Brashton Satele looks forward to his Sunday mornings this fall - bruises and all.

“;It feels good, I like my body aching the next day,”; Satele said. “;I missed that.”;

For the last three years, Satele had woken up fairly fresh the day after Hawaii's football games as a reserve linebacker who saw the field a few times per week on special teams.

This season, he's playing a prominent role in a defense for the first time since leaving high school, stepping in at middle linebacker for the Warriors.

Satele is third on the team with 18 total tackles, including one of Hawaii's four sacks, and doesn't mind the day-after reminders that come with throwing himself into blockers and ballcarriers.

“;I waited three years and I'm not going to give a half-effort,”; Satele said.

Satele and the Warriors (1-2) got a chance to shake off some of their early-season aches during their bye week leading up to Saturday's Western Athletic Conference opener against San Jose State (2-2) at Aloha Stadium.

Satele's first three years were largely defined by a series of aches and pains that limited his practice and playing time.

After putting the injuries behind him and putting together a strong spring, Satele was considered a fourth starter in Hawaii's three-linebacker alignment entering fall camp.

But the roles changed in the second week of practice when Blaze Soares suffered a tear in his calf. Soares has yet to practice since the injury, but was expected to return to action upon being cleared.

Satele, who had been getting a look both inside and outside, took a full-time post in the middle and preseason Western Athletic Conference player of the year Solomon Elimimian filled the outside linebacker spot.

“;You're talking about an all-conference middle linebacker moving to the outside,”; UH defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Cal Lee said, noting that Satele's size made him a more natural fit in the middle. “;It's a sacrifice he made for the team.”;

Having not played an every-down role in a while, Satele said acclimating to game speed has been the toughest part of the job so far. But being flanked by two veterans has aided in the adjustment.

“;(In UH's loss at Oregon State) I didn't make as many plays as I wanted to, but it's getting better, I'm getting more confidence with the plays,”; Satele said. “;At first I was kind of like hesitating, but now I'm playing full speed.

“;Solly and Adam (Leonard) help me out a lot. ... (Elimimian) telling me how to play the gaps, how to play the pass, I'm learning a lot from him. He's like a coach out there for me.”;

Elimimian enters Saturday's game second on the team with 19 total tackles, just behind defensive end David Veikune's 20, and has noted Satele's growth in taking on the responsibilities that come with playing middle linebacker.

“;You have to go out there and be the leader and you have to get guys in position,”; Elimimian said. “;He's a lot more vocal. He doesn't have a problem telling guys to get into the huddle or calling plays. He's taken a big step as far as leadership's concerned.”;

UH football has long been a part of Satele's upbringing, following his father, Alvis, to Manoa. This season he's been joined by younger brother Liko, a sophomore defensive end who is sitting out this season after transferring from Lambuth University in Tennessee.

He also got to catch up with his sister, Chanteal, when the Saint Mary's volleyball team passed through town to play in the Rainbow Wahine Invitational. But he didn't get to watch Chanteal, a freshman outside hitter, play in the tournament, as the Warriors departed for their trip to Oregon State the same night the Gaels faced the host Wahine to open the tournament.