When Max Wittek joined the Hawaii football program, all he wanted was to blend in.

A former four-star high school quarterback who signed with one of the nation’s most celebrated college programs, the 6-foot-4 Wittek tended to be a conspicuous presence throughout his journeys.

The spotlight tracked Wittek through a heralded prep career at Mater Dei (Calif.) and during his three years as a prospective heir to the USC offense. So Wittek’s departure from USC following his sophomore season likewise drew attention as did his decision to enroll at Hawaii last summer.

While Wittek contributed to the Rainbow Warrior scout team during an NCAA mandated season off the active roster, he was otherwise content to spend the year in the background.

"I wasn’t part of the game plan, I wasn’t going to be able to play, so I just tried to stay out of the way and really focus on building relationships," Wittek said.

"I wanted guys to know I was going to be here for them as a quarterback, as a leader, but also as a friend off the field. … That was really my main focus, just building those relationships, earning the trust and the care of my teammates."

Although he expended a year of eligibility, Wittek’s first year in Manoa was productive in connecting with his new teammates and those effort could pay off in his return to the forefront for his senior season.

"A lot of the completions you see on the field throughout the course of the fall, I think those happen a lot earlier," Wittek said, "whether it’s workouts or just hanging out with each other, getting that feel for each other and the chemistry, I think that goes miles."

Although he has yet to pull on a Rainbow Warrior uniform, Wittek’s behind-the-scenes efforts last season contributed to his selection as a team captain by the team in the spring, which he regards as "one of the biggest honors I’ve ever had."

No small statement coming from a quarterback rated as high as the nation’s third-ranked prospect while at Mater Dei, which produced USC’s Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley and UH great Colt Brennan among other prominent passers. After backing up Barkley as a USC freshman, Wittek was locked in a protracted competition for the starting job the following year but was again a reserve behind Cody Kessler.

He transferred to UH last summer and opens his first and last season of game action with the Rainbow Warriors Sept. 3 against Colorado again trailed by attention and expectations.

"I think my upbringing through my football career has kind of conditioned me to be ready for a situation like this," Wittek said.

He’ll also take the field with a sense of coming full circle. He made his collegiate debut in a season-opening win against UH in 2012 at the Los Angeles Coliseum and made his first Aloha Stadium appearance with the Trojans the following year.

"It’s one of those things, ‘who would’ve thought?,’ " Wittek said, "but I’m proud of where I’m at and wouldn’t have it any other way."