Another week, another defensive shuffle for the University of Hawai'i football team.

Turmarian Moreland, a senior cornerback from West Palm Beach, Fla., is poised to make his first NCAA start in Saturday's road game against San Jose State.

UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said Moreland will likely start in place of Kenny Patton, who is suffering from injuries to his left quadriceps and right shoulder. If Patton, who did not practice yesterday, is available to play, then Moreland would start at the other cornerback position.

Moreland, who played in nine games last season, was expected to succeed Abraham Elimimian, who completed his UH eligibility last December. But offseason training led to a strain in Moreland's left knee.

"It was sore," Moreland said of the injury, which healed about three weeks ago. "The trainers told me it was from working out too much. It was wear and tear on my knee."

Glanville said: "He got the injury, and he couldn't do anything. And then when he came back, he couldn't hit good. If you're not going to hit, you're not going to play. The last couple of games his knee was better and he was hitting better."

At 6 feet 1 and 200 pounds, Moreland is the Warriors' biggest cornerback. He can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, and bench press 285 pounds. Glanville said Moreland is the Warriors' most aggressive cover defender.

"If you're going to full-press, bump and run, he's probably the best we've got," Glanville said.

Moreland said: "I pride myself in my coverage. I like to get physical with the receiver."

After first returning to the rotation, Moreland said he tried to make finesse tackles, aiming for a receiver's legs. "The coaches told me I needed to hit hard, to make more face-to-face tackles," he said. "I've been better at that."

Glanville said he expects defensive left end Melila Purcell III to miss his second consecutive game because of a partially torn ligament in his left knee. Purcell also did not practice yesterday. Glanville said the immediate plan calls for Renolds Fruean, a converted nose tackle, to make his second start at left end. Before opening against New Mexico State this past Saturday, Fruean had missed four games in a row because of a sprained right ankle.

Fruean "plays the run well," Glanville said. "He plays with good technique. He has a good motor."

At 6 feet 4 and 275 pounds, Fruean has the girth to fight off double teams from the guard and tackle or tackle and tight end. But in UH's 3-4 alignment, the left end also has to impede running plays to the perimeter.

"I'm trying to get in better condition," said Fruean, who can run 40 yards in 4.9 seconds. "I can stay the same weight but I have to get faster."

WELCOME BACK

Suddenly, A.J. Martinez is everywhere.

During yesterday's practice, Martinez returned kickoffs and ran some routes as a wideout.

"I'm making up for lost time," said Martinez, whose two kickoff returns for a combined 111 yards last Saturday came in his first football game since 2001. As a senior at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., Martinez was named the Los Angeles Times' Orange County Back of the Year.

Martinez signed with the Warriors in February 2002, but was not eligible to compete that fall because of a glitch in the way his high school core classes were tabulated.

He joined UH in August 2003, but struggled with his studies. He attended Kapi'olani Community College last year before enrolling at UH in January.

"I pretty much messed up," Martinez said. "I did a lot of stupid things my freshman year. I had to pay the consequences. I'm a grown man. I paid the consequences, and now I'm back."

Martinez was buried on the depth chart as a safety when UH coach June Jones decided he needed a new kick returner. Andre Taylor, who handled that job, was slowed by a variety of injuries. At the recommendation of quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison, who recruited Martinez, Jones found a new candidate.

Martinez was widely misidentified as he jogged onto the field for the opening kickoff against New Mexico State. Martinez shared the same jersey No. 34 as Kala Latuselu, a running back who left the team two weeks ago.

On the 67-yard kickoff return, Martinez said: "A lot of people thought I was Kala until they saw how skinny I was. Then they said, 'That's A.J. out there.' Everyone was surprised I was out there. I was, too, to tell you the truth. The coaches came to me (last week) Tuesday and said, 'You're in.' I said, 'OK.' Now I have to start running and getting into shape."

The 6-foot Martinez weighs 185 pounds, 20 more than he did as a freshman. "I started working out and taking it seriously," he said. "I know good things happen when you work hard."

PEOPLE PERSON

Jones said he has fond memories of being on head coach Dick Tomey's 1983 UH coaching staff. Tomey is now head coach at San Jose State, which hosts UH Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

"I think the biggest influence on me is how he treats people," Jones said of Tomey. "He's probably the first guy to change the philosophy of how you treat players, and how you deal with family situations. He's a really good man."

FAST LEARNER

Of UH's five available running backs, four are on scholarship. Guess who's the starter?

"I was never the fastest guy, but I pride myself on knowing my stuff better than the next guy," said David Farmer, a walk-on who will make his third start of the season on Saturday.

Farmer's father, also named David, was a running back at Southern California, and his cousin Danny Farmer played for the Cincinnati Bengals. But Farmer did not receive any Division I offers as a senior at Aptos High in Santa Cruz, Calif.

He sent his highlight videotapes to several schools. Jones, a friend of Farmer's father, responded with an invitation for Farmer to join UH as a non-scholarship player.

"I had some options to play at other schools, but I really wanted to play big-time football," he said. "They offered me a walk-on shot, so I took it."

In six games, Farmer is more productive as a receiver (10 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown) than running back (nine carries for 39 yards). But the 6-foot, 240-pound second-year freshman is a determined runner in short-yardage situations, and an aggressive back-field blocker. He had one carry in the 49-28 victory over New Mexico State, but played nearly the entire game, keeping blitzers away from quarterback Colt Brennan.

"He's done a nice job," Jones said. "He's the perfect example of someone who knows his assignments and knows what to do. He gets the most out of his abilities, and he's helped us."

Farmer said he can run 40 yards in 5.0 or 5.1 seconds.

Still, he said: "I'm as confident as the next guy. I always want the ball. I'm not the fastest guy and I'm not going to make people miss, but I'm going to get where I need to go. If the coach needs a couple of yards, I'll give it to him. I can cut a little bit, but I'm not a shaker-and-baker."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.