University of Hawai'i football players Leonard Peters and Jason Ferguson have been diagnosed with torn knee ligaments, UH coach June Jones announced yesterday.

"Jason, for sure, is missing (the rest of) the year," Jones said. "I would say Leonard is, too."

Jones said losing both players is "a shame. ... It tears my heart out for them."

UH is listing Peters' availability as "week to week" after being diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. But family spokesman Micah Uyehara said Peters, a senior free safety and defensive captain, was told he would miss between six and 12 weeks. Uyehara said Peters is hopeful of returning by the end of the season.

"He will start rehab on Tuesday," Uyehara said.

Uyehara said the MCL tear is "not major," and that Peters will not require surgery. "He is very determined to get back," Uyehara said.

Peters suffered the injury when he was struck in a pile-up during the fourth quarter of Saturday's 63-17 loss to top-ranked Southern California.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a procedure in which magnetic fields are used to create a picture of the body's interior, showed the tear.

Peters is regarded as the defense's best player and inspirational leader.

"Losing him is a big hurt to our team," linebacker Tanuvasa Moe said after the game. "We really need him."

Lamar Broadway, a fifth-year senior, replaced Peters. Jones said Broadway or freshman Kirk Alexander will compete at free safety.

"We'll maybe adjust and slide other people around," Jones said.

Ferguson, a sophomore, was the starting right slotback and punt returner. An MRI yesterday showed a torn anterior cruciate ligament and damaged meniscus in Ferguson's right knee — the same injury he suffered as a highly regarded high school junior. His rehabilitation from that injury took more than a year.

He said he will return to his family home in Los Angeles, where he will undergo surgery after the swelling subsides in his knee.

"This is my worst nightmare," Ferguson said. "I don't understand it. I'm in a daze."

Ferguson, who suffered the injury on the opening kickoff, was not supposed to be the returner. He volunteered to replace Mikhail Kafentzis, who was adjusting his helmet on the sideline.

"(Kafentzis) didn't know that everybody had gone out already," Jones said. "We were yelling for Kafentzis, and nobody could find him. He was over fixing his helmet or something. He didn't even know the game was ready to start. It was another freshman not plugged into doing what he's supposed to do."

Ferguson, who was standing next to Jones, repeatedly begged to return the opening kickoff.

"I'm looking around, and the coaches are screaming for a returner, and I'm like, 'Put me in! Put me in!' " Ferguson recalled. "After a second or two, I popped in my mouthpiece. I kept walking on the field, and nobody stopped me. You could tell (Jones) didn't want me out there, but nobody was out there (as a kick returner). He gave me the look, and I knew it was OK."

Ferguson fielded the kickoff, and raced toward the wedge of blockers. He said one of the USC players eluded the block and tried to make a knee-high tackle.

"I thought of my knee," Ferguson said, "and I jumped. He missed me, but I landed directly on my (right) knee. When I first landed, I didn't feel anything. I was happy. I was relieved he didn't hit my leg. But when I got up, I instantly felt it. When I got in the huddle, I looked at Davone (Bess, the left slotback), and I told him my knee hurt."

On the second play, Ferguson caught a pass for 6 yards, but then fell to the ground after his right knee weakened. He stayed in for one more play, Ferguson said, "but my gut told me, 'Oh, no. Here we go again.' I didn't want to come out. I didn't want to let my dream go."

Ryan Grice-Mullen, who missed most of preseason training while recovering from a sprained right shoulder, replaced Ferguson at right slotback, catching five passes for 51 yards.

Bess, Ferguson's roommate, handled the lone punt return.

"Ryan and Davone will obviously take the majority of the load," Jones said. "They both played pretty well, but you could tell it was their first game, too. They did some good things in the tape, and they'll play next week."

But Jones said it will be difficulty to replace Ferguson's determination.

"I've never seen a kid work so hard, and be so devoted to learning and being competitive," Jones said. "I feel awful for him."

Ferguson said: "I really wanted to show everyone Jones was right to believe in me. First of all, nobody wanted to recruit me out of high school. Then here comes June Jones walking into my high school. He took a chance on a guy who just tore his ACL. I think I weighed, like, 145. He offered me a scholarship. I felt I owed him a lot. I was going to give him everything I have."

