"I do whatever is best for the team," Santiago said.

He is so versatile that he is the Hurricanes' backup quarterback to junior Mason Koa. Santiago was pressed into signal calling duty in last week's loss to Mililani. Santiago started the first series at QB because Koa was late for a team meeting during the week. Actually, Hernandez originally planned to have Santiago start at quarterback this season. He was the starter for the first nonleague game, but has since moved back to slot. Hernandez said Santiago's value is his versatility.

"Without him, we're one-dimensional," Hernandez said.

Of all his duties, Santiago said he likes slotback and returning kicks the best.

"It's just the adrenaline of the kick-off return and just the thought of being able to start off the game with a bang," he said.

Santiago said he doesn't pattern his play after any particular player — after all, how many players do as much as he does? — but said he likes former Hawai'i slotback and kick/punt returner Chad Owens, now of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"He's a small guy just like me," Santiago said of Owens, listed as 5-7 and 183 pounds. "He's very agile. He shows that size does not matter."

Even away from football, Santiago's time is fully occupied.

He is co-president of the Interact Club, which does service projects in the community, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Since his freshman year, he has made all As, except for a B.

"I messed up in Spanish my freshman year," Santiago acknowledged.

If anything, his high school career is similar to his brother Jon, a 2006 Kapolei graduate now at the Air Force prep school. Jon also played multiple positions for the Hurricanes.

"We were not really pushed" to do well in school, Santiago said. "We just tried to do our best."

Santiago, who wants to major in electrical engineering, said he is leaving his options open for college.

He doesn't want to follow his brother into the military. But he does want to continue sports in college. The question is — which sport?

Santiago also excels in baseball as a shortstop. He was part of a select team that played in a Junior Olympics tournament in Arizona over the summer. He did well enough that he was invited to a baseball camp that will be held in the Domincan Republic, he said. He declined that offer because it coincided with football season.

"To me, it doesn't matter which sport (I play in college)," Santiago said. "Both are fun to me."

He also plays forward for the soccer team in the winter.

"That's probably what helps my speed," he said of soccer.

That also explains his leg strength, which allowed him to boot four kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks several weeks ago in a 19-14 win against 'Aiea.

However, in Friday's loss to Mililani, Santiago sustained a high ankle sprain in the second quarter on a reverse play, Hernandez said. He did not play the second half. Hernandez said Santiago's status is day-to-day. Not having him could adversely affect the Hurricanes.

"He helps us in so many areas," Hernandez said. "Having guys like Aaron helps us spread the ball around."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.