Delaying his entry into the Hawaii football program gave Mike Sellers a head start on his freshman season.

As a grayshirt, Sellers waited until last spring to enroll at UH full-time and joined the Warriors for spring practice, giving him a chance to acclimate to Division I football.

"That’s a huge boost," Sellers said, "because when you come in the spring, everybody looks to help you because there’s not too many new people.

"I’m still learning, but I’m more comfortable with it so it’s easier to just play instead of thinking. I just react."

The Campbell graduate’s introduction in the spring could help him earn playing time this fall.

Sellers got a look with the Warriors’ starting defense at nickelback during Friday’s practice, one of the few new faces in a group stacked with veterans.

"He’s come a long way," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "He’s playing like John Hardy-Tuliau did last year. He’s making plays, he’s quick, he’s fast, great attitude."

Hardy-Tuliau emerged as a playmaker while starting nine games at nickelback as a true freshman last season and is now concentrating on playing free safety.

Sellers began learning the responsibilities at nickelback during the spring, and entered fall camp third on the depth chart. But he ascended to earn a chance to work with a senior-heavy first unit.

"It’s a lot of fun," Sellers said. "We hang out with (the seniors) during camp and everything, but when you’re on the field and everybody’s working together for one goal, you just feel like you’re a part of something."

Sellers’ education continues, but being surrounded by experience helps accelerate the process.

"(Senior strong safety Richard Torres) is like another coach," Sellers said. "If I have any questions, he’ll simplify it and answer it. He’ll teach me in a way that will help me learn it. "He knows the entire defense."

Positive prognosis for freshman DT Samia

Freshman defensive tackle Moses Samia suffered a sprained ligament in his knee during Thursday’s practice, but came away thankful the injury wasn’t more severe.

"At first I thought it was going to be serious, but when I went into the training room it wasn’t as bad," said Samia, who hopes to be back for the season opener against Colorado.

The offensive line had its first unit back intact on Friday with the return of right guard Chauncy Winchester-Makainai, who sat out Thursday’s practice.

Warriors got talent

The UH defensive line earned top honors at the team’s talent show on Thursday, a tradition at the end of camp.

"They did all kinds of songs and had it choreographed. We’ve been working them a lot and I have no idea where they had the time to get it so synchronized," McMackin said. "All the shows were. The players did a great job. It’s amazing."