NFL teams now face a version of the question that confronted University of Washington opponents this year:

What to do with Hau‘oli Kikaha?

The Kahuku High graduate plays in Saturday’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. (11 a.m. NFL Network), and how — and where — he performs will likely go a long way toward helping determine where he is taken in April’s NFL Draft.

He was a ferocious, off-the-edge pass rusher for the Huskies and led the nation in sacks in an All-America season in which he was a Lombardi Award, Butkus Award, Lott Impact Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award finalist.

But for someone with that considerable resume, Kikaha faces a curious situation in that he is viewed as what draft analysts call a "tweener" — somewhere between a defensive end and an outside linebacker.

Most of his FBS-leading 19 sacks (including one against Hawaii) came from his defensive end position. But his size — 6-feet, 2½ inches, 246 pounds — suggests he might be too small for that role in the NFL.

Kikaha could have a future at linebacker, through he will have to acquire and demonstrate skills in pass coverage, something he worked on in this week’s Senior Bowl practices.

"He is an interesting guy (in) where does he fit into a pro defense?" ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said in a media conference call this week. "He had all those sacks at Washington, some of which were coverage sacks (and) he does have a great burst off the edge."

But Kiper said he and others wonder "Can he cover well enough? All those things are going to impact where he goes. Testing and the Senior Bowl, then the combine, will be important for Kikaha."

That Kiper would even be discussing Kikaha, and NFL evaluators hovering around him this week in Mobile, seemed remote even two years ago. He missed most of two seasons at UW thanks to two reconstructive knee surgeries. There were questions about whether he could come back at all.

But through perseverance and unyielding resolve he made himself into Washington’s defensive MVP as a junior and its single season (19) and career (36) record holder for sacks this year. Along the way he was also honored as an All-Pac-12 Academic first-team selection.

If not for the ascendance of quarterback Marcus Mariota at Oregon, Kikaha would have been the marquee college player out of Hawaii this year.

Kikaha’s brilliance — he was credited with 2.5 sacks of Mariota this season — has not gone unrecognized by the Heisman Trophy winner. When mainland media asked about the quality of football in Hawaii at the Heisman presentation or the College Football Playoff National Championship, Kikaha’s name was the first player Mariota mentioned.

"Two (first team unanimous) All-Americans from one small island in the Pacific," Mariota was quick to point out.

The Senior Bowl might also say a lot about how high they march into the NFL together.

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