Russell Grant has rushed for 242 yards this season,
second on the team. By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin

At 5-foot-6 and 175 pounds, the newest sensation in the University of Hawaii backfield is easily lost in a crowded room.

But it's that ability to dance in and out of view that has allowed the diminutive running back to stay alive in the land of the giants.

Grant might not be big, but he's fast. Give him a small hole, and he's through it. Get him out on the edge, and his perimeter quickness can be maximized.

It took the UH coaching staff a while to find him. Sifting through the numbers, the coaches looked for experience and size first. Grant had neither.

But each week in fall camp and through the first month of the season, Grant persevered. If they needed somebody on special teams, he raised his hand.

When injuries to Jade Charles and Carlos Shaw allowed him to move up the depth chart, he never looked down. He finally got his first start three weeks ago against Colorado State, and he has remained there ever since.

"He was always there, always prepared, always ready, and when the opportunity came he took full advantage of it," UH running backs coach Don Dillon said. "There's a lot to be said for that.

"We tried to have a wide-open spring ball. And what set me back was I had so many numbers. We had seven guys in the running backs spot alone to look at and try to evaluate.

"I don't think Russell had an opportunity to show what he could do in the spring. When we went to Barbers Point, we went with the seniors first, and worked our way down the list.

"Russell was only a sophomore with very little experience as a redshirt freshman. Carlos Show also had a great first week at fall camp and Jade Charles had a great spring, so Russell had to be patient and bide his time."

Which didn't bother Grant at all. He understood the batting order. His first motivation was team. If the Rainbows won without him, fine. But they didn't.

So when the coaches turned to Grant late last month, he strapped on his helmet and said: Put me in coach. I'm ready.

"I just told myself to go out and work hard, no matter where I was on the depth chart," Grant said after yesterday's practice. "Coach told us we all would have a role on the team.

"I just tried to find my role. If it turned out to be with the scouts, then I would do it and be happy with that. Unfortunately, a lot of injuries put me up in the depth.

"When I got my chance to show what I had, I just took advantage of it. We all work hard. That's what we're supposed to do and we stick together. It doesn't matter who's out there getting the job done because it's a team deal where we're all doing things for each other."

You can see why UH head coach Fred vonAppen smiles a lot while describing Grant. If he had 100 guys just like him, his problems would be over very quickly.

"He bought in and worked hard at everything," vonAppen said. "We went with experience and size, and said, 'Let's wait until he comes to the surface.'

"He's currently one of our top backs, if not our top back. He's a delightful guy. He blocks well for his size. His lack of height is actually kind of an advantage.

"He's a difficult target to hit because he has a lot of quickness. The good news is, he's young."

VonAppen is so impressed with him, Grant will be one of the captains for this week's game at the Air Force Academy. It will be the second trip into the Colorado area for the Denver native.

He went to Wyoming where family and friends attended the game. Although not high on the depth chart, he still played. He had zero yards on four carries.

"But I still appreciated the opportunity," Grant said. "Even though I was the third man up, Coach told me he was going to get me in the game.

"And that made me feel good knowing Coach wasn't going to just have me sitting on the sidelines in front of my parents. It gave me more respect for him.

"Last year, when we went to Colorado State with (former UH head) coach (Bob) Wagner and them, I didn't get to play. I wouldn't have said anything, but I sure wanted that chance."

In fact, Grant only had one carry for four yards last year. So far this season, he has 242 yards on 46 carries, second on the team behind Shaw. He also has three of UH's seven rushing touchdowns.

His 66-yarder against Nevada-Las Vegas was the longest of the season for the Rainbows. Grant has become UH's breakaway threat entering Saturday's game at the Air Force Academy.

"That's a real motivation for me, too," Grant said. "I know I'm going to get a lot of time to show people in Colorado what I can do."

Teams: Hawaii at Air Force Academy
When: Next Saturday, Falcon Stadium.
Weekend update: Air Force defeated then-No. 8 Notre Dame, 20-17, in overtime at South Bend, Ind.
Man of the hour:Falcons quarterback Beau Morgan rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown for the 4-2 Falcons.
Quotable:"What this proves is size isn't everything in football. There's desire and there's belief," said Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry, after the upset of the Fighting Irish.