a junior college All-America tight end in 2011.

Falemalu faster, stronger

Here’s the skinny on UH defensive end Paipai Falemalu.

After going on his version of the white-out diet — no white rice, no white bread — and increasing his workouts to six times a week, Falemalu lost 15 pounds and now weighs 245.

His body fat dropped to 15 percent.

For the Mountain West Conference’s media preview, he bought a new pair of slacks. "I forgot my belt," said Falemalu, who often tugged at his waistband.

The result is a leaner but stronger player.

"I wanted to be more in shape," Falemalu said.

Falemalu is preparing to play the hybrid end/linebacker position in the Warriors’ new underfront defense.

"We expect a lot from him," Chow said.

What was unexpected was Falemalu’s emergence as a vocal leader.

"I kind of surprised myself," Falemalu said. "If nobody wanted to do it, I felt I needed to do it."

A few weeks ago, after a third teammate was arrested on a drunken-driving allegation, it was Falemalu who called a players-only meeting.

During spring training, Chow had named Falemalu to the team’s leadership council.

"I learned from leaders before on what works and what doesn’t work," Falemalu said. "We’re going to be fine."