When Kishaun Ki checked in to try out with the Campbell football team, Sabers coach Amosa Amosa posed a question likely repeated by opponents throughout the season.

“Where this guy came from?”

Born in Hawaii and raised in Utah since the third grade, Ki moved back to Ewa Beach this summer to finish high school. A return to his roots turned out to be the best place for a fresh start for the 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive lineman.

“I came here for a new start for football and it came out (how) I wanted, what I expected,” Ki said. “Coaches believed in me and I got to show what I had in me.”

With his parents still in Utah, Ki enrolled at Campbell just before the start of school and is spending his senior year living with his grandparents and surrounded by family.

Since joining the football team, he’s made an immediate impact for Campbell’s defense at the core of an in-season turnaround from an 0-2 start to the semifinals of the Division I state tournament.

The Sabers recovered from the early struggles to finish second in the OIA Blue at 5-2. After falling to Farrington in the OIA playoffs, second-seeded Campbell opened the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football Championship with a 48-0 win over Waiakea last Friday. They’ll next face third-seeded ‘Iolani in the second game of a semifinal doubleheader at Mililani on Friday.

“It means a lot,” Ki said of the opportunity to play in a state tournament. “When I came here I saw the emotions off the boys and … that changed me. I was like, this means a lot — if it means that much to you guys it means that much to me too.”

When Ki returned to Ewa Beach, reuniting with childhood friends eased his transition in school. On the field, he’s made an instant impact on Campbell’s defensive front and entered the state tournament tied for the team lead with five sacks among his 36 total tackles and forced two fumbles as an explosive presence at the line of scrimmage.

“He wanted to try out, got his physical and everything picked up from there,” Amosa said. “He had to grow into our defense and he’s someone who had a pretty quick get-off, pretty strong, very agile.

“With him it’s just a matter of making him understand what’s expected of him. He likes to play around here and there — that’s just his personality and it’s been a blessing to have him be a part of our team.”

Ki primarily plays in the middle of the defensive line, although the coaches will also slide him to the edge to give him a break from double teams.

“Football is a team sport, but there’s times he takes care of more than his responsibility,” Amosa said.

“I think he realizes his ability and we just encourage him to use football … to better what he’s doing and look forward to a better life. Definitely he can play at the next level.”

Ki considers this his first year of high school football after not playing much at Kearns and Bingham high schools in Utah the past two years.

“The coaches saw what I had, but I had to earn it at the same time,” Ki said. “I proved I can do it and they gave me my chance on the field.”

Ki said the opportunities he’s received this season and those potentially ahead also boosted his motivation off the field. He said he’s spoken to coaches from Utah State and Hawaii, which reinforced his focus in the classroom.

He said a UH coach told him, “I see what you have, but talent’s nothing without education.”

“I believe that,” Ki said, “and I have to work on that.”

Ki said he also continues to receive guidance from Utah, where his parents, Tua and Pao, keep in touch with phone calls four times a week and watch his games online in what have become family get-togethers.

“They’ve been through a lot with me, so I’m like, I’m not just doing it just for me. I’m doing it for my parents mostly,” Ki said.