Given his size and agility, Jahlani Tavai looks the part of a natural fit at outside linebacker.

A year ago, playing the position was anything but for the University of Hawaii freshman.

Tavai grew up playing rugby before picking up football and earned accolades as a nose guard and tight end for Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Upon arriving in Hawaii, the Rainbow Warrior coaching staff assigned the 6-foot-4, 235-pound newcomer to the linebacker group and he spent a redshirt year learning the position’s basics and nuances.

"Tackling in open space was different, especially dropping into coverage," Tavai said of the adjustment from the interior line to the edge of the defensive front.

"That one year really did help out. Plus I have a great coach (Kurt Gouveia), and he made sure I made every little detail perfect or close to perfect."

A little more than 12 months after his introduction to playing linebacker, Tavai was part of the Rainbow Warriors’ starting unit in their season-opening win against Colorado. He came off the bench last Saturday against Ohio State and was in on five tackles while earning a near-perfect score from the coaching staff according to head coach Norm Chow.

"Jahlani graded really well," said Gouveia, who works with the UH outside linebackers. "He’s a consistent player, he really accepts coaching and he applies what needs to be done on the football field. I’m pleased with his growth and his progression has been remarkable."

Tavai’s dedication to studying the game enhanced the instincts ingrained by rugby and the combination positioned him to again see significant playing time Saturday when the Rainbow Warriors (1-1) return to Aloha Stadium to face UC Davis (0-2).

Tavai lettered in three sports in high school and was raised in a family with deep roots in rugby. Relatives on his mother’s side played the sport in Samoa, New Zealand and Australia and Tavai was named to the USA Rugby High School All-American team.

His path to a prominent role on the Hawaii defense included going from studying under Mr. Chow in high school to playing for Coach Chow in Manoa.

Tavai took a journalism class from Cameron Chow, a teacher and coach at Mira Costa and son of Norm Chow. Tavai was looking at committing to USC, where his brother J.R. was a starter on the Trojans defensive front. But he felt a pull to Hawaii and the connection to the UH staff didn’t hurt.

"I always wanted to come play out here for Hawaii and get back to my Polynesian roots," Tavai said. "But it did help a lot because I told him ‘talk to your dad for me so I could come out here.’ "

Tavai ultimately signed with UH, following two of his older brothers into Division I football. Jordan Tavai played on the defensive line at Kansas and J.R. completed his USC career last season after twice earning All-Pac 12 honorable mention honors and signed a free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Jahlani said seeing his brother get a shot in the NFL is "a huge impact on me, because now since I know he could do it I feel I can do it as well."

"He’s always on top of my stuff, making sure I’m doing great on the field and off the field."

Tavai’s work on the field contributed to a spirited effort by the UH defense in last week’s loss at Ohio State. The Warriors contained the Buckeyes to 17 points through three quarters and 4.4 yards per play and will look to build on the performance Saturday against UC Davis.

"Defensively we can’t go backward," Tavai said. "We have to be all gas, no brakes."