The Hawai'i football team broke ground on a new era, receiving a commitment from a gritty junior-college running back.

"I'm a Warrior," said Jake Heun, who was raised in Alaska and attended City College of San Francisco the past two seasons.

Heun arrives in Honolulu today, and will begin attending UH classes Tuesday.

He said he will participate in the Warriors' off-season conditioning program and in spring practice. He has 3 1/2 years to play two seasons.

Heun is 6 feet 2, and weighs between 245 and 250 pounds.

He was primarily an outside linebacker for CCSF, but was recruited to UH as a running back. The Warriors plan to employ a power back in this year's four-wide offense.

At CCSF, Heun served in the power-back role in short-yardage situations.

"I started doing that my freshman year, when I was rotating at linebacker," Heun said. "As opposed to standing around (in practice) waiting to get rotated back into linebacker, I decided I wanted to be the scout-team running back at the same time. (The scout offense and starting defense) were both down at the same part of the field. After that practice, the (offensive coordinator) said they were putting in a two-back set (in short-yardage situations)."

Heun has bench pressed a maximum 435 pounds. He also has benched 225 pounds 26 times. In a test measured by laser, he ran 40 yards in 4.56 seconds.

"Right now, I'm in decent shape, so I think I'm in the 4.6 range," he said.

Most important, Heun brings a linebacker's attitude to running back.

"I love blocking," he said. "I love knocking people around on that side. I think you can lay more of a hurt on somebody from the offensive side than on defense."

Heun was raised in Palmer, a town 50 miles outside of Anchorage. The town has one high school and one McDonald's.

He spent most of his free time outdoors. He said he started snowboarding in the fourth grade. He also hunts ("moose, mainly") and fishes.

His mother was a competitive powerlifter.

During Heun's senior year, Palmer played in the state championship game. Despite a productive career, he did not receive any Division I-A offers.

"I didn't get the looks I was looking for," Heun said. "I didn't want to go play I-AA ball. I didn't want to go to Division II. I looked around. My best buddies lived in the Bay Area. They recommended City College. I saw the winning record that City College had."

In his two seasons there, the Rams won two conference championships and two NorCal titles. Last season, the Rams won California's community college title, which is recognized as a junior college national championship.

Heun had two memorable moments.

Against Butte, Heun was chopped by a running back on a blitz attempt. After a somersault, Heun rolled, then stood up and hit the quarterback as he threw. The ball floated, was intercepted, and then returned 20 yards.

Against Santa Rosa, Heun was suffering from the stomach flu. Soon after returning from the locker room, CCSF called for consecutive blitzes. Heun assisted on both sacks.

"That was a funny game," Heun said.

CCSF coach George Rush has had a long relationship with UH, visiting several times. He recommended Heun, who then received an offer.

Heun did not need a recruiting trip. He and his family spent the Christmas break in Kailua.

"We had a nice time," said Heun, who went to Makapu'u and attended the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. "I love Hawai'i. I love the atmosphere. I love the people. I love how the fans support the team. When I was there, every five minutes on the radio, there was somebody saying, 'Go Warriors.' "

Last week, Heun said, "I verbaled" to UH.

He added: "I'm ready to rock and roll."

RIVERS STARTS IN SHRINE

Former UH wideout Jason Rivers said it was a "good experience" to play in yesterday's East West Shrine Game in Houston.

Rivers started, and caught a pass on the game's first play from scrimmage. He finished with three catches for 16 yards in the West's 31-13 victory.

Rivers said the first several plays were scripted. He knew a receiver would get the ball on the first play.

"I didn't know if it would go to me," Rivers said. "Like any all-star game, it was a little slower for a receiver. We really didn't put the ball in the air too much."

Rivers leaves today for Colorado, where he will train until next month's National Football League combine in Indianapolis.

At UH, Rivers ran 40 yards in 4.45 seconds. Agent Leo Goeas said he wants Rivers to run in the low 4.4s.

"I want to really run it in 4.3," Rivers said. "That's my goal. I'm going to do my best to do that."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.