Compared to the nearly five years he spent away from football, waiting five more games before making his first college catch might not have seemed all that long to Harold Moleni.

When Moleni latched on to Sean Schroeder’s first pass of the second half against New Mexico on Oct. 13, it was his first reception since his senior season of high school.

That was back in 2007, right about the time June Jones, Colt Brennan and company were leading the University of Hawaii football team’s charge to the Western Athletic Conference title and a spot in the Sugar Bowl.

The program has changed coaches (twice) and conferences since then while Moleni has gone through a few transitions of his own, the most recent being his return to football this season as a freshman tight end with the Warriors.

After graduating from Hunter High School in West Valley City, Utah, in 2008, Moleni worked for a year then went on a church mission, which he completed late last year. He was married in May and moved to Hawaii soon after to begin his college career.

"It was hard to shift my focus back and forth from the mission, to marriage to now school and football," Moleni said. "But it’s been a good growing experience for me to juggle the different aspects of my life."

Given his time away from football, his return came with the expected rust that he progressively chipped away toward earning a start against New Mexico in UH’s sixth game of the season. Moleni is again listed as UH’s starting tight end entering Saturday’s Mountain West Conference game at Colorado State.

Moleni was Hunter High’s career receptions leader when he graduated in 2008, but his strength as a run blocker is the trait that has earned him more game reps midway through his first season at UH.

"Harold’s come along really well. He’s really starting to understand the blocking scheme we’re trying to get done and has a toughness about him we really like," UH tight ends coach Philip Rauscher said.

"He hasn’t played in a long time so it’s been kind of fun to watch him grow this season, because every rep you see that he’s starting to pick up what we’re trying to do."

Still, snaring that first catch for a 16-yard gain was awfully nice.

"It kind of took me back," Moleni said. "It’s been a long time since I caught a ball in a game, so it felt good."

Although he hadn’t been a huddle in a while, Moleni has been part of a group of 11 for most of his life. He’s the youngest of seven brothers — the fourth to play Division I football — and has four sisters.

"My brothers are great examples. They’re a big reason I’ve stayed on the straight and narrow throughout my life," Moleni said. "My brothers were almost like having six extra dads. They just always took care of me as the little brother. They kept me out of trouble, that’s for sure."

Along with football, music played a big part in growing up among the Moleni siblings, who regularly performed at church gatherings.

"We started singing when we were kids," Moleni said. "We felt it was a way for us to serve."

As for his on-field mission, Moleni initially planned to stay close to home and enroll at Utah, looking for a chance to play for then-Utes offensive coordinator Norm Chow. He then signed with UH after Chow was named the Warriors new head coach and has gradually progressed from seeing spot duty late in games to a more regular role in the UH offense.

"I actually didn’t know what to expect to be honest," Moleni said of his prospects of playing as a freshman. "You always hope you will and try to prepare your best. But I didn’t know and toward the beginning of the season I didn’t think I would. But as the season’s gone on the opportunity came so I just have to seize it."