Hawai'i football receiver Jon Medeiros knows the importance of timely routes.

"If a bus runs late, I'm going to be late for practice," said Medeiros, who lives in Makakilo.

Because it takes three bus routes to travel to the Mänoa campus, Medeiros has to awaken at 4:15 every morning.

He said it is a 10-minute ride to the bus center in Kapolei. He transfers to a bus that takes 40 minutes to travel to 'Iolani Palace. From there, he transfers to a bus bound for University Avenue.

Usually, that leaves enough time to be ready for the 7 a.m. start of practice or meetings.

"It's about timing," said Medeiros, who has not been late this season.

Although Medeiros is now on scholarship and has developed into one of the Warriors' most dependable receivers, he has tried not to change much.

The scholarship, which he received this past summer, would have covered the dormitory fee. He opted to remain in Makakilo.

"I live at home for free," said Medeiros, who had taken out student loans and worked an on-campus job in maintenance to pay for tuition, meals and school expenses.

Coaches insist Medeiros' work ethic has not changed.

"He keeps improving," head coach Greg McMackin said.

After spring practice, he was listed as a co-No. 1 slotback. But then the top slotback spots were filled by Greg Salas, who moved from left wideout, and Kealoha Pilares, who switched from running back.

"I had a scholarship, but I didn't have a (starting) job," Medeiros said. "I wasn't salty about anything. My mentality was to work harder to earn playing time. I figured this was my last season. I wasn't going to give up. I was going to continue to grind on the field and in the weight room. When they call your number, you have to be ready. The only way I could show them I was ready was in practice."

When left wideout Rodney Bradley suffered a broken fibula and tibia in his left leg, Pilares moved to wideout and Medeiros was promoted to No. 1 right slotback.

In five games as a starter, Medeiros has 31 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. Of his 40 overall catches, 22 have gone for first downs and 13 were at least 15 yards. In third-and-7-plus situations, he has achieved first downs five of six times.

Still, Medeiros has remained relatively unknown. The San Jose State radio announcer pronounced his surname as Medi-AIR-os.

And he is largely unrecognized on the bus.

But, he noted, the Makakilo-to-Kapolei bus driver "always says, 'Good morning,' " Medeiros said. "I say, 'Mahalo,' and, 'May I have bus transfers?' "

NOTES AND UPDATES

• Shane Austin yesterday took snaps as the No. 1 quarterback for the second consecutive practice.

In his first UH start, Austin completed 28 of 46 passes for 299 yards in Saturday's 17-10 overtime victory over San Jose State. He started in place of Bryant Moniz, who was recovering from bruised ribs.

Moniz did not throw during Monday's walk-through or yesterday's one-hour practice. But that is not unusual for Moniz, who has been limited because of bouts of arm fatigue.

Moniz said he expects to resume practicing today. He also anticipates playing in Saturday's game against Navy.

If he is healthy, he will start.

• Slotback Greg Salas, who has been bothered by a sprained right foot, expects to start Saturday. Although he did not start against the Spartans because of the injury, he caught eight passes for 52 yards. He leads Western Athletic Conference receivers in receptions (8.45 per game) and receiving yards (128.4).

As for enduring the discomfort, Salas said, "You pop a couple of Advil, get some treatment, make sure it's warm, and you'll feel a lot better."