The University of Hawaii football team might not have rallied to a Hawaii Bowl victory in December if it were not for a doctor who makes house calls.

Ikem Okeke, a linebacker who made the momentum-turning forced fumble to spark the Rainbow Warriors’ comeback, did not know if he would make his first UH start because of a stomach flu that caused him to lose more than 10 pounds in the days leading to the Christmas Eve game. His roommate, wideout Don’Yeh Patterson, brought tea. But it was Okeke’s family physician who provided the proper remedy.

“I was waiting for my mother to show up,” Okeke said. “She’s my doctor. When she showed up with medicine, I started to feel better.”

Dr. Chinyere Okeke has a family practice in Las Vegas. Okeke’s father, Dr. Matthew Okeke, is a psychiatrist.

The bowl highlighted Okeke’s freshman year and added another football honor to his collection. Okeke is a graduate of Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High School, which went 30-0 and won national championships in the two seasons Okeke started at linebacker. “Winning is all we know,” said Okeke, a reference to the Gaels’ eight consecutive Nevada state titles.

Okeke received interest from several Pac-12 schools, as well as scholarship offers from Nevada and UNLV, but he was intrigued with a chance to make an immediate impact with the Warriors. Gaels linebackers coach Chris Brown, a former Warrior linebacker, strongly recommended his alma mater. “I found my way over here,” Okeke said.

UH’s plan was to redshirt Okeke in 2016. Okeke presented an alternative plan, especially after the Warriors lost the season opener to California in Australia. “I wanted to be on the field to help my team,” Okeke said.

After the third game, the coaches left the decision to Okeke. “I decided to burn my redshirt year,” said Okeke, who played on special teams against Arizona. He maintained that role until the bowl game, when he ascended from fourth on the depth chart to starter. Now Okeke wants to climb another chart. Okeke, whose grade-point average is 3.1, set a goal of 3.5 or better by the end of this summer.

Fork in the college road

Each practice, cornerback Zach Wilson defends complicated pass routes. His own route to Manoa also was complex.

Wilson, who was taking advanced-placement classes in high school, did not earn a qualifying SAT score by the February 2015 signing day. By the time he qualified, the offers went elsewhere. He decided to enroll at a junior college for a semester but not exceed the minimum number of credits to trigger his NCAA eligibility clock.

He eventually committed to UH, enrolling in January 2016, with five years to play four seasons.

Wilson played nickelback in 2016 and this spring has practiced as the No. 1 left cornerback. He is known for aggressiveness, agility and energy. At each training station in practice, he avoids the so-called low zone. “When it’s your turn, you can’t turn it up suddenly,” Wilson said. “You need to start it off from the jump and have that high energy all the time.”

Busing for bucks

In addition to football, training, meetings and his studies, slotback John Ursua works part-time as a busser in a Waikiki restaurant.

“I wanted extra side money,” Ursua said.

After spring practices on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Ursua showers, eats breakfast and then heads to the restaurant for his six-hour shift. He does not have classes on those days.

He said he is considering going on hiatus from the restaurant during spring football. “It’s been killing my feet,” he said. “I need to keep my legs fresh.”