Sometimes father knows best.

When his son was born, Tu'umalo Taumua had a gut feeling that he would grow up to become very strong.

"When I was born, my dad wanted to name me Hercules and everyone was like 'really?' " said Malo Taumua, a 2005 'Aiea High graduate and junior defensive lineman at UNLV. "But, my dad was serious. He had a sense that I was going to be strong and made my middle name Hercules instead."

Malo Jr. — as many of his family and friends call him — is realizing his dad's prognostication, starting his third consecutive year on the Rebels' defensive line.

Taumua, who is 6 feet 1 and 270 pounds, is off to a quick start this season for the Rebels, who host Hawai'i on Saturday. In the season-opening 38-3 win over Sacramento State on Sept. 5, Taumua made his first career interception late in the fourth quarter.

"It was a play where I had to cover the tight end," Taumua said. "He ran down field, I was chasing him and our safety tipped the ball and I caught it in the end zone."

Taumua took a knee for a touchback and the UNLV offense scored two plays later on a 55-yard TD pass.

"I've been giving the (defensive backs) a hard time all week to catch the ball," Taumua laughed.

Taumua and the Rebels are trying to build on momentum they gained last year — including a win over then-No. 13 Arizona State. Taumua was instrumental in the win over the Sun Devils, blocking a field-goal attempt in overtime with his team ahead 23-20 to clinch it.

"That win gave us the mentality that we could play with almost anybody in the country," said Taumua, who was an honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference pick last season.

Several college football publications selected Taumua to their Preseason All-Mountain West teams, but he played down the accolades.

"That's nice that people think of me like that, but I still have to put my hand on the ground and prove it," Taumua said. "A lot of my family and friends, they're all jacked up about it, but I'm taking it upon myself that I still need to prove it."

In his first two seasons, Taumua mainly played tackle, but after he shed some pounds in the offseason, he was moved to end in fall camp.

"I lost a lot of weight and got faster," he said. "At the beginning of training camp, I had a hard time, but I got it down now."

It helps to have a position coach like Andre Patterson, who spent nine years coaching in the NFL and has mentored numerous All-Pros, including La'Roi Glover and John Randle.

Another source of knowledge for Taumua has been one of Patterson's former players with the Dallas Cowboys — 10-year NFL veteran Leon Lett, who donates his time as a volunteer coach.

"He's been a big help and I've really picked up a lot from him," Taumua said. "The main thing he told me (to improve) was your get-up off the ball and working with what the offensive lineman gives you."

Aside from a season-ending knee injury in his 2006 freshman campaign, Taumua said he has been fortunate to remain healthy.

"You always get nicks and bumps and bruises, but I've been lucky and part of that is that we have good trainers here who take good care of us," said Taumua, who sustained the knee injury in a 42-13 loss to Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium in September of 2006.

"That was real hard, because I got hurt in the game at Hawai'i and I was devastated because I couldn't play," Taumua said. "But, I ended up getting the year back, which means I can play in Hawai'i (next season) again, so it all worked out."

When the Rebels and Warriors clash Saturday, Taumua will be reunited with several old acquaintances, including Na Ali'i classmates Rocky Savaiigaea and R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane.

"I heard that they're team captains, so I was real proud to hear that," Taumua said. "They've been through so much over there and those guys have meant so much to me. I can't wait to see those guys."

Taumua also has ties to both Hawai'i offensive tackles.

"I played against (left tackle) Aaron Kia when he was at Mililani and (right tackle) Laupepa (Letuli) and I were roommates on our recruiting trip to UNLV," Taumua said.

The Rebels were picked to finish fifth by the media that covers the nine-team Mountain West.

"Utah, BYU and TCU are the big three in our conference," Taumua said. "But, we lost to BYU in Provo with 10 seconds left and we were tied with Utah 14-14 at halftime, so we know we can compete with them."

Taumua said one key for the team this year will be run defense.

"People were scoring so many points on us last season," he said. "Defensively, we're going to have to stop the run and play as one unit."

Taumua knows he can't look past his hometown Warriors this weekend.

"I'm taking it upon myself that just because we're playing a team from home, that I need to play that much harder," he said.