SAN DIEGO » The dream was put to rest, and former Hawaii football player Richard Torres was prepared for the rest of his life.

And then Kahuku High won the 2012 state football championship.

"I got the feeling again," said Torres, who was a Red Raiders assistant this past year. His father is Kahuku’s head coach.

Torres, who was favored to become a UH graduate-assistant coach, instead decided to re-activate his pursuit of a pro-football dream. Torres was granted special permission to participate in Tuesday’s pro day on the San Diego State campus.

Torres, who participated in last year’s pro day, is not eligible for next month’s NFL Draft. He hoped the workout would lead to a tryout.

Torres made a strong case with an impressive performance. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, had the fastest long shuttle (11.34 seconds) and tied for the best vertical jump (39 inches). The big drawback is his height — 5 feet 71⁄4.

"The best you can do is train as hard as you can and pray somebody likes you," Torres said. "I need one team to open the door and let me in. It can be the NFL. It can be Canada."

Torres has been invited to audition for Canadian Football League teams next week.

Torres’ former UH and Kahuku teammate — outside linebacker Paipai Falemalu — drew attention with his surprising quickness. Falemalu ran the 40 in 4.64 seconds and the long shuttle in 11.70 seconds. He had a 37-inch vertical jump.

Falemalu credited trainer Chad Ikei, who has a long working relationship with UH athletes.

"He works on fundamentals, then drills those things into your brain over and over," Falemalu said.

Ikei offers a "round-the-clock program." That meant defensive tackle Haku Correa, who is engaged and a father, lived with Ikei’s family the past three months.

"It was hard being away from my family, but it was a sacrifice I needed to make," Correa said.

Correa bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times, but six of the lifts were deducted because it was ruled he did not fully extend his arms.

"I tried my best," Correa said. "I didn’t hold back anything."

Safety Leroy Lutu, who underwent shoulder surgery in December, did well in the 20-yard shuttle (4.24 seconds). He had a 39-inch vertical jump, although he insisted he could do better. Lutu began his UH athletic career on the basketball team.

Lutu will participate in a West Coast regional combine in Seattle this weekend. He also has been invited to the Seattle Seahawks’ tryout.

Running back Sterling Jackson ran the 40 in 4.56 seconds. After the run, he admitted he has been suffering from a groin injury since the middle of the 2012 season.

Darius Bright, who competed as a tight end, ran a so-so 4.81 in the 40. He said he recently was diagnosed with a partially torn right Achilles.

"I felt I did OK," said Bright, who caught a couple of long passes in field drills.

Punter Alex Dunnachie did not participate in any speed or jumping drills.

"I’m just here to punt," Dunnachie said.

He launched more than 50 punts in field drills. He said his average hang time was 4.8 seconds, with some reaching 5.3 seconds.

"I was pretty happy with it," said Dunnachie, who has drawn the strongest interest from the New York Jets.

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