The past six months, University of Hawaii football player Daniel Masifilo stocked shelves at a sports-apparel store.
The past three years, Masifilo took stock of himself.
Through loans and part-time jobs, Masifilo paid for two years at Arizona State and this semester at UH.
"It’s an investment," Masifilo said of the student loans. "I love doing this. I love playing football. I love going to school."
Last week, Masifilo moved from receiver to cornerback. Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said Masifilo is a quick learner who will be in the defensive rotation for Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado State.
"He’s a good athlete," Kaumeyer said. "Hopefully, we can give him a limited role and he can come and help us a little bit."
Kaumeyer said there are similarities between Masifilo and safety Charles Clay, who converted from receiver a year after transferring from Southern Methodist.
"Just like Charles, he’s a former receiver who can run," Kaumeyer said. "He knows the routes. It’s a natural move."
Masifilo, like Clay, did not have to redshirt after transferring from ASU. An exemption is made for a walk-on at one FBS school joining another FBS school as a non-scholarship player.
Masifilo was raised in Ewa Beach.
"It was tough," he said, "but it made me who I am today. I like to take pride and represent everybody back home."
Masifilo’s older brother is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. His cousin is Dave Veikune, a former UH defensive end.
Masifilo is a 2009 Campbell High graduate. He attended California’s Mount San Antonio College for two years before transferring to Arizona State. He redshirted at ASU in 2011 and, after the 2012 season, he decided to move to Hawaii. He joined the Rainbow Warriors in the summer.
Masifilo was on the 64-player travel roster for UH’s first three road games this season.
"I wasn’t really getting into the rotation (at receiver)," Masifilo said.
His work on the punt-blocking and kickoff-coverage units caught Kaumeyer’s attention. When Masifilo floated the possibility of playing corner, Kaumeyer made the offer.
The Warriors were in search of a corner after Kwamane Bowens moved to receiver two weeks ago. Moving Masifilo to corner enables Trayvon Henderson to focus on the dual role of safety and nickelback.
Masifilo stays after practices to work on his footwork and technique. He also studies videos of cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks.
"He sets the tone on how to play corner," Masifilo said.
Masifilo said he enjoyed his time with the receivers collectively known as the "Freak Show."
"I’m still with the Freak Show," Masifilo said. "I’m on the Freak Show Dark Side."
