In his first three years at UCLA, Dalton Hilliard has been to two bowl games and won a division title in the first year of the Pac-12 Conference.

Ask him to describe those three years and it’s not the kind off accomplishments he was hoping for.

"We just weren’t very good," said Hilliard, a 2009 graduate of Punahou. "The fact my senior year we’re doing so well so far makes me really happy and really proud to be a Bruin."

UCLA has been the early-season surprise in the Pac-12, winning its first three games under new head coach Jim Mora.

Mora was hired in the offseason to replace Rick Neuheisel, who helped recruit Hilliard to UCLA.

Included in that three-game winning streak was a 36-30 win over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl 11 days ago, pushing the Bruins into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2007.

Hilliard, who has played safety most of his UCLA career, has also played linebacker this year and has six tackles, two pass breakups and two pass defenses.

He also recovered Nebraska’s onside kick late in the fourth quarter to seal UCLA’s second win over a ranked team in as many years.

"This was my dream school and I came here really wanting to help rebuild this program," said Hilliard, who played on a Punahou team his senior year that included Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o and Robby Toma, Colorado’s Kaiwi Crabb, Boise State’s Jeremy Ioane and Utah State’s Brian Suite.

Under Mora, Hilliard has taken on added responsibilities, taking practice snaps at wide receiver.

It means longer hours in film study, but it’s something the 5-foot-8 198-pounder welcomes with open arms.

"I think I’m the happiest at this point because being able to play so many different positions and to be so versatile, I think I’ve become a better player because of it," he said. "It was tough at first, but I think going to Punahou helped me be able to memorize and understand things pretty quickly."

UCLA has jumped to No. 19 this week as it prepares to open conference play at home against Oregon State.

The Beavers have only played once this season after their opening game against Nicholls State was postponed because of Hurricane Isaac.

Oregon State beat Wisconsin at home in one of multiple nonconference victories over ranked teams for the Pac-12 that has set the stage for what should be a competitive season from top to bottom.

"Three-and-0 is great, but conference play is what we’re all focused on and most interested in," Hilliard said. "When the conference is better, it’s better for all of us because nobody can say we’ve played a weak schedule.

"Everyone is kind of realizing how tough the conference is this year."

Hilliard is one of three players from Hawaii seeing action for UCLA this year. Defensive tackle Seali‘i Epenesa (‘Iolani ’10) has started all three games and freshman Kaimi Fairbairn (Punahou ’12) won the starting kicking job in the fall.

Fairbairn got off to a rough start, getting three extra-point attempts blocked in the first half of his first college game.

Hilliard, who also played as a true freshman, could relate to what he was going through.

"We have this thing here where you can dwell or cheer for only 24 hours after the game and then have to move on," Hilliard said. "Starting right away isn’t an easy task, especially in front of so many people.

"He was down on himself, but he’s a competitor. He’s a great kicker, and he’s moved on and done well for us."

Fairbairn was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points and made all three field-goal tries with a long of 35 in a 37-6 win over Houston last week.

UCLA also started 3-0 during Hilliard’s freshman season but wound up losing its next five games.

Kickoff between the Bruins and Beavers is set for 9:30 a.m. Hawaii time on Saturday on KITV (Ch. 6).