Pick a day, any day, and it is a great one for defensive lineman Zacchaeus McKinney.

Since making the 3,738-mile move from Norman, Okla., where he played for Oklahoma for four years, to Manoa, where he joined the University of Hawaii football team on Jan. 29, McKinney has enjoyed every practice and workout.

“The environment — the island, the people, the camaraderie, the community, the togetherness — I love it,” McKinney said. “I’ve always felt at home. It’s like a second home since I got here. From a team standpoint, even more welcoming. From coaches, staff, medical, trainers, just everybody (they) have a great, positive attitude. I definitely acclimated. … I like it here. I like what Coach (Todd) Graham’s doing schematically and as a culture thing as making us as men. I’m really excited about what’s going on here.”

McKinney has hit the reset button on a college career that began when he signed with Oklahoma in 2017 as a 3-star prospect and the No. 69-rated defensive tackle nationally. The Norman campus was a 3-hour drive from his family’s home in Weatherford, Texas. In his first three years, the Sooners played in the College Football Playoff semifinals. But after playing in two games at Oklahoma, McKinney entered the transfer portal. Several UH coaches contacted coaches in Texas who vouched for McKinney’s skills and work ethic.

“Really, truthfully, I came here because I believe everything Coach Graham’s speaking,” McKinney said. “I think I can excel in his defense. I want to be a part of what he’s building. It’s going to help me as an individual, help me as a team. And I want to make us Rainbow Warriors win. … I felt I could be one of those pieces that could help.”

The Warriors defend out of multiple alignments. McKinney rotates between a 3-technique and an end. “More of a hybrid guy depending on what front we’re in,” McKinney said.

At 6 feet 3 and 270 pounds, McKinney relies on his strength to power his way from the edge. As an interior defender, he uses his quickness to storm into the lanes.

“We’re trying to come up with a lot more pressure inside, make sure to stop the run,” McKinney said. “That’s the No. 1 focus this year: to stop the run, obliterate the run, actually.”

McKinney said the competition is heated between the offense and defense every practice. “Offensive guys, man, they come out every day,” McKinney said. “Whenever we think we’ve got something schemed up, they’ve always got to answer. It’s a nice chip. It’s a good balance. We just grow. We feed off each other. I love it.”

Having experienced the lifestyle of a Power-Five program, McKinney appreciates the grit of the Warriors.

Before joining the Warriors, McKinney said, he knew “these guys worked their butts off completely, like every day. … The guys that work, with almost nothing, to be honest with you, that alone is hard to do. I came in, and I already had a chip on my shoulder. And this team had one. They want it (more).”

With the no spring training and a condensed training camp, the Warriors went 5-4 in 2020. “That speaks volumes,” McKinney said. “I think we all got a chip on our shoulders, from the staff to the players.”