To comprehend the power and strength of the University of Hawai'i football team's top running backs, look at the company they keep.

"They're honorary members of the O-line," said right tackle Dane Uperesa, whose team opens spring practice today. "In our offense, the running backs and linemen essentially do the same thing 90 percent of the time. We block, and they block, only they get to run the ball a few times."

This coming season, Nate Ilaoa and Reagan Mauia are expected to receive even more carries than last year, when the Warriors rushed for 1,103 yards, the most in the seven years of UH's four-wide offense.

The bigger load is a result of both backs carrying smaller loads. Ilaoa, who is 5 feet 9, weighs about 220 — 30 pounds lighter than when he reported to training camp last August. Mauia, a 6-foot converted nose tackle, has lost about 60 pounds since the end of the 2005 season, and now weighs 303.

"They're both big backs," said Mel deLaura, the team's conditioning coach, "but they're in great shape."

During recent team tests, Ilaoa ran 40 yards in 4.65 seconds, the fastest among the running backs. Yesterday, he did 121 sit-ups in two minutes.

Yet, he has maintained his strength, bench-pressing 225 pounds 30 times. His maximum bench-press is 385 pounds. He failed in his attempt at 405.

"I feel a lot better, a lot healthier," Ilaoa said.

He said his weight ballooned last year because he was not cleared to participate in the running program while recovering from a knee injury. He also couldn't do squat — or any other heavy lifting — because of a shoulder injury.

"And you guys still wrote (bleep) about me," Ilaoa said, smiling, to a reporter. "That's OK. I'm just glad to be healthy and working hard."

Ilaoa said he is not worried about his weight nor his petition to the NCAA for a medical hardship that will allow him to play as a sixth-year senior in the fall.

"It should be a sure thing," he said of his appeal. "But you never know. I'll just keep working hard, stay in shape and hope for the best."

Mauia also has benefitted from a positive outlook.

After mulling his options last year, Mauia, who is married and has a son, decided to turn down scholarship offers to transfer from his junior college and join UH as a walk-on.

"I took a big-time risk," he said. "I gambled coming out here. I knew — I prayed — if I worked hard and made some sacrifices, I would be rewarded."

But things deteriorated in the second game, at Michigan State, when he was whistled for personal fouls on consecutive plays. The ESPN announcers chastised Mauia.

"They made me out to be the bad guy," he said. "Sometimes the bad guy really isn't the bad guy. ... They made it worse than what it was. It was an accident. It was a big chaos. I offered my apology to everyone. I apologized to my team, my coaches, my family and friends."

He eventually lost his place on the depth chart at nose tackle, and was assigned to the scout team.

Struggling to pay the rent on their downtown apartment, Mauia and his wife agreed that she and their son should return to the Mainland to live with her parents. "They're doing a lot better there," he said.

Teammates Lawrence Wilson and Fale Laeli offered Mauia a place to stay. "They gave me a roof over my head for a while," Mauia said. "I'm very grateful."

Wilson said: "It's a family thing. Family comes first, and on the football team, everybody is family."

It was on Thanksgiving week, when Jeff Reinebold, who coordinates the scout team, asked Mauia to portray Wisconsin's running back in practices. UH coach June Jones noticed how well Mauia ran, and soon after, Mauia was asked to practice as a running back with the Warriors' offense. In the regular-season finale, Mauia rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries, and provided backfield blocking for quarterback Colt Brennan.

Under Jones' orders, Mauia competed in an intensive off-season conditioning program. He ran and played basketball every day, and cut out rice and Samoan cuisine from his diet.

"I can't wait to get down to where my weight needs to be so I can start eating Samoan food again," Mauia said.

His goal is to weigh about 265 pounds at the start of training camp in August.

In team tests, Mauia ran 40 yards in 4.89 seconds. He also completed 96 sit-ups in two minutes. With straightened legs, he can touch the bottom of his toes.

He also has remained strong, bench-pressing 445 pounds and squat-lifting a team-high 640 pounds.

With the weights balanced on his shoulders, Mauia recalled of his squat-lift, "I said a prayer before I went down, and I said a prayer before I come up. Everything I do well is because of God. If God's not in your life, you won't go far."

His prayers were answered this semester when Jones awarded Mauia a football scholarship.

"I struggled all throughout last semester," Mauia said. "Everything is better now. I have a scholarship and a place to stay. Having my school paid for is really good. I came here for an education, and football is giving me that. I feel blessed."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.