For quarterback Luke Weaver, Hawaii was a football paradise.

As a junior-college transfer last year, Weaver was 2-0 as a UH starter in place of injured Micah Alejado. He came off the sideline to throw the winning touchdown pass against Cal in the 2025 Hawaii Bowl. He was a member of a tight-knit, four-quarterback unit. He had a warm symbiotic relationship with teammates, coaches and the community.

“I had a great experience there,” Weaver said. “I learned a lot about myself and developed as a football player. But, really, just enjoyed the people I was around; the players I got to play with, the coaches I got to be with. I really appreciate my time there.”

Weaver had everything but a realistic shot at the starting job as a senior in 2026. Two days ahead of the new year, Weaver entered the NCAA transfer portal. He eventually signed with San Jose State.

“Obviously, Micah does his thing over there,” Weaver said of Alejado, who was named the Mountain West’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. “I wanted to get my opportunity … my chance to compete.”

UH head coach Timmy Chang was saddened but understanding.

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“I love Luke,” Chang said. “I love his personality. I love what he brings to a team. Everything about him as a person is what you want. I really enjoyed our time together. On top of that, he’s a hell of a football player.”

But in this version of the run-and-shoot, Chang acknowledged: “We had our No. 1. We love Micah.”

Weaver entered free agency without any guarantees. He was not motivated by name-image-likeness money nor location.

“It was all about the opportunity to play more,” Weaver said.

San Jose State made a pitch. Weaver, who grew up in Manteca, Calif., a 75-minute drive from the SJSU campus, was not previously recruited by the Spartans.

“They had Walker (Eget) and Emmett (Brown),” Weaver said. But Brown transferred after the 2024 season and Eget went to Duke earlier this year.

“God worked his way for me to get out here,” Weaver said.

SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo grew up on Oahu, and played and coached at UH. During the recruiting visit, Niumatalolo wanted to hear Weaver’s thoughts on his Hawaii experience. Niumatalolo was impressed with Weaver’s positive response.

“It shows the way he was brought up,” Niumatalolo said. “He has great parents. He doesn’t talk bad about people. He spoke glowingly about his time there.”

Weaver said the Spartans presented the best situation. The QB1 job was open. Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann’s spread-and-shred was tailored to Weaver’s decision-making, accurate right arm, and running ability. There were former high school and JC teammates of Weaver’s on the Spartans roster. His family would be able to drive to all the Spartans’ home games. And he could attend San Jose Sharks’ games.

“He didn’t come here for money,” Niumatalolo said. “He just wanted an opportunity to play.”

Weaver said: “I had a really good connection with Coach Ken and Coach Stutzmann. It felt like we really connected well on my (recruiting) visit. They cared a lot about me as a person and not just as a player. It felt like home.”

Weaver, true freshman Daniel Rolovich (son of former UH coach and quarterback Nick Rolovich) and second-year Spartan Robert McDaniel entered training as the top competitors for the starting job.

Stutzmann said Weaver won the job because of his football IQ, serenity in pressurized situations, and leadership. Weaver was named an offensive captain.

“He’s a quick learner,” Stutzmann said. “He’s got ice in his veins. He acts like a pro. He treats everybody well. He matches our culture because he’s hard working but he’s also very loving and very compassionate to his teammates. But he’s also going to push them.”

In the Spartans’ first three games, Weaver completed 61.9% of his passes for an average of 262.7 yards per contest. He was sacked twice in his first 105 snaps. He averaged 4.15 yards on non-sack keepers and scrambles in the first three games. But Weaver struggled against Fresno State, being picked off four times and absorbing five sacks.

And after last week’s bye, Weaver returns to the Manoa campus for Saturday’s UH-SJSU game at the Ching Complex. After a year of home games and practices, Weaver knows the temperament of Ching’s cross winds.

“You don’t make it a bigger deal than it is,” Weaver said. “Be aware of it, and push through it.”

Through social media and texts, Weaver remains in contact with many of his former teammates. But the socializing will be on pause for three hours on Saturday.

“We’re focused on handling business, focused on the game, focused on our jobs,” Weaver said. “That’s the main focus.”