Brett Leonard didn't see any playing time last season, but still got quite a bit out of his first fall in Hawaii.

Sure, being anchored to the sidelines on Saturdays was agonizing at times, but contributing on the scout team gave him the experience of blocking the Warriors' front-line defense on a daily basis, earned him an award at the team banquet and led to a new on-field identity this spring.

The junior is now a leading contender for one of the starting spots on a revamped offensive line.

Leonard entered the program at tackle and was the backup on the left side for much of last season behind Aaron Kia. While he stayed ready to jump into the mix if needed, Leonard ended up redshirting and preserving his junior season.

After getting a look at guard on the scout team during the season, he's adjusting to the rugged life of an interior lineman while working with the first unit at left guard so far in spring practice.

“;It's more nasty,”; Leonard said. “;You can be a good tackle just having patience and good feet. At guard you have to be a brawler. You get to pull more, you get to hit more.”;

While Leonard primarily played tackle, his position coaches at Saddleback (Calif.) College, Scott Wilford and NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, told the 6-foot-5 310-pounder that his future might be at guard.

When it became apparent he'd sit out last season, Leonard asked to go to the scout team to get more action in practice, and emulating another tall guard helped initiate the move inside this year.

The week of the Warriors' game at Idaho, Leonard's job was to portray 6-foot-6 Mike Iupati, the Vandals' All-Western Athletic Conference guard and one of the top offensive linemen entering this month's NFL Draft.

“;He moved inside depending on the opponent and wherever their best player was we'd put Brett there,”; offensive line coach Gordy Shaw said. “;After two or three times playing inside that week he came up to me and said, 'Have you ever thought of me as a guard?' ... He said he'd like to give it a shot this spring and he's getting his opportunity right now.

“;The guard position in our offense is much more complicated, much more detail oriented to learn. He's done a very good job with his assignments so far.”;

While he pushed the first team, Leonard in turn benefited from taking on the starters.

“;I couldn't take sitting around watching people, and I'm glad I did that because I went against (former UH defensive end Fetaiagogo) Fonoti every day and guys like Tuika (Tufaga) and Rocky (Savaiigaea),”; Leonard said.

“;(Fonoti) was probably the best D-end I've ever played, and I played some good ones in JC. But he had a motor like no one else.”;

Actually, Leonard's motor is one of the first attributes teammates and coaches point to when discussing his strengths.

“;He's one of the hardest working guys I've ever seen,”; defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga said. “;When we run, he's in the front. When we lift he gives his all in whatever he does.

“;He's real humble and when it's time to work he works above and beyond.”;

With the Warriors replacing four starters, Leonard and senior Adrian Thomas have been the first guards in the offensive line, with senior Kainoa LaCount and junior Austin Hansen, the lone returning starter, at the tackles.

Junior Sila Lefiti has been the top center, but sat out yesterday's practice with a bruised thigh and Bronson Tiwanak took the first-unit snaps. Lefiti expects to be back for tomorrow's practice.

“;It's all new blood, but it's pretty much the second team from last year, so we have that cohesion going,”; Leonard said.