Dave Reardon: Warriors ready to unleash their Titan of a weapon

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Nine years ago, he made national headlines as a football curiosity.

Today, his position coach describes him as “a weapon.”

Titan Lacaden has been committed to the University of Hawaii football team since 2016, when he accepted a scholarship offer from then-UH coach Nick Rolovich at age 11.

Even scholarship offers to high school players are not binding, especially when the coach who made them leaves. But current head coach Timmy Chang and his staff were delighted that the three-time All-State receiver and running back from Saint Louis School was eager to honor his pledge to UH.

“When you get a Crusader, you get fundamentals,” receivers coach Jared Ursua said. “He’s so dynamic. Our job as coaches is not just to put him on the field, but to find ways to get the ball in his hands. … What stands out is how solid his fundamentals are. People notice that.”

The second-year freshman from Kapolei is poised to be noticed by UH fans during games this season. He toiled hard enough last year to earn the Offensive Scout Team MVP award.

Now he is a leader among 16 candidates to fill the four receiver spots in the run-and-shoot offense he started learning as a 10-year-old.

Pofele Ashlock, the top returning slot, has an injury and coaches hope he will return soon, but no estimate has been disclosed.

With Ashlock sidelined and last year’s other starting receivers gone, Lacaden is on the doorstep of the opportunity he has pursued for a decade: earning a starting job for UH.

It will likely be at slot, but he will also play on special teams after getting a taste of it covering kicks last year in three games.

“I definitely could see him returning punts and kickoffs,” Chang said.

Lacaden successfully converted to running back as a senior in high school.

“Last fall I was mostly with the running backs, but then some injuries to receivers moved me there,” he said.

He now takes reps as a slot receiver and as a running back.

“He’s a weapon. There’s going to be situations … some in the red zone,” Ursua said. “We like the idea of running between the tackles.”

Lacaden is 5-feet-6 and 175 pounds. His compact frame makes him difficult to square up.

“You have less surface to hit,” Ursua said.

When he runs in the open field, Lacaden brings back memories of UH slotbacks Craig Stutzmann and Chad Owens. Like those stars of the 2000s, he relies on instincts, quickness and football IQ as much as physical tools.

“That’s where he’s exceptional,” Ursua said. “He has a natural poise running the ball.”

He can also run long routes, and came close to catching a 40-yard TD pass in practice Tuesday, before it was knocked away by a defender.

Lacaden knows that he is needed on offense, but he does have a dream of someday getting some reps as a safety and contributing as a two-way player.

“I keep that in the back of my mind mostly,” he said. “But when someone gets hurt, I tell Coach Lock (Nick Locher) ‘Hey, need some help?’”

For now, he will be happy to fill whatever roles the coaches want when the Rainbow Warriors open their season at Stanford on Aug. 29.

“He knew he wanted to come here for a long time. He challenges himself to be better every day. He’s still very young in his career,” Chang said of his fellow Saint Louis alum. “The sky’s the limit.”

Titan Lacaden now has the chance to start being known for what he does on the field as a Rainbow Warrior.

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