Tavita Woodard looked pretty good during his audition as a tight end during the spring.

So good that University of Hawaii defensive line coach Lewis Powell figured he might not see Woodard in his position group again.

“I thought he was gone,” Powell said.

Despite the potential Woodard showed on offense during his double-duty spring practice, the coaches decided to keep him at defensive end full time in the fall and the McKinley graduate has emerged as one of the front runners in the group so far in camp.

“It’s all about depth and putting the best guys on the field,” UH head coach Norm Chow said. “He probably would have played on offense as well, but I think he’ll be outstanding on defense.”

At 6 feet 4 and 260 pounds, Woodard’s versatility made him an intriguing prospect for coaches on both sides of the ball. For his part, Woodard said he had fun running routes and catching the ball in the spring, but feels more at home on defense.

“Now I can just focus on defense and I can play faster,” Woodard said.

Woodard transferred from Eastern Arizona last year, but an injury in fall camp delayed his Division I debut. He ended up recording two tackles in seven game appearances, and the experience could factor into greater production in his junior year.

“Just to get the feel of the game and the game speed was real important for me,” Woodard said. “I got to feel it, see what it was like and I’m ready now.”

Woodard has been playing the “joker” spot in camp, a hybrid position in which he can line up in a three-point stance or as a standup defensive end, depending on the situation.

He began a team period on Wednesday by bulling into the backfield and knocking down a pass and showed off his speed in pressuring the Warriors quarterbacks later in the drill.

“I think he’s a guy who can play linebacker and also put his hand on the ground and play defensive end,” Powell said. “He’s a real athletic kid, he’s versatile and I think he’s going to do really well in that position.”

Woodard was a multi-talented performer at McKinley, where he earned OIA all-star accolades as a linebacker and wide receiver with the football team and as a member of the basketball team. He led the Tigers in receiving in five games in his junior and senior years, including a 169-yard performance against Punahou in 2007.

With the Warriors adding a tight end to the offense this season, the coaches gave him a chance to dust off those receiving skills in the spring. But given the physical demands on defensive linemen, it was decided he’d be more valuable as part of the rotation at end.

“You can’t get by with four guys, you have to change them around because they work so hard,” Chow said.

Woodard was informed of the decision through a text message during the summer and is part of a group of defensive ends that includes senior Paipai Falemalu, sophomores Beau Yap and Marcus Malepeai and junior Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson.

Pu‘u-Robinson, a transfer from Washington State, has been practicing in camp while awaiting a decision on his appeal to become eligible for this season.

“(Woodard’s) one of the guys we’re going to count on to come through this season,” Powell said. “So we’re going to need him and he’s doing really well. He did pretty good on offense, but I think he’s a defensive player and I think he’s going to contribute a lot.

“If he was going to be a tight end, I’d be happy too, whatever to help the team. But he’s with us and we’re going to take full advantage of his talents.”