Hiroaki Endo already knew exactly what to expect the first time he stepped on the practice field at Cal.
 
The senior walk-on wide receiver from Tokyo, Japan, may be in his first season on the roster, but it's not his first year with the program.
 
Endo transferred to Cal from De Anza College in Cupertino last year, hoping to earn a spot on the field. Unfortunately for Endo, there wasn't room on the roster. However, the coaching staff offered him the opportunity to be a part of the program with the football video department. There were no guarantees, though it left the door open that one day he might don the Blue and Gold.
 
Earlier this spring, that day finally came when he was officially added to the roster.
 
"I was pretty excited," Endo said. "I knew I was going to make it because I had been working so hard to get here. I wasn't so surprised, just ready to go."
 
Recruiting coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo discovered Endo through a mutual friend, Matt Ware, who trained with Endo. Ware had plenty of positive things to say about Endo, which piqued Tuiasosopo's interest.
 
Tuiasosopo said it's exciting to see Endo on the practice field not only because he's living his dream to play college football, but because he earned it through an unusual path.
 
"We're looking for guys who want to be here, regardless of if you're on scholarship or not," Tuiasosopo said. "If you're willing to do that, we value that and you're going to be a valued member of this team. It was really cool to see him work hard for the video department, while still staying in shape, so you know there's some investment there, and that's why he's fit right in now."
 
Endo grew up in Tokyo, playing football in the Land of the Rising Sun throughout his time in high school.
   

Football is not widely played in Japan, so Endo's love for football started in the United States. Trips to visit his aunt and uncle, Emi and Doug Kullberg, in Boston, instilled Endo's passion for football while watching the New England Patriots with his family.
 
Endo flew to New York from Japan in 2014 to spend the week at the site of the Super Bowl.
 
"Hiroaki had shown interest in football from around age 8-10, as I remember, where he could see games on TV in Japan, but when he came to the U.S. to visit us for the first time, it was around the time the Patriots were starting their domination in the NFL and he was happy to see a game live," Doug Kullberg said. "He picked the Patriots as a favorite team probably because his aunt, Emi, and I were rooting for them and he had that connection."
 
After becoming fully vested in the game of football, Endo sought the opportunity to play in college. Aside from the game, he also wanted to experience a new culture and get out of his comfort zone, so heading to the United States to further his studies and football career went to the top of his to-do list.
 
Endo realized that a four-year university wasn't going to be his best plan of action to start out.
 
"Community college was the best place for me because I didn't know English too well when I first got here, so that was hard for me to jump into a four-year university like that," he said. "In California, the transfer rate is very high, and De Anza College was one that worked out for me in terms of transferring."
 
While studying at De Anza and becoming fluent in English, Endo learned about Cal, its culture and the football program. Determined to get his education at Cal, Endo also decided he wanted to be a part of the Golden Bear football program.
 

 
After taking Tuiasosopo up on his offer, Endo spent the 2017 season as a student video assistant, which had its own benefits that paid off later.
 
Endo filmed the wide receivers' drills last season, so nothing was new to him when he first put on the pads. He knew what to expect, which allowed him to hit the ground running once he started practicing.
 

 
Head coach Justin Wilcox said Endo has been a pleasant surprise.
 
"It doesn't happen all that often when somebody goes from the video room to the field," Wilcox said. "Sometimes you see it go the other way. He's done a great job. He has a great attitude. He's a pretty good player. He's got the 'want-to' attitude. I think he appreciates all this, and they appreciate him because of that. It's good for the wide receiver position group and our team."
 
Wide receivers coach Nick Edwards said he doesn't think most of the players know Endo's story, but they have taken notice of his work ethic.
 
"He has been determined, and you can see it by how quickly he learned the playbook and gets in the right position," Edwards said. "I can always put him in, knowing that he knows exactly what to do. My trust level with him is through the roof based off of his intelligence."
 
His hard work has already proved to be fruitful in training camp. Endo hauled in a touchdown reception during a recent scrimmage. It might have only been a game simulation during practice, but Endo found the end zone in the world of college football.
 

 
Offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin said the story of Endo's journey is incredible.
 
"Initially you're thinking, 'ok, here's a guy who can take some reps'," Baldwin said. "But you're naturally going to think, can he really give us much? What can he do besides just taking some reps? But he's gone out there and shown us that he's more than just a guy filling a roster spot. He competes in practice and makes some plays. That journey wasn't easy. He cares about it. All the guys love him."
 
Endo says he's just getting started with achieving his goals. Next up, he wants to play in a game and make the travel squad.
 
"I really appreciate this opportunity," Endo said. "They trust me and they gave me a chance. I don't want to waste this opportunity, not only for myself but the investment they made in me to be a part of this team."