In 1993, Ellison was recruited as a wide receiver out of high school. He played that position as a redshirt freshman for UH, catching one pass for five yards in the '94 season finale against Air Force.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder also had five tackles on special teams and blocked a field goal against Brigham Young.
But after fellow Augusta, Ga., native Jason Ross decided to give up football last summer, Ellison was moved to free safety in 1995.
Ellison only had three tackles, but did manage to recover a fumble, and return an interception 73 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game against Nevada-Las Vegas.
Coming into spring, Ellison was battling a chronic shoulder problem, but figured to stay on the defensive side of the football.
But after watching him in workouts, UH head coach Fred vonAppen opted to move him to tight end. He is currently No. 2 on the depth chart behind University of the Pacific transfer Ryan Green.
"Gary was playing safety, but we had a need for a few more bodies at tight end," vonAppen said.
"He came here as a receiver. He has a big body and can catch, so we thought he might give us a little something there that we needed."
Ellison isn't the only current player to join the tight-end ranks. Long snapper Tyler Tanigawa is practicing there as well, but only for the spring.
He is listed No. 3 on the depth chart. Walk-on Brandon Kaohi also is seeing playing time at tight end. Hawaii welcomes junior college transfer Zeff Ah Quinn and freshman Brian Marquardt at that position this fall.
"Tyler is basically doing us a service," vonAppen said. "He's doing a good job, but he's much more valuable to us as our long snapper.
"We just needed more numbers there because we were wearing out the three guys who were at that position. We've got some guys coming in this fall who also can help us there."
This is the first time Hawaii has run a tight end since NFL veteran Ron Hall played the position for the Rainbows in 1986.
Special teams coach Doug Semones is helping out wide receivers coach Ken Margerum at this position. The former Kahuku High head coach has a little extra time because vonAppen isn't putting in the entire special-teams package this spring.
VonAppen also announced that redshirt freshman Josh Hawkins had been moved from running back to wide receiver.
Earlier this spring, junior college transfer Sam Collins was moved from linebacker to the defensive front. Also shifted were Eddie Klaneski, from slotback to cornerback, and Ellie Kapihe, from offensive to defensive tackle.
"Overall, it was a good Tuesday practice," vonAppen said. "We got after their ass a little bit after that Monday workout. They were acting like this stuff was routine.
"There's nothing routine about it. They've got to come out and get better because, frankly, that's what we expect them to do.
"I was pleased with the offense's ability to run the football. At one point, we broke it out of there five out of six times."
The Rainbows won't work out today, but will return for practices tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. VonAppen said another scrimmage would be held on Saturday.
Midway through the second week of spring practice, the Rainbows have about a dozen players wearing red rehabilitation jerseys, and most are on crutches.
"If there are any more crutches in Honolulu, I don't know who would have them," vonAppen said. "We've used them all. All the wood and all the aluminum.
"So if anybody needs a crutch, come see our guys. Hopefully, we'll get some of those guys back by the end of the week. It's pretty much just the normal bumps and bruises you get in the spring."