It has taken five years for Micah Vanterpool to be the University of Hawaii football team’s newest impact player.

Vanterpool, the Rainbow Warriors’ longest-tenured offensive lineman, opened training camp as the left guard on the No. 1 unit.

“At the moment right now,” said Vanterpool, a fifth-year junior, of his depth-chart status. “We’ve got a lot of good guys coming in this year. I’m just trying to stay hungry and be ready to compete.”

Vanterpool, who grew up in Phoenix, has embraced — and conquered — challenges since signing with the Warriors in 2017.

“This island made me a man, to be honest,” Vanterpool said. “The people of this island, I owe them so much, and they don’t even know it. For me to stay here and stick it out, that’s one thing my mom always told me. ‘If you’re going to start something, you’re going to finish it.’ Those were the things I stand by today. My (Phoenix Central High) basketball coach told me, ‘once you quit something, it’s easier to quit the next time, and quit the next time, quit the next time.’ Sometimes you’ve got to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. You’ve got to figure it out.”

During his redshirt season in 2017, Vanterpool went against the Warriors’ defensive starters every practice. In 2018, he played in nine games as a reserve offensive tackle and on special teams. In 2019, he played in four games. After that season, Todd Graham was hired as successor to head coach Nick Rolovich, who went to Washington State. Vanterpool said both head coaches fostered a family atmosphere.

“It really was a seamless transition with Coach Graham when he first came in,” Vanterpool said. “A lot of coaches try to come in and knock off (holdover) guys, grab guys’ scholarships all because there’s a new coach. Coach Graham came in with open arms. He was like, ‘at the end of the day, the best guys are going to play. You’ve just got to work.’ Coach Graham is a stand-up man.”

Vanterpool played in all nine games in 2020. He started five at tackle, filled in at guard, and aligned as a tight end in power formations. “A couple of my former coaches told me to be available and try to play multiple positions,” Vanterpool said. “That’s the one thing I’ve learned. Fit in where you can get in at UH. That’s one thing coaches really like about me.”

In spring training, Vanterpool began taking the first-team reps at left guard. Last year’s starter, Michael Eletise, was granted a medical retirement.

At 6 feet 6 and 300 pounds, Vanterpool had to adjust his stance and pad level in moving from the perimeter. “That probably was the hardest thing about trying to make the transition to guard, trying to find a comfortable stance I can do everything out of,” Vanterpool said. “I worked with Coach (A’Lique) Terry and tried to find something that was comfortable.”

He said the strength coaches have incorporated more stretching and rehabilitative treatments to the daily workouts. Vanterpool also practices boxing for hand quickness and power, and participates in yoga for flexibility. “Yoga is peaceful, to be honest,” Vanterpool said. “You can close your eyes and relax.”

In the past, Vanterpool also has been a successful host during recruiting. He was the host to three UH starters — right tackle Gene Pryor, right guard Solo Vaipulu and center Kohl Levao.

“I showed them what’s real, showed them the real part of Hawaii,” Vanterpool said. “Hawaii is a special place. Some people come on official visits like it’s a free trip to Hawaii. All those guys were really open and wanted to become part of this brotherhood we have out here.”

Of his approach, Vanterpool said, “just be genuine. You’ve got to be genuine in this world. A lot of people are going to show you some fake stuff. I’m going to tell you how it is.”

That honesty — and humor — is displayed regularly on Vanterpool’s popular YouTube channel, Big MiK. The vlog started as an insider’s view during the pandemic and expanded to a wide range of topics. “It’s almost a year now,” Vanterpool said of the show.