Hawaii slotback Greg Salas was recruited as a defensive back, and linebacker Corey Paredes and safety Mana Silva were not recruited at all.

Those humble beginnings were nearly forgotten during their standout 2010 football season. Yesterday, those three Warriors were named to the All-Western Athletic Conference football first team.

The Warriors selected to the second team were quarterback Bryant Moniz, running back Alex Green, slotback Kealoha Pilares, right guard Adrian Thomas, right tackle Laupepa Letuli, defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu, and kicker Scott Enos.

The nine WAC head coaches selected the All-WAC teams. A coach was allowed to nominate players from his team, but not vote for them.

"Almost half of our starters got recognition," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "I’m proud of them. That’s a real compliment to the entire program. I’m glad our opposing coaches felt that way about them."

Despite playing with bruised ribs most of the season, Salas led the nation with 1,675 receiving yards. Along the way, he also set the school record for most career receiving yards.

"It does mean something to me," Salas said of the record.

Salas, who is now healthy, said he refused to allow ailments to slow him down.

"You take a couple of aspirins before the game, and the adrenaline is running. It’s not too bad during the game," Salas said. "But after the game, it hurts. You have to suck it up."

Paredes endured injuries to his left shoulder, legs and ankles. With daily treatment — his father is a chiropractor — Paredes has managed 11.08 tackles per game. He is fifth nationally with 6.46 solo tackles per game.

Silva is No. 1 nationally with eight interceptions. He set the UH career record with 14 picks.

But growing up in Hilo, Silva envisioned being on the other side.

"I always dreamed of being like a Bryant Moniz, a quarterback," said Silva, who was passer at Kamehameha-Hawaii.

"When I first came out of high school, there was nothing on the table for me," Silva said. "I didn’t have a scholarship at all. I had to walk on at Oregon State. It wasn’t working out there at all. I walked on at UH."

Silva said he received support from his wife and family.

"My wife is a rock for myself," he said. "She made a lot of sacrifices. She put a lot of hopes and aspirations on a slight delay for now. I’m very grateful to her."

As a high school quarterback, Silva earned the nickname "Detour" for running out of bounds at the end of scrambles.

"Hopefully, I’m a stop sign now," he said.

Boise State’s Kellen Moore and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick shared the award for the WAC’s top offensive player, although Moniz is better statistically than those quarterbacks. Moniz leads the nation in total offense (461.92 yards per game), passing yards (4,629) and touchdown throws (36).

Green is the nation’s leader in yards per carry (8.78).

"It feels good," Green said of being named to the second team. "We worked hard for this. This is for everybody."

Pilares, who set a UH single-game record with 18 catches, called his second-team selection a "team award. I’m proud of all of those guys."

In preseason publications, UH’s offensive line was singled out for its lack of game experience. But Thomas, who was raised in Australia, and Letuli, who missed three games because of a high-ankle sprain, provided front-side blocking for the right-handed Moniz.

"I’m pretty humbled by (the selection)," said Thomas, who played American football only on the club level in Australia.

Letuli said: "I’m surprised. But I’m happy."

Tuipulotu, who redshirted in 2009 after transferring from Arizona, lost 30 pounds during the offseason, and emerged as a vocal and physical leader.

"I do what I do," said Tuipulotu, when asked about his leadership role. "I didn’t plan on it happening."

Enos has not missed an extra-point kick in his two-year UH career.