It has been more than seven years, but the Hawai'i football team's Inoke Funaki once again is the No. 1 quarterback.

"It's good pressure," Funaki said. "It definitely has me on my horse, working a lot harder than I ever have before."

Funaki, who will be a junior in the fall, was the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Colt Brennan and Tyler Graunke last season. Brennan completed his NCAA eligibility at the end of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl, and Graunke is suspended from team activities after breaking team-oriented rules.

Funaki, who will turn 25 next month, is on track to enter the March 31 start of spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback. He is at the top of the depth chart for the first time since December 2001, when he led Kahuku High to the state football championship.

After serving a church mission in the Dominican Republic, Funaki rejoined the Warriors as a 22-year-old freshman in 2005. He redshirted that season, then spent the next two years as the No. 3 quarterback.

"Before, I worked hard, but a lot of times you feel you're in the back, and it's hard to get out of that situation," Funaki said. "There's definitely more motivation now. The best thing I can do is work hard, don't hold back, give it my all. It'll help elevate the level of play for everyone else."

Funaki acknowledged that his easy-going demeanor might be misinterpreted. He is a youth leader in the Mormon church. He also has a playful side, sometimes roller-skating between the athletic complex and the practice field.

Without a doubt, he said, "I definitely want the job. Nobody wants something handed to them. You want to have the spot because the coaches have trust in you, and they know you can do the job. That's why I'm working very hard."

Funaki, who is 5 feet 11, said he weighs between 200 and 205 pounds — his range during last season. But he said he is in better shape.

"I'm putting in that little extra when I work out," he said. "When I run, I try to do a little bit more. Everybody looks to the quarterback. Even if he doesn't want to be the leader, he's the guy the team looks to. I want to set an example."

Funaki said he receives special tutoring from Vince Passas, Saint Louis School's noted offensive coordinator. Passas, a former Crusader standout, has tutored quarterbacks Tim Chang, Jason Gesser and Darnell Arceneaux.

"He's been a big help, with all of the little fundamentals," Funaki said. "At Kahuku, we were like this" — he motions as if to hand off — "and not into the other stuff. I never had a coach tell me, 'Oh, get that elbow up, follow through,' or 'get some rub to get better rotation.' "

Funaki said his goal for the offseason is to cut down his time in the 40-yard dash.

"I've never been able to break 4.7 (seconds) in my life," he said. "If I can get somewhere in the 4.6, that will be good for me. If I can do that, I'll bring it down more. Baby steps."

WASHINGTON STEPS UP

For three seasons, Michael Washington had the misfortune of sharing the same position as two of the Warriors' best receivers, slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins.

In 2005, Washington and Bess were first-year Warriors, and Grice-Mullins was a second-year freshman. Bess and Grice-Mullins seized starting jobs that year. Washington was not good enough to beat out either player but was too good to redshirt.

After last season, Bess and Grice-Mullins decided to relinquish their senior seasons and apply for the 2008 National Football League draft in April. That opened the way for Washington.

Now Washington has emerged as a leader, organizing passing drills for the receivers three times a week. The coaches named Washington as one of 10 workout captains.

"This is my senior year," Washington said. "I'm trying as hard as I can. Me and Yoda (slotback Aaron Bain) want to instill what we've learned to the younger players."

Washington admittedly deferred to Bess and Grice-Mullins the past three years. Now, he said, "I don't want this season to be a three-and-out."