A year ago, offensive lineman Asotui Eli was on the University of Hawaii football team’s scout unit, wideout Devan Stubblefield was rehabilitating two tears in his left knee, and slotback Dylan Collie was sharing his Mormon faith with college students in Virginia.

This year, they are among 14 freshmen who have played in games for the Rainbow Warriors. Eight of them have started this season.

“Most guys wait until their junior year, maybe even their senior year, to get some playing time,” said tight end Dakota Torres, a second-year freshman, who has started the past two games. “I got the luck of the draw, I guess, to start. It feels good.”

Torres was not even listed on the depth chart at the start of training camp. He was assigned to the scout team for a day, then recalled to the regular offense. Injuries helped Torres ascend the depth chart; aggressive blocking and sure hands kept him as the starter.

Stubblefield, a prized 2014 recruit from Saint Louis School, was discussed as a projected starter as a true freshman. But on the first drill of training camp, Stubblefield suffered ACL and meniscus tears in his left knee, inactivating him for the 2014 season.

Stubblefield was cleared for full-contact drills in training camp, but he only discarded the knee brace three weeks ago. On Saturday against Nevada, he scored touchdowns on his first two catches. He said he found inspiration from safety Dany Mulanga’s interception. Stubblefield and Mulanga, also a second-year freshman, were roommates last year.

“He’s pretty much like family to me,” Stubblefield said of Texas-raised Mulanga. “After seeing him intercept that ball on Saturday, it kind of motivated me. ‘Hey, that’s my boy out there making plays. I’ve got to make plays, too.’ I was just as fired up as he was. The first two plays I got the ball, I put the ball in the end zone.”

Mulanga was not as fortunate. His interception return went 36 yards before he was tackled.

“I need to work on my 40 (time),” Mulanga said.

Defensive tackle Ka‘au Gifford admitted: “I’d like to apologize. He would have scored if I blocked that quarterback.”

Mulanga offered a mock frown, then said: “That was our first rule. Block the quarterback.”

Both laughed, an extension of a bond formed as redshirts in 2014. In UH’s system, redshirts are assigned to the scout team to portray the upcoming opponent in drills against the UH starters. Because of sideline limits, redshirts sit in the stands, behind the UH bench, during home games.

Gifford said: “Most people say, ‘I thought you play football?’ ‘I do, but I’m redshirting.’ You have to explain what’s going on. Being a redshirt shows how much you really love football.”

Outside linebacker Jahlani Tavai said: “We didn’t get frustrated too much. We didn’t let it get us down. It motivated us to start this year. Nothing held us back.”

Eli, Stubblefield, Collie, Torres, Tavai, Gifford and Mulanga are expected to start against Air Force on Saturday. The Rainbow Warriors opened with a two-tight-end formation the past two games, then went to the base offense with Collie replacing a tight end. Collie is considered to be a starter.

Eperone Moananu, who moved from the offensive line to nose tackle two weeks ago, is used as a fullback in the “jumbo” offense in goal-line situations. Noah Borden, who returned from a church mission in May, is the No. 1 long-snapper, replacing Brian Hittner, who retired because of a spinal bruise.

“When a guy goes down, whether you’re a freshman or not, you have to step into that role and play at the same level — or better — than the guy you’re replacing,” Stubblefield said.

At 22, Collie is not the usual freshman. He redshirted at Brigham Young before going on his two-year church mission. He requested — and received — a release from his BYU scholarship to contact the Warriors. Collie joined in January.

“If you’ve got the dream,” Collie said, “you’d better go out and achieve it. You’d better seize that opportunity.”

FRESHMEN GETTING PLAYING TIME
Games/starts