During the lowest, darkest moment of his life, Vaughn Meatoga looked to his University of Hawai'i football teammates.

That bond carried over to the football field.

"They really had my back, especially the way they rallied around me during that time," said Meatoga, a redshirt freshman defensive tackle, after yesterday's afternoon practice at Aloha Stadium. "If they can get my back during something like that, they can get my back on the field, too."

Meatoga lost his mother, Lynnette, to cancer in December.

He called on teammates just days before her death and they answered, showing up at Hawaii Medical Center-East to pray over her.

"This is a close team and they all love Vaughn and think the world of him," UH coach Greg McMackin said. "Coaches and players rallied around him and he's a class act. We're a part of his family, too.

"He's got a great family and I know his mom is watching over him, too."

Defensive tackle Fale Laeli is out because he is still experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired right knee, and Rocky Savaiigaea was diagnosed with a tear in his left triceps. Meatoga moved up to the three-man rotation with the first team, along with seniors Keala Watson and Joshua Leonard.

"I learned both (left and right) sides, so if I get in the game, I can take out either person," Meatoga said.

Defensive tackles coach Ikaika Malloe said Meatoga's game has been "coming along."

"I would feel confident putting him in the game if I need to," Malloe said.

"It's going pretty good so far, I've been getting a lot of reps, especially because Fale guys have been out," Meatoga said.

"I've just been lucky. I'm learning how to push through when I'm tired. The coaches have a lot of confidence in me so that gives me confidence."

Meatoga, who is from Kalaheo, Kaua'i, and went to Kamehameha Schools, redshirted last season but is "a big factor in our plans," McMackin said. "We're going to have fun this season, and he's going to be a big part of it."

Meatoga said he had a hard time staying motivated after his mother's death, but "my family and my girlfriend helped me to stay on track, and whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and it just made me stronger."

Meatoga has inspiration to keep working hard to get in the game.

"(My mom) can make it to every one of my games now," he said.