As he bulldozed his way for an average of nearly 5 yards per carry last season, University of Hawaii running back Dayton Furuta inspired the chant of “fuuroot…fuuroot” from the stands at Aloha Stadium.

But as Furuta prepares for his senior season, the name he increasingly hears from teammates is “Uncle.”

“That’s what they call me now,” Furuta said. “That’s OK. I am a little older than a lot of the guys who are 18, 19, 20 years old.”

For the 23-year-old Furuta, it isn’t a nod to his age as much as it is a recognition of the experience and acquired leadership in his five years in Manoa.

”He always looked after himself and worked hard, but now he’s stepped up as a leader,” said coach Nick Rolovich. “He’s about helping make other people around him get better.”

It is an added maturity that has gone hand in hand with his 8-month-old role of being a father. Daughter Sky was born in November, the weekend of UH’s final regular-season game at San Diego State, the only game Furuta missed in helping the Rainbow Warriors to an 8-6 season.

“That’s the thing about having your first child, I think it changes most people,” Rolovich said. “The maturity shows and he’s taken a more active role with it as a leader.”

Running backs coach Brian Smith said, “It (fatherhood) is something that can help you grow as a person. In the meeting room and on the field, he is somebody the players can go to. Like an uncle.”

It is an expansion of Furuta’s role as a coach with the 8-and-under and 10-and-under youth league teams he helps coach in Mililani.

These days in training camp Furuta runs his own version of the hurry-up offense. After practice is concluded, weight training sessions are finished and video tape is watched, he makes a beeline for home and some quality time with his fiancee, Summer, and daughter.

“Some of the guys would call about 9 p.m. and ask if I wanted to do something, but I tell them I’m spending time with my family and then we’re all going to sleep,” Furuta said.

Furuta could have graduated in December but wanted to have time with his family and experience a fifth-year senior season, so he has opted to space out his classes and postpone graduation.

On the field in his second season as a running back after moving over from linebacker and tight end, he has come back wiser to the role. “This year I understand the defenses a little bit better. Last season, in the beginning I just got the ball, made the first read and hit it as hard as I could. Now, I understand the secondary reads and cuts. It is not just about getting your foot on the ground and running up the field.”

He is also stronger and quicker, appearing at 245 pounds, about 10 below his playing weight of last season. “I was enjoying the attention of being a big back last year, so I got to like 255,” Furuta said. “Right now I’m about 245, just getting a little quicker, but I know the power is still there, the size is still there. I didn’t want to take off too much.”

Rolovich said, “The fruit train still needs a caboose. That’s his style.”

“I like the ‘uncle’ and ‘fruit train’ (nicknames),” Furuta said. “But what I’m going to like even better is being called ‘Daddy.’ ”

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.