During University of Hawaii spring practices, Rashaan Falemalu is an animated linebacker, enthusiastically sprinting every which way.

But for a couple of months the past fall, Falemalu’s football career was in suspended animation.

After recovering from a torn right ACL, Falemalu was suspended from the team for missing a practice.

“It was my part,” Falemalu said. “I didn’t come to practice one day, and Coach (Norm Chow) decided he didn’t want me on the team anymore.”

Falemalu remained on scholarship, but “I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t know if I was going to play football anymore.”

Nick Rolovich was hired as UH head coach in December, succeeding Chow, who was dismissed a month earlier. Rolovich reviewed the list of players, checked it twice, and decided to re-evaluate Falemalu’s status.

“The good thing is we didn’t know anything about anyone except academics, attendance, and how they treated people,” Rolovich said.

Rolovich then reached out to Falemalu’s older brother. Rolovich was UH’s offensive coordinator when Paipai Falemalu was a Warriors rush end.

“All I heard was Rashaan wasn’t doing what he was supposed to be doing,” Rolovich recalled. “I like Pai. I’ll always like Pai. Rashaan is Pai’s blood. I told Pai, ‘We’ll give Rashaan a chance. It’s now or never.’ He was going down the wrong path. It was nothing major, but he wasn’t contributing like he could, and academics probably wasn’t as important to him.”

Paipai said he told his brother: “You have an opportunity a lot of people don’t have. You have a chance to play at a higher level than high school. A lot of people leave college in debt, thousands and thousands of dollars. You have an opportunity to earn a degree and leave college without debt. Football is a bonus.”

Then Paipai told Rolovich that if Rashaan did not fulfill his obligation to give away his scholarship to a more deserving player.

Rashaan Falemalu was admittedly out of shape when he joined strength/conditioning coordinator Bubba Reynolds’ offseason program.

“Bubba got me right,” Falemalu said. “He got me in shape.”

Falemalu was projected to compete at strong-side linebacker. On Monday night, the eve of the first spring practice, he was reassigned to middle linebacker, the play-calling position. Falemalu is the primary backup to Jahlani Tavai.

“Now, you don’t have to worry about him,” Rolovich said. “That’s on him. That’s his maturity growth. I’m happy for him.”

Falemalu said: “I owe everything to Coach Rolovich for giving me a second chance. I’m glad to be out here. Football is my first love.”

Falemalu said he admires his brother, a former UH co-captain.

“I have big shoes to fill,” Falemalu said. “At the same time, I like the challenge. I want to make my own name instead of being just Paipai’s younger brother.”