In the tiny town of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, orange and white Tennessee flags fly on college football Saturdays.

"One of my friends called me a couple of weeks ago," Jesse Mahelona said. "They said they've bought a 9-foot TV so they can watch my games."

The only thing bigger than the Vols' senior defensive tackle Mahelona in person, is Mahelona on a 9-foot screen tossing aside a blocker like a wad of paper. He's a 6-2, 292-pound Samoan with a mean streak when the ball is snapped, and Tennessee has rarely had a player make the first-year impact that Mahelona did last season.

It only took the transfer from Orange Coast Junior College in Costa Mesa, Calif., a couple of games to acclimate himself to big-time college football. He had two tackles for losses, including a sack, in the Vols' 30-28 victory over Florida in game two, and his season accelerated from there.

Not even a sprained knee at mid-season could keep Mahelona from earning all-America and first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He led the SEC in tackles for losses (18 for minus 81 yards), and by season's end every offensive line was trying to double-team him.

"I thought Jesse was the best defensive tackle in the country last season," Vols' defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "He brought a work ethic and a love of the game that made everyone around him work harder. He's a lot of fun to be around."

Mahelona said he really didn't know what to expect when he showed up in Knoxville. It appeared he had been ready to sign with Oklahoma, but Tennessee became a strong contender because Mahelona's brother, Steve, was a running back at Tusculum College in Greeneville, which is about an hour north.

"Coming from a small junior college, I believed I could play at this level," Mahelona said. "But I didn't anticipate I'd play as well as I did."

It wasn't as easy as it sounded. Mahelona "wasn't a great technician," said UT coach Phillip Fulmer, so Mahelona had to work hard at smoothing his rough edges.

Off the field, he fought homesickness, though having a fellow Samoan, offensive tackle Albert Toeaina, as teammate was a help. And Mahelona's family, at various times, attended some home games.

Still, the last half of the season was a struggle.

First, Mahelona sprained a medial collateral ligament against Ole Miss. He spent all week on crutches, didn't practice and said that he "prayed to God for instant healing" so he could play against Alabama.

Tennessee coaches thought that if Mahelona did play, he wouldn't go more than 10 snaps. He ended up playing 30 plays and getting a game ball, delivering the play of the game.

With Tennessee ahead, 17-10, in the fourth quarter, Alabama drove to the Vols' 18. There on first down, Mahelona shed two blockers and chased down Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington for a 15-yard loss. Three plays later, Alabama settled for a 47-yard field goal, and Tennessee won by four points.

Such a performance confirmed what Vols' defensive line coach Dan Brooks thought of Mahelona.

"He's one of the mentally toughest guys I've ever been around," Brooks said.

Even so, Mahelona's world was rocked late last season when his 45-year-old uncle, Moses Galon, a musician, died of a stroke while performing in Hawaii. Jesse's father, Steven, a minister, worked hard to help his son spiritually understand the situation.

After subpar games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky to close the regular season, a refocused Mahelona had five tackles, including two for losses, in the SEC championship game loss to Auburn.

Mahelona had an eventful off-season, and not all of it was good.

In March, the Knoxville apartment he shared with teammate Arron Sears burned down because of a lit candle, and Mahelona tore a handrail ("Had to be loose screws," he said) off a fire truck in anger. He avoided criminal charges by paying for the damage, writing a letter of apology and visiting a fire station.

Then, he and Sears, in order to avoid being ineligible, had to pay $95.84 each to an area furniture company that violated NCAA rules when it let Mahelona and Sears use furniture for one month in a special deal to replace items lost in the fire.

Mahelona also had some good things happen, like being named to the Playboy All-America team.

Also, the member of the Kealakehe High Class of '01 returned home as the commencement speaker at his old high school, where he once was a four-sport athlete, including paddling (outrigger canoe) squads.

"It was nerve-racking at first, but then I just got up there and it flowed," he said with a laugh.

Finally, Mahelona had the unique honor of being the cover boy on Tennessee's media guide.

When the school decided it wanted a new edgy look for the guide, it used a tight black-and-white shot of a Mahelona game-face, with intensely angry eyes jumping off the cover.

"It's an honor to be on the cover," Mahelona said. "Just to play at Tennessee is a blessing. It's why I play hurt. I never want to take this opportunity for granted."