Hawaii linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard was born in America Samoa, spent his wonder years on that island territory and in the Aloha State, and grew up valuing football’s code of contact.

Pritchard tries to emulate Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, one of the fiercest hitters in the sport’s history.

UH linebackers coach Mark Banker said Pritchard “brings a physical toughness.”

Pritchard’s own mantra is: “Football is contact.”

But for a player who relishes contact, Pritchard spent a few days avoiding it in February 2016. Pritchard is a dutiful son who is respectful of his family’s wishes. But his mother became teary when Pritchard wanted to sign with UH instead of his parents’ preference of San Diego State. The family had moved to Las Vegas for Pritchard’s senior year at Silverado High, and felt it would be easier to follow his games if he played in San Diego.

Pritchard, who played at Farrington before attending Silverado, went off the grid to mull his college choice.

“You know that point where it’s between where you want to be and where your parents want you to be?” Pritchard said. “It was a slower process for me. I had to think a lot of things out.”

On that signing day — Feb. 3, 2016 — Pritchard held up letters of intent from San Diego State and UH. In a family meeting, his parents recused themselves from the vote, saying they would support whatever choice he made.

“I went with my heart, where I felt best at,” Pritchard said. “I’m more of an island kid. … Looking at both environments, San Diego is more of a city and fast life. I’m not really that type of person. I’m more of a chill, island type of person.”

On the field, Pritchard is a heat-seeking defensive player. This spring, Pritchard has moved to middle linebacker, where he has a panoramic view of the offensive formations, where he can get a running start into the gaps, where he can be like Lewis.

“That’s my No. 1 linebacker right there,” Pritchard said of Lewis. “He loved contact, and he also played middle. He loved the game. He was the type that if anybody ran to him, they were going to get knocked down. I try to keep that same mentality.”

Pritchard said he often pores through video archives for motivation.

“I’m more of an old-school type of player,” Pritchard said. “I feel contact is slowly getting taken away from the game. … We have to bring it back. … Contact is basically the sport.”

As a reminder — and barometer — Pritchard wears a small nose ring.

“I tell myself, if I ever get hurt by the nose ring, that means I wasn’t physical,” Pritchard said. “That’s what it tells me. If my nose ring is getting messed up because of football, it means I was soft.”

Corey Batoon, who was hired as defensive coordinator in December, marveled at how Pritchard “plays with a lot of passion. He’s a quick learner. He’s a good communicator. I like how he’s playing. I like his style of play right now.”

Pritchard also receives support from his mother.

“She’s happy right now where I’m at,” Pritchard said.