When it came to choosing the 2000 recruiting class, Abraham Elimimian was picked last.

After an injury-hindered senior season in high school, he was set to join Washington State as a walk-on when he received a message from the Hawaii coaches. A spot opened, and the Warriors wanted to offer the final scholarship to Elimimian. He accepted, not realizing it came with a shoulder chip and a berth at the bottom of the depth chart.

"I was frustrated initially because I was overlooked, whether it was my height, weight, speed or being the last one here," Elimimian recalled. He eventually ascended to a starting role at cornerback.

Now coaching the defensive secondary, Elimimian delivers that message — and lesson — to his players.

"You have to prove yourself every day as a player, just like I have to prove myself every day as a coach," Elimimian said. "The guys who do the job and do what they’re told, those are the guys who are the favorites to start."

In the Warriors’ system, there is freedom of choice. Unlike the constraining labels of his days as a UH corner, when the position was separated into the boundary and field sides, Elimimian allows the corners to pick their spots. He tells them: "You guys decide. You go where you’re comfortable. I leave it up to them."

Nick Nelson is at ease at left corner. But in the past Friday’s team drills, he aligned on the right side and made an interception. Jamal Mayo, who redshirted after transferring from a junior college last year, prefers the right side. But that’s where Ne’Quan Phillips, a three-year starter has played. Mayo and Phillips have split reps at right corner.

At whatever side, the corners are required to have multiple skills. "It’s the old-school way of football," Elimimian said. "It’s not the new way where you have a guy who can cover but not tackle. In our system, you have to be able to cover and tackle."

Nelson, who started eight games as a freshman in 2014, is speedy enough to defend an offense’s power side. Mayo has a knack for tracking passes. Phillips has traits similar to a younger Elimimian: Feistiness, aggressiveness and a high football IQ. "Ne’Quan does not back down," Elimiman said.

The wild card is Jalen Rogers, who has a safety’s build but a corner’s daring. Rogers practiced at corner, safety, nickelback and dimeback last year. This fall, he is solely at corner, usually on the left side. Rogers has amassed the most pass breakups in preseason training. "Whenever I grade a (defensive backs’) test, he scores the highest," Elimimian said.

In the past, the strong safety was the downhill defender. But against spread offenses, both safeties have to be able to play man coverages, and half- and one-third zones. Defensive coordinator Tom Mason also employs fire blitzes.

Henderson has secured a safety job. Marrell Jackson, who was frustrated with his playing time last year, won the other position. In offseason training, Jackson was one of four to earn an A-plus grade. "He’s a coach on the field," Elimiman said.

AT THIS POSITION:

Probable starter listed first:

Cornerback: Nick Nelson, 6-0, 200, So.
Cornerback: Jamal Mayo, 5-11, 195, Jr.
Nickelback: Ne’Quan Phillips, 5-9, 190, Sr.
Cornerback: Jalen Rogers, 6-1, 200, Jr.
Safety: Trayvon Henderson, 6-0, 210, Jr.
Safety: Marrell Jackson, 6-0, 200, Sr.
Safety: Daniel Lewis, 5-11, 185, So.
Safety: Dany Mulanga, 6-3, 200, Fr.
Safety: Gaetano DeMattei, 5-8, 180, Sr.

Strength: There are aggressive defenders at corner and solid open-field tacklers at safety.
Weakness: With the fire-blitz schemes, the corners often are left in one-on-one situations.

MAKING THE GRADE:

Based on analysis from the Star-Advertiser staff:

Size: 4
Speed: 4
Strength: 4
Depth: 4
Experience: 4