In the business that is Hawaii football, freshman Nick Nelson has the corner office.

As a starting cornerback, Nelson often is isolated against a receiver. It is a freedom that comes with responsibility and much attention. It is also a role Nelson embraces despite being five months removed from his senior prom and three weeks after being declared physically fit from a leg injury.

Nelson was the Warriors’ nickel-corner the first two games before suffering the injury. He missed the next three games. After that, he replaced cornerback Dee Maggitt in the lineup.

Nelson had six tackles — all solo stops — against Wyoming, and four against San Diego State last Saturday.

"It’s more natural now," Nelson said. "At first, I was doing a lot of thinking. Now I just play. I just relax."

That ease belies the hours he has spent studying the game. Assistant head coach Daronte’ Jones said Nelson, like most freshmen, admittedly did not know the keys to watch while studying videos.

"It’s just watching," Jones said. "I give the scenario you can listen to a song you hate 10 straight times, but eventually you’re going to start to know the words to the song. Film is the same thing. You watch enough film, you’re going to pick up on some tendencies. It’s going to show. You’re going to see the same things."

During the Wyoming game, Nelson often aligned 5 yards off the receiver. It appeared to be a strategy to defend against deep routes. In previous games, the UH corners were aggressive in defending the under-routes, but were burned when speedy receivers used double moves to go deep.

But Jones said Nelson gave an initial cushion to test his legs.

"Anytime a DB comes back after you injure your wheels — the things you most rely on — you’re going to give yourself a cushion until you develop trust in your ability that you’re back full-strength," Jones said. "It wasn’t a cushion because of his opponent. It was more because he wasn’t trusting he was 100 percent healthy. That’s where the cushion came from."

Nelson played tight coverage in the second half against Wyoming and the entire game against San Diego State.

"Once I trusted my speed, I played the technique coach Jones taught me," Nelson said.

Nelson has been developing those techniques since he was a Suitland High senior. He has worked with Melvin Coleman, a Maryland-area sports trainer. Coleman and Jones were football roommates at Morgan State.

Nelson played wideout and defensive back in high school, helping his comprehension of the passing game.

He relinquished his receiver job during his senior season after breaking his hand. Still, while wearing a cast, Nelson made two interceptions as a cornerback.

Nelson appears to have made the transition to full-time defensive back. He is adjusting to life on an island — as a cornerback and student 4,680 miles from his family’s home in Maryland.

"I still feel like I’m at home because everybody still texts and calls me," Nelson said.