Ferguson said he began packing yesterday afternoon. He likely will take off the rest of the semester, and return to UH in January.

He said running back Bryan Maneafaiga said a prayer for a speedy recover. Bess "gave me a big hug."

"It was emotional," Ferguson said. "I'm not afraid of crying in front of my brothers. Men don't communicate like that, but I love those guys. Those guys will be my brothers the rest of my life."

KICK RETURN JOB AGAINST SPARTANS UP IN AIR

Jones said he has not decided on a kick returner for Saturday's road game against Michigan State.

Kafentzis had five returns, averaging 17.6 yards. His fumble at the end of a return was scooped up by USC's Desmond Reed, who raced 15 yards for a touchdown.

"I don't think we did a great job of blocking (on Kafentzis' returns)," Jones said. "He'll be OK."

Andre Taylor, a transfer from Santa Rosa College, averaged 30.5 yards on his two returns.

"He's got some ability on kickoff returns," Jones said. "We wanted to get him in there. I'm glad he got a chance at the end. ...We'll have to see what we decide to do this week.

Freshman Michael Washington also can be used on kickoff returns.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE TAKES HIT WITH ROAD GAME

The Warriors are trying to make the difficult adjustment of preparing for their first road trip, to play Michigan State.

They will not practice today, using their NCAA-mandated day off. They practice tomorrow and Wednesday on their grass practice field, then Thursday and Friday in East Lansing, Mich.

They depart from Honolulu (to Chicago) on Wednesday afternoon.

"It's a short week for us," Jones said. "We've done it before. We'll find a way to do it and find a way to compete."

This will be UH's first football game in the Eastern time zone since 1975, when it traveled to New Jersey to play Rutgers.

"Hometown stadiums are tough to play in," Jones said. "You have to go up there and manage all of the conditions and the cadence and the crowd."

Jones said he will not attempt to simulate the crowd conditions during this week's practices.

"You can't," he said, noting his quarterbacks will use several techniques "to manage the noise and get everything communicated."

As for the Warriors' overall health, Jones said, "we'll be hurt, obviously, but, hey, Michigan State doesn't care about all of our losses."

BRENNAN, GRAUNKE DRAW KUDOS FROM JONES

Despite their opening-career jitters, quarterbacks Colt Brennan and Tyler Graunke drew praise from Jones.

Brennan, who transferred from Saddleback Community College (Mission Viejo, Calif.), completed 21 of 32 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown. USC's Darnell Bing intercepted Brennan for a 65-yard touchdown play.

Graunke, a second-year freshman, was 12 of 17 for 127 yards and a touchdown. He rushed seven times for 43 yards.

"They do a lot of good things," Jones said. "After watching the tape, I'm happy with both of them in a lot of areas. And the areas I wasn't happy are areas you shouldn't have to deal with, calling the play the wrong way that we've run for five weeks, or not saying it loud enough in the huddle. Those type of things you take for granted."

But Jones said both adjusted as the game progressed. They were not intercepted in the final three quarters.

"Every game that goes by, they get more confident, and the butterflies are not there. I thought both of them kind of rallied up and got control of their emotions."

LEFT GUARD SATELE HAS STRAINED RIGHT SHOULDER

Jones said left guard Samson Satele is suffering from a strained right shoulder.

Jones said Satele, considered to be UH's best blocker, will be able to play despite the condition. Satele also is the top backup to center Derek Fa'avi.

Brennan has been diagnosed with a sore right (throwing) shoulder. He will not miss any practices.

PATTON PLAYED WITH 'COURAGE,' SAYS MIANO

Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive backs, said ailing cornerback Kenny Patton deserved credit for "playing with courage."

USC said it targeted Patton, who was recovering from arthroscopic surgery to remove damaged cartilage from his right knee.

Patton intercepted a pass in the end zone but relinquished two scoring passes — not three, Miano said, as was incorrectly reported in yesterday's Advertiser. "The safety should have helped him on one of the touchdowns," Miano said.

Miano said Patton suffered a sprained shoulder during the interception.

"He made some good plays," Miano said. "He toughed it out.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.