Kory Rasmussen’s climb to the top of the depth chart wasn’t always easy.

Then again, playing nose tackle isn’t a job for those looking for leisure.

After transferring from Colorado, Rasmussen joined the University of Hawaii football team as a walk-on. To help pay the bills, he crammed part-time work with a landscaping company into a daily schedule book-ended by practice and classes.

“I tried to set my school schedule up so I could work then go to class,” Rasmussen said. “We just made it work.”

Two years into the arduous routine, Rasmussen’s load eased a bit when he was put on scholarship last summer. He then earned the starting spot and returns for his senior season entrenched as a leader for the Rainbow Warrior defensive front.

“It was a goal I accomplished, but once you accomplish a goal you have to set new, higher goals,” Rasmussen said. “You can’t dwell on the past, you have to just keep on moving forward.”

After posting 43 tackles, including 4 1/2 for losses, last season, Rasmussen represents half of the line’s senior class along with fellow Kamehameha graduate Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea.

They’re also the foundation for the four-man front implemented by defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa. Although he’ll have more company up front compared to last year’s 3-4 alignment, Rasmussen still anticipates facing frequent double teams.

“You just gotta love the game, that’s the only way,” Rasmussen said. “You gotta get up knowing you’re going to go hit people and just be happy about it.”

Kema-Kaleiwahea is transitioning to defensive end after posting 23 tackles as an outside linebacker last year.

“I love the defense. It puts a lot of guys in the right situation to make plays,” Kema-Kaleiwahea, said. “The defense Coach Lempa came in with is more of a fit for the bodies that we have. … I think we have a lot of mid-size guys that can really move.”

Kema-Kaleiwahea and junior David Manoa (both 6-foot-3, 240 pounds) are rangy types at the defensive end spots.

Zeno Choi, a sophomore from Kaiser, earned a spot at tackle alongside Ramsussen. Ka‘aumoana Gifford, a starting defensive end last year, moves inside to tackle.

While experience along the defensive front thinned with the dismissal of All-Mountain West Conference selection Kennedy Tulimasealii, in a sense the group of 18 linemen — which includes 10 freshmen — are in the same class.

“Whether they’re a fifth-year guy, fourth-year guy or a freshman, everybody’s learning new things,” defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa said.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN