MORGANTOWN — If you checked West Virginia offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole’s WVU Sports bio Wednesday morning, it would say he weighed 198 pounds, the size of a running back or a wide receiver. Now, it’s corrected to his real weight of 298.

“I don’t know what that’s about,” Makane’ole said.

The last time he weighed around 198 pounds?

“Probably in like sixth grade,” Makane’ole said.

Makane’ole is one of the 70-plus transfers Rich Rodriguez added out of the transfer portal after he was hired this winter. Makane’ole was one of the bigger gets, coming from LSU.

But, in his final season with the Tigers, the redshirt junior, at the time, played defensive line instead of offensive line. In West Virginia, Makane’ole has swapped back.

“I’ve always been an offensive lineman,” Makane’ole said. “I know I played both ways back in high school, but mostly I was pretty much focusing on offensive line, because that’s what I really wanted to focus on.”

Makane’ole played some football in Hawaii, where he grew up, and moved to Florida when he was 14. Then, he committed to LSU on Jan. 1, 2021, after decommitting from Florida State. He spent four seasons in Baton Rouge, so this was Makane’ole’s first time living up north.

“When I first got here, because I’d never seen snow before,” Makane’ole said. “On my official visit, I jumped in and made a little angel because I had never experienced it before.”

The football from the mainland wasn’t much different, he said. He also said there hasn’t been much of a difference in talent from transferring over from the SEC to the Big 12.

Moving up north was a bit of a change, but Makane’ole was bought into what Rodriguez wanted to build in his second era at WVU. He said the transfer process wasn’t “rough” at all.

“It was mostly with coach Rich Rod, I really liked how he was with the players, especially with coach Bicknell, coach Dressler, as well,” Makane’ole said. “They’ve always been totally truthful with everything… Coach Rod, they’re really close to players and want us to get better.”

Like every other positional group, Makane’ole and the offensive line are moving within positions. Right now, though, Makane’ole said he feels more comfortable at right guard.

“I’m very versatile, but whatever coach Rod or coach Bicknell wants me at, I’ll be there,” Makane’ole said.

Makane’ole said his defensive line history actually helped him develop versatility when playing each different position on the line. He talked about how both sides of the line have to be similar sizes and be in a similar shape. Makane’ole also said it helps to think like a defensive lineman to predict and pick up certain pass rushes.

“Being an offensive lineman, D-lineman, you get so much experience,” Makane’ole said.

Makane’ole is adjusting to the weather, which in the summer has been cooler than Baton Rouge or Florida, and Rodriguez’s tempo. Makane’ole wasn’t too startled playing in the tempo offense, especially playing defensive line before.

Makane’ole is still learning the names of his teammates and some of the blocking schemes, but he’s enjoying Morgantown so far.

“I feel like I fit pretty well,” Makane’ole said. “I’m just really happy to be here.”