Diocemy Saint Juste takes a no-nonsense approach to returning kickoffs.

It wasn’t so long ago that he didn’t take any approach. The Hawaii sophomore running back wasn’t even a backup return man until he arrived at the University of Hawaii for the 2013 season.

Now it’s his job to lose.

"I’m just used to, like, running through holes and finding holes. Trusting my blockers. It came to me pretty naturally," Saint Juste recalled.

Those aspects are pretty similar to taking a handoff in the backfield. The fielding-the-airborne-ball-and-running-full-speed-at-gunners part? Not so much.

But Saint Juste is as stoic as they come on the football team.

"I’m not really scared because I have complete confidence in my blockers," the native of Boynton Beach, Fla., said. "I feel like they protect me enough and give me the (space) to score a touchdown."

Special teams coordinator Chris Demarest, he of the superfluous megaphone for barking out instructions at practice, operates at the other end of the sound spectrum.

But he appreciates the way the 5-foot-8 Saint Juste silently goes to work.

"He was only a true freshman last year, and he really didn’t do it in high school, but he’s a doggone good running back, and a lot of the best returners I’ve had have been running backs," Demarest said. "So, he got a taste for it last year. Understands what it’s all about, studied a lot of film in the offseason. And he possesses all the things you need to possess in a kick returner. So he’s looking for some great things."

Last season, Saint Juste was second on the team in kick-return yardage at 352, with an average of 25.1 and a long of 78.

Senior Scott Harding is still the man for punt-return duties and punting.

No one’s going to ask Saint Juste to match Harding’s dual feat and blast kickoffs. But the shifty Saint Juste is close to on par with Steven Lakalaka on the running back depth chart behind clear-cut starter Joey Iosefa.

"I’m trying to mix it up a little with strength and power and speed," Saint Juste said.

That last part is what he’s known for most. But that’s not all there is to him. He’s a quick learner; some of his first organized football came in high school back in Florida.

"He’s not just speed, No. 1," Demarest said. "He knows how to hit holes from being a running back and playing on offense. … So that part of it’s there. It’s cumulative reps that add up over time. It makes him a natural for that position."

Saint Juste didn’t have much more to say on the subject. It’s almost time to put words aside and go out and prove it in the season opener against Washington on Aug. 30.

He quietly summed it up at Friday’s morning practice with, "Just trying to contribute to the team as much as possible."