In a surprising reversal, the NCAA has cleared Hawaii defensive lineman Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson to play this football season.

Pu‘u-Robinson was preparing to attend a class when he was notified on Wednesday morning. He was then told he would be added to the travel roster for Friday’s game against Brigham Young.

"This is a good thing," UH coach Norm Chow said.

Pu‘u-Robinson was on scholarship and expected to start for Washington State this season when he decided to move back to Hawaii because of a family issue. He requested — and received — a release from his Washington State scholarship.

Pu‘u-Robinson was admitted into UH. He then joined the Warriors as a non-scholarship player.

Pu‘u-Robinson petitioned the NCAA for an exemption that would allow him to play this season. Players are required to redshirt when transferring between FBS schools. The NCAA denied the request, then rejected the appeal.

When a school hires a new chancellor, the NCAA sends two representatives to lead orientation sessions on intercollegiate policies. UH compliance officer Amanda Paterson argued Pu‘u-Robinson’s case during those sessions.

"I think Amanda deserves a lot of credit," Chow said. "She just stayed on it. It was about the young man. He gave up a full scholarship to come home to tend to some family matters. It was a legitimate reason."

Chow also sent a letter to NCAA president Mark Emmert.

"I saw that look in (Pu‘u-Robinson’s) eyes," Chow said, "and that’s what I wrote. You don’t have to be the one to look into that young man’s eyes and tell him he’s been denied after he did everything the right way. Even Washington State wrote a letter on his behalf."

Chow and California defensive line coach Todd Howard were on the same coaching staff at UCLA. Howard coached Pu‘u-Robinson at Washington State in 2011.

"His ex-coach at Washington State told me Jordan was one of the best three people he’s ever coached," Chow said. "He liked him as a person."

Pu‘u-Robinson was practicing at both defensive end and tackle until his initial plea was rejected the week before the season opener. Since then, he was used on the scout defense.

Pu‘u-Robinson will play mostly as a defensive end against BYU. That will allow ends Tavita Woodard and Marcus Malepeai to get reps at defensive tackle.

The Warriors have been short-handed at the two interior positions on the defensive line after Calen Friel and Moses Samia suffered season-ending injuries.