Esera has gradually grown into one of the more technically sound backside tackles in college football, but took his game to another level in 2006. Always known for his mistake-free performances, Esera seemed to go through the motions during his first three seasons on offense. But he showed tremendous desire and urgency in his game during his final year.

After switching over from defense after his redshirt year, Esera caught on quickly and did a competent job for nearly two years as the main bodyguard for quarterback Tim Chang and then last season for Colt Brennan. But one of head coach June Jones' favorite compound words -- want-to -- was rarely uttered in the same sentence with Esera's name.

But Jones has noticed a change. "Obviously he has some ability," Jones said. "He's progressed. He's worked harder this year."

Esera not only became a leader on the field, he was also the leader of the team's Maori-warrior inspired haka dance. Esera and senior safety Leonard Peters learned the haka last summer from relatives of Esera's wife, Nadia. "I'm not Maori," Esera said. "But my daughters (Eseraa and Maia) are."

Esera's newfound leadership isn't confined to the pregame dance. His trademark used to be that he didn't make mistakes -- the first priority for a left tackle, and his consistency earned him conference second-team recognition in 2005 and first-team in 2006.

Esera did not begin playing organized football until trying out for the Kahuku High School team as a junior. Named second-team all-state by The Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin as a senior, he was an honorable mention all-league selection, adding all-region honors from PrepStar magazine. During his two seasons on the football team, Kahuku won back-to-back state championships. Esera also earned two letters each in basketball and track and field (shot put and discus).

Not heavily recruited coming out of high school, Esera decided to stay close to home and enrolled at Hawaii. He redshirted in 2002 and performed on the scout team as a 250-pound defensive tackle. With added bulk thanks to a hard training program in the offseason, Esera moved to the offensive line in 2003, but did not see action in three early season games. He was finally inserted into the lineup at right tackle against Rice and went on to start seven of the team's final eight contests at left tackle. Once he settled in at that position, the front wall did not allow any sacks in the team's final four games.

Esera earned All-Western Athletic Conference honorable mention in 2004. He collected 21 knockdowns while starting all 13 contests at the left tackle position. He garnered All-WAC second-team accolades in 2005, grading 80 percent or better for blocking consistency in eight of 12 contests at left tackle.

Esera's dominance in protecting the backside in 2006 saw the team win the offensive "triple crown," as the Warriors led the nation in total offense (559.21 ypg), passing offense (441.29 ypg) and scoring (46.86 ppg). The team's 559.21 yards in total offense rank second in NCAA Division I-A history, topped only by Houston's average of 511.3 yards in 1989.

He closed out his career with 42 starting assignments, including 37 consecutive starts at left tackle.

Positives: Has a developing frame with growth potential to carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk, smooth upper-body muscle development, long arms, large hands, wide waist and a thick chest. … Runs with a normal stride and builds his acceleration nicely when moving into the second level. … Plays with good field vision and alertness, easily locating and combating the backside pursuit. … Meticulous in his approach to the game plan and thrives to play mistake-free football. … In 2006, he demonstrated much better consistency dealing with the X's and showed a very good understanding of the technical part of the game. … Flashes good quickness coming out of his stance, demonstrating proper hand placement and punch to lock on and control the defender. … Generates very good pop in his explosion off the ball and shows the leg drive needed to work and finish in pass protection. … Very aggressive attacking the defender, using his hands effectively to combat arm cross-over action. … Made great strides in firing off the snap to gain position and sustain blocks. … Has the hand strength to lock on and does a good job of dropping his pads in attempts to wall off and screen. … When he keeps his back flat and knees bent, he can do an effective job of mauling defenders at the line. … Stays on his feet and firmly anchors vs. the rush, doing a nice job with his hands to combat double moves. … Generates a strong base in pass protection and consistently holds ground at the point of attack. … Became a dominant pass protector in 2006 because of his improved hand usage and stronger punch. … When he gets his hands into the opponent's chest, he is quick to redirect or sustain. … Demonstrates good recoil and recovery quickness, especially when he keeps his hands inside the framework of the defensive tackle to lock out on blocks. … Athletic in his kick slide and retreat to neutralize edge rushers. … Shows decent knee bend and foot quickness in attempts to gain leverage. … Can shift his weight and explode into defenders on contact. … Might overextend on the move, but when working in-line, he is quick to recoil. … Has also improved his overall footwork, doing a nice job of mirroring on stunts.

Negatives: Still needs further lower-body development; he shows only adequate leg drive. … Shorter than ideal for a left tackle, making him a possible guard candidate due to his good hand placement, quickness and kick slide. … Seemed to go through the motions earlier in his career, but now demonstrates better urgency and aggression in his overall play. … Shows good quickness coming out of his stance, but appears a little stiff in his hips when attempting to change direction. … Has the initial step to gain advantage, but needs to be more consistent maintaining his speed to pull and get out and move. … Has the balance and feet to slide and shuffle with effectiveness in pass protection, but gets too narrow in his base when having to redirect. … Does a good job of picking up stunts, but needs to be more fluid changing direction; he is a bit slow seeking out secondary targets on the move. … Doesn't always roll his hips on contact, causing him to be inconsistent when asked to trap block, but he knows how to stay low to get movement. … When having to redirect, he tends to drop his head a bit on the move, losing sight of secondary targets. … Just adequate in attempts to control and finish when he gets too tall in his stance, but when he sinks his hips, he will land on his target with good violence. … Has the timed speed to get to the second level, but needs to show better consistency taking angles. … Fails to adjust to counter moves when working in space, struggling to adjust to moving targets.

Compares to: Dan Buenning, Tampa Bay. -- Esera looks like a perfect candidate to shift inside to guard. He lacks the ideal size for a left tackle, but is very effective shooting his hands and generating movement off the snap. He has very good upper-body strength to counter double moves and does a good job of logging from the back side, where he has the hand punch to battle in traffic.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 5.2 in the 40-yard dash. … 400-pound bench press. … Bench presses 225 pounds 27 times. … 455-pound squat. … 330-pound power clean. … 28½-inch vertical jump. … 8-foot-5 broad jump. … 32-inch arm length. … 10-inch hands. … Right-handed. … 22/28 Wonderlic score.

Attended Kahuku (Hawaii) High School, playing football for head coach Siuaki Livai. … Did not begin playing organized football until trying out for the team as a junior. … Named second-team all-state by The Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin as a senior, he was an honorable mention all-league selection, adding all-region honors from PrepStar magazine. … The school won back-to-back state championships with Esera on the team. … Earned two letters each in basketball and track and field (shot put and discus).

Sociology major. … Son of Mary Jane and Naturu Esera of Hau`ula, O`ahu. … Married to the former Nadia Mahe. … The couple has two daughters, Talaa and Maia. … Born 6/15/84 in Honolulu, O`ahu, Hawaii.