In 2007, University of Hawai'i sophomore defensive end Elliott Purcell considered walking away from football.

But the reason — having a child — is the motivation that pushes him today.

"I was thinking about not playing because my girlfriend was pregnant and I didn't know what to do in that situation," Purcell said. "I didn't know how to handle football and a kid. I was still young. I talked to some of the coaches and they told me that having a kid would make me work harder. And it turns out, things worked out.

"It helped me a lot. It changed my whole life around, in terms of working hard and not being so lazy. Studying harder, all that kind of stuff."

Purcell practiced with the first unit yesterday because starting right end John Fonoti is out with an injured hamstring.

Fonoti "popped" his hamstring during Wednesday's conditioning drills and said he would be out for a week to a week and a half.

"I'm going to try to get out earlier than that but I don't want to get out too early and pull it again and make it worse," he said.

Of Purcell, Fonoti said: "He's doing good so far. He said he just needs to work on his plays a little bit. I don't know what he's talking about because he did good today."

Purcell — a "natural pass rusher," defensive ends coach Dave Aranda said — is one of a trio of players looking to be the top backup to Fonoti.

"The defensive end depth is something that's an issue right now in camp," Aranda said. "There's opportunity for a bunch of guys in that mix. Elliott is in that mix, C.J. Allen-Jones is in the mix, Cameron Allen-Jones is in that mix, and so really, to see those three compete, it's been good so far."

After practice, Purcell sat with his girlfriend, Keani Santos, and 10-month-old son Taimane — which means diamond in Samoan — in the grass hills near the field, soaking up the limited time he had with his family during fall camp.

"My son, I always think of him," Purcell said. "I always try to do better because of him. I always try to do better in school because of him. He made me a better person.

"At the same time, it's hard, because football takes me away from my family. I know this is my family here, but it takes a lot away from my son. I don't want to miss his first step and his first words, but at the same time it's better for him."

Practicing with the first unit brought a change of pace for Purcell.

"It felt good; it was pretty fast. Faster than twos and threes," Purcell said.

"He's focused and there's been a vigor in him so far this camp and it speaks well for his future here," said Aranda, who added that Purcell has all the tools, but needs to work on his consistency.

Purcell acknowledged that, saying "I do a lot of good things, just not consecutively. It's like, spurts, so I just have to put it together."

Aranda said Purcell reminds him of a former player named Aaron Hunt whom Aranda and Warriors head coach Greg McMackin coached at Texas Tech.

"And Aaron, it finally clicked for him to be consistent, and he's the Big 12 leader in sacks to this day," Aranda said. "The talent level is there for Elliott."

It was apparent to UH coaches in 2007, when they moved Purcell from the scout team midway through the season, and still awarded him with the award for 2007 defensive scout team player of the year.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound former linebacker out of Saint Louis, "is very soft spoken, he's honest, he's up front with you, humble, and very respectful," Aranda said. "And when he gets on the field he lets it go, so it's good to see."