Taaga Tuulima takes center stage for Hawaii football team

For a football player whose position is front and center, Hawaii’s Taaga Tuulima is uneasy being the center of attention.

Tuulima deflects praise the way he fends off opposing defensive linemen — quickly and precisely.

Every interview is an Oscars acceptance speech. “I’m thankful for all my coaches and my boys who helped me out along the way,” Tuulima said following Tuesday’s practice.

During Sunday’s team banquet, Tuulima’s lead role was acknowledged. He was selected as the Rainbow Warriors’ top offensive player. When his name was announced, Tuulima recalled, “I was shocked. I had no idea.”

But head coach Nick Rolovich said Tuulima was the coaching staff’s consensus choice.

“The O-line has been a very bright spot for us this year, even with all the different guys who have contributed,” Rolovich said. “He really ties them all together.”

Rolovich said slotback Cedric Byrd, wideout JoJo Ward, running back Miles Reed and left tackle Ilm Manning were strong considerations. “We felt Taaga was such a complete player from Day 1,” Rolovich said. “If we didn’t have him, I’m not sure where we’d be at.”

Entering training camp, Kohl Levao was set to be the No. 1 center. Levao had started the first 11 games at right tackle in 2018 before moving to center. But Levao suffered an injury in the first week of camp. UH tried out different centers before turning — again — to Tuulima.

When the 6-foot-6, 340-pound Levao was moved to center last season, the reasoning was to add more mass to the middle. Tuulima provided that following an intensive offseason.

“Bigger, stronger,” Rolovich said of Tuulima’s condition during the summer. “I thought his offseason was very instrumental in his success this year. He was a much better athlete this year. He really improved.”

A lack of job security is not new to Tuulima, who joined the Warriors as a walk-on defensive end in 2016. He redshirted that year, then moved to offense the following the season, when he started one game. Offensive line coach Mark Weber said Tuulima initially “had to think through everything. Snaps were inconsistent. He needed to get stronger. He needed to develop his change of direction.”

Tuulima has mastered those skills. Weber said Tuulima’s footwork and pad level are helping in his movements.

This season, Tuulima has played in 97.9% of the Warriors’ snaps. He has 22 knockdown blocks. He also has worked with two different starters at left guard and four at right guard.

“He just comes to work every day consistently,” Rolovich said. “He does excellent in his academics in an incredibly challenging major.”

Tuulima is majoring in mechanical engineering. “I like building things and I like math and science,” Tuulima said. “I try my best.”