Flexibility has become a must for a banged-up Hawaii linebacker unit hungry to show its true potential.

Good thing R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane brings several helpings of versatility to the table.

The UH junior made an instant impact late in the team's 20-17 loss to San Jose State last week, coming in for Adam Leonard when the senior tweaked his hamstring.

Kiesel-Kauhane tallied three tackles and two quarterback hurries in just 29 snaps, and was never far from the action. It was the most action he'd seen outside of special teams, where he's been looked to as the emotional pulse of the kickoff and punt return units since last year.

“;I felt comfortable playing at home in front of so many fans, it's a wonderful feeling,”; he said. “;But, I just thought I really needed to make a difference in the game. It was a close game, I felt we could dominate them to a point where we could just take over. But as it was getting to the end ... I really tried to make something happen which could turn it around and actually win the game.”;

He's become an essential piece in practice after persistent injuries to Blaze Soares and nagging ailments to starting veterans Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian. Now, with Leonard questionable at Fresno State on Saturday, the Warriors are preparing Kiesel-Kauhane to step in at any of the three linebacker positions—including middle, where he said he hasn't played since his Pop Warner days. He took his first reps at the position on Tuesday.

But he's impressed the Hawaii coaching staff with his ability to pick up new things on the fly.

“;He knows the two outside positions like the back of his hands,”; defensive coordinator Cal Lee said. “;Well, why not have him learn the middle just in case? You never know ... if he's the number three or four guy who's gonna come in, why wait for him to be called on the outside? Just giving him more ammunition to go in there and play, any position if need be.”;

Kiesel-Kauhane, considered by coach Greg McMackin as the strongest player on the team, shrugged off any worries of difficulty adjusting in practice.

“;It's a lot more fun, all you gotta do is read and react,”; the 5-foot-11, 225-pound Kiesel-Kauhane said. “;Coach Cal told me today, I'm taking to the middle kind of fast and I'm excited if he does put me in that predicament. But, I'll be ready any which way he does. If I gotta go both, I'll go both.”;

Lee also mentioned Elimimian as a possibility to switch back to middle if Brashton Satele leaves the game, leaving Kiesel-Kauhane on the outside.

Playing wherever he's needed by his coaches has never been an issue for the 2005 Aiea graduate.

Na Alii coach Wendell Say recalled how Kiesel-Kauhane was desired on the varsity as a starting outside linebacker his sophomore year of high school, but because the JV needed a capable quarterback, he remained there until he was a junior. When he arrived, though, he was a force.

“;He's one of those players who didn't come off the field much,”; said Say, who points out his former player's work ethic as an example for the current generation. “;Running back, slotback, backup quarterback. Basically all the skill positions he could play on offense. (On defense) he's probably one of the hardest hitters we had.”;

When Kiesel-Kauhane arrived at Hawaii, however, playing time was a scarce commodity in a deep field of linebackers—and this season the position was expected to be as strong as ever.

But he knew well that opportunity could drop in at any moment.

“;Injuries always occur. As a backup linebacker you just always gotta be ready, knowing that you just might have a chance, and it came early in the season in camp where some guys were falling down,”; Kiesel-Kauhane said. “;I just had to get my mind right where this season could actually be one where I play both sides, special teams and defense, so I just had to get ready and focus and that's all that matters.”;