Cleveland’s most successful quarterback entertains football teammates with the haka, speaks Samoan to strangers, and is not named Manziel.

Shane Austin, who completed his University of Hawaii career at the end of the 2011 season, is having a breakout year in leading the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

If Cleveland rocks, then Austin is on a roll. The Gladiators are 8-0 this season, with Austin having started six.

It took several years for Austin to become an overnight star.

"Nobody sees the behind-the-scenes work that goes into it," Austin said.

In Austin’s situation, it was the behind-the-starter work. He joined the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on in 2007, when they had an undefeated regular season and quarterback Colt Brennan finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Austin eventually earned a scholarship, but not a permanent starting job. He declined opportunities to transfer.

"I enjoyed the team," Austin said. "We definitely bonded. And it’s hard to beat Hawaii. It’s such a beautiful, fun place to live."

On his backup role at UH, Austin said: "You’re always a play away from going in. I had a good grasp of the offense. I just needed a shot."

In 2012, he played for Everett (Wash.) in the Indoor Football League. In 2013, he was a backup quarterback with the AFL’s Pittsburgh Power. In the offseason, he signed with Cleveland, which had finished last in 2013.

"I felt it was the best opportunity," Austin said.

In the second game of the season, the Gladiators were down 20-3 at the half. Austin was summoned. He threw three scoring passes and rushed for two touchdowns to rally the Gladiators to a 37-26 road victory over the New Orleans Voodoo.

This season, Austin has thrown 36 touchdown passes against six interceptions.

"It feels good to be playing again and having a winning team and some success," Austin said. "It’s been fun."

Austin, who was raised in California, said the weather has been an adjustment. Two weeks ago, there was a tornado warning. "It’ll be 82 degrees one day, and the next it’s blizzard snow. Other than that, the city’s pretty cool."

Austin and teammates fill their free time with outings to a trampoline park, where they play dodge ball. They also have mini-golf tournaments. Austin and former UH wideout Royce Pollard performed the haka.

"We brought it to Cleveland," Austin said.

Austin also made use of some language classes.

"I’ll use (Samoan) jokingly to people because they have no idea what I’m saying," Austin said.

As for his new-found success, Austin said: "I always knew I had the ability. I kept working on it. I was taking a different path, maybe, than others. It definitely shaped me to be the person I am today. I look back and I’m grateful for the — I don’t know what you call it — adversity or challenges. It’s been a journey. It’s still going